Changes in Hair Coat Length and Diameter in Blanketed and Nonblanketed Adult Horses in the Winter.
Authors: DeBoer Michelle, Konop Alexandra, Fisher Bailey
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Blanketing Effects on Winter Hair Coat Development Blanketing is a common management practice justified on thermoregulatory grounds, yet its influence on hair coat physiology remained unstudied until now. DeBoer and colleagues assessed 16 adult horses (eight blanketed, eight nonblanketed) across the winter months from October 2019 to March 2020 in Wisconsin, measuring both hair length and diameter from neck and hindquarter samples collected monthly using digital callipers and micrometres. Peak hair growth occurred predictably in January and February regardless of blanket use, with both groups showing shortest hair and smallest diameter in October and March; however, blanketed horses demonstrated significantly shorter neck hair in January (43 mm versus 58 mm) and February (35 mm versus 47 mm) compared to their unblanketed counterparts. These findings indicate that whilst blankets do suppress hair coat length development—potentially relevant for competition preparation or managing dense coats in working horses—the underlying temporal pattern of seasonal growth and shedding remains unaffected by blanketing management. For practitioners seeking to minimise coat density or maintain appearance during winter work, blankets appear mechanically effective, though the long-term implications for thermoregulation and skin health warrant further investigation.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Blanketing during winter can suppress hair coat growth, which may be useful for horses requiring shorter coats or frequent grooming, but follow similar natural seasonal patterns
- •Hair coat length peaks mid-winter (January-February) in both blanketed and nonblanketed horses, so expect maximum insulation during the coldest months regardless of management practice
- •If maintaining shorter coats is a management goal, blanketing is an effective strategy, though horses will still follow natural seasonal growth cycles
Key Findings
- •Blanketed horses had significantly shorter neck hair in January (43 mm) and February (35 mm) compared to nonblanketed horses (58 mm and 47 mm respectively)
- •Hair coat length and diameter peaked in January and February regardless of blanketing treatment, with shortest hair in October and March
- •Blanketing alters hair coat length but does not change the seasonal growth pattern of hair coat development