02/18/2026
Source: Equine, PhD
๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐?
I have seen statements on this subject floating around social media and I felt it was time to step in and set the record straight!
๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐.
For as long as I can remember, this practice has been taboo, you just shouldnโt do it. However, the University of Kentucky came out with an extension publication a few years back on why this generalization is false and I want to share that information with you along with some of my own relevant research.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐?
The thought here is that by blanketing a wet horse, you trap the cold water next to their skin, which will actually make them colder. And if this actually happened, I would agree that this practice would be detrimental. However, if you have ever blanketed a wet horse with a blanket that has fill or added insulation, you know that within a matter of hours your horse will be warm and dry again.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ?
Well the fill in the blanket will wick away and absorb the moisture and the body heat from the horse will help it evaporate.
๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ.
The moisture or humidity underneath the blanket could increase the risk of skin conditions or rain rot. As a result, you should change out the blanket as soon as you can to allow the blanket to adequately dry.
Also, if you use a sheet without fill, there is no insulation to absorb the moisture and this practice COULD be problematic. I found this to be true even for a dry horse. Two winters ago I performed research and placed temperature and humidity sensors underneath blankets of different weights including sheets with no fill. During the winter, I found that while the temperature under the sheet was warmer than the environment, the humidity under a rain sheet was far greater than the humidity under medium or heavy weight blankets as there wasnโt any fill to absorb the moisture. This is problematic because when high humidity occurs alongside cold temperatures, it can feel much colder, as humid air conducts heat away from the body faster than dry air. These results demonstrate the value fill can add to a blanket - not only to provide insulation but also to regulate humidity. Based on these factors, I would not recommend blanketing a cold, wet horse with a rain sheet.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Blanketing a dry horse is the gold standard. And if you are able to dry off your horse before you blanket, please do so. However, we know this isnโt always feasible, especially for those who donโt live with their horses or have to deal with unpredictable weather. And in those scenarios, blanketing a horse with a blanket that has fill is a much better option than letting a cold, wet horse shiver.
Cheers!
Dr. DeBoer
