mydaddysjag
Well-Known Member
Over the summer, we built a new barn and pastures, and brought all of my horses home (they were previously boarded). I dont live on the property, I actually live about a block away. My barn and pastures are on property adjacent to my parents house. Since moving them home, my non horsey mom has really taken over a mother hen role. I really do appreciate all of the help, and the extra set of eyes on my horses.
One thing we dont see eye to eye on is that she thinks they should not be turned out if it is raining, muddy, etc. If they were out and rained on, she calls and wanted me to come towel dry and blanket them. I will admit they do get very wet, they prefer standing in the rain to standing in their run in stalls.
My feelings are that they are horses, designed to live outside, and if they are standing in the weather not shivering, they are alright. If they were shivering, I would defiantly dry them and blanket them, and of course, offer a bunch of hay.
My mom thinks that they are going to melt and get sick and freeze to death if they are out in the rain. She has actually went and brought them in after I left from turning them out, if it starts to rain. I really appreciate her caring about the horses so much, but this is winter in western PA, if I didnt turn my horses out in rain, mud, or snow, they would probably be in their stalls 6 days a week all winter.
As a compromise, I was considering getting waterproof turnout sheets that they could wear only if it was raining outside. If I do this, I will get orange sheets, to double as protection during hunting season. I have plenty of turnout blankets, coolers, stall blankets, show sheets, etc, but no turnout sheets.
I dont want to use turnout blankets, Im not looking to keep them warm (they have thick winter coats already) just to keep the majority of their body dry. Will the turnout sheets "smash" their winter coat down like a blanket does? I know thick blankets smash the hair down, therefore losing most of its "insulation" properties. Thats actually why I dont like blanketing unless needed.
Any input? Even some info I can show my mom so she can see that im really not a neglectful owner trying to freeze my horses.
One thing we dont see eye to eye on is that she thinks they should not be turned out if it is raining, muddy, etc. If they were out and rained on, she calls and wanted me to come towel dry and blanket them. I will admit they do get very wet, they prefer standing in the rain to standing in their run in stalls.
My feelings are that they are horses, designed to live outside, and if they are standing in the weather not shivering, they are alright. If they were shivering, I would defiantly dry them and blanket them, and of course, offer a bunch of hay.
My mom thinks that they are going to melt and get sick and freeze to death if they are out in the rain. She has actually went and brought them in after I left from turning them out, if it starts to rain. I really appreciate her caring about the horses so much, but this is winter in western PA, if I didnt turn my horses out in rain, mud, or snow, they would probably be in their stalls 6 days a week all winter.
As a compromise, I was considering getting waterproof turnout sheets that they could wear only if it was raining outside. If I do this, I will get orange sheets, to double as protection during hunting season. I have plenty of turnout blankets, coolers, stall blankets, show sheets, etc, but no turnout sheets.
I dont want to use turnout blankets, Im not looking to keep them warm (they have thick winter coats already) just to keep the majority of their body dry. Will the turnout sheets "smash" their winter coat down like a blanket does? I know thick blankets smash the hair down, therefore losing most of its "insulation" properties. Thats actually why I dont like blanketing unless needed.
Any input? Even some info I can show my mom so she can see that im really not a neglectful owner trying to freeze my horses.