12/15/2025
Truth: The horse possesses a highly effective ๐ก thermoregulation system. Piloerection gives the horseโs hair coat the ability to stand up, lay down and change direction via hair erector muscles trapping warm air and creating an insulating layer. Blanketing prevents this ability and if applied long term can cause hair erector muscles to atrophy. Any muscle can atrophy without exercising for a period of time.
๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐, ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค:
โExtreme cold.
โUnderweight, older, or compromised individuals.
โIf appropriate shelter from wind and precipitation is not available.
โShivering.
If required, provide a variety of thicknesses appropriate for the current weather. Be mindful of the fact that they canโt take it off if they get hot or change into a warmer blanket if they get cold and that the entire body heats up or cools down. โ
โโAllow your herd to live and eat together full time. Doing so promotes๐ movement and provides the psychological and physical comforts ๐ of a herd animal. Hierarchy will always exist, but the majority of time aggressive ๐ก behavior is associated with food aggression. If free choice forage ๐ฑ is available, the intensity of dominant combative behavior typically subsides.
โAvoid using ๐ก artificial lighting, which discourages the growth of a full winter coat. A horseโs hair coat changes twice a year. Sensors in the horseโs skin react to the duration of โ light and ๐dark hours. The horse will start to grow their winter coat after the summer solstice as days shorten and will start to grow their summer coat after the winter solstice as days get longer.
Stalls can be colder than being outside. The โ coldest time of day is just before the sun rises and when it does, a stalled horse remains standing - in the shade! Being outside gives them the ability to move and bask in the โ sun to warm up.
Offer appropriate shelter 24/7 that they can ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ. A three-sided shed or stall will ensure protection from the wind and gives them the ability to stay dry. With these options available, they have a choice of where they are most comfortable. It alleviates the task of moving horses from one enclosure to another depending on weather conditions.
โAvoid bathing, which removes the natural oils in their coat that help to protect their skin from getting wet. A healthy diet, parasite control and sufficient healthy omegas produce glowing hair coats that don't look dull while retaining the natural oils on the skin and hair that repel dust and water. Win - win, no need to bathe!
Discover other common misconceptions about the cold and how to stoke internal body heat ๐กwhile providing a healthier, natural lifestyle for your herd. ๐ https://www.thehaypillow.com/blogs/news/keeping-horses-warm-naturally-internally-and-externally
