To Blanket or Not to Blanket (Does my horse need one?)

Deciding when to blanket your horse can be  challenging, especially in San Diego.  When your friends in Minnesota are laughing at you because you blanket your horse, just explain to them how you actually had frost on your car in late November.  The northerners just can't believe that it can actually freeze here in sunny SoCal.  Cold winter nights combined with thin coats (developed after multiple 100 plus degree summer days) can produce some easily chilled horses. 

Blanketing needs will vary from horse to horse based on their coat condition and tolerance for the cold weather.  You will find that horses that have moved to San Diego from colder climates, will develop much thicker winter coats.  

Here are some simple yes or no questions that can help you determine if your horse should be blanketed. A "yes" answer to any one means your horse would appreciate a little extra insulation.

1. Is it below 50 degrees Fahrenheit? Even if your horse has a natural (unclipped) haircoat, he may appreciate a blanket at this temperature. This is just a general rule of thumb, since other factors (such as wind, humidity and/or precipitation) may call for a blanket when it's warmer. On the other hand, some horses acclimate to colder temperatures, especially those with thick haircoats.
2. Is his coat clipped? If so, your horse may need a blanket (or at least a sheet) when the mercury drops|}below 60 degrees F.
3. Does he usually live indoors? If your horse lives even part of the time in a warm barn, he'll feel the cold more than a horse that lives outside full time.
4. Does he live in an open pasture? A full-time outdoor horse will grow a heavy coat to ward off the elements, but wind and rain can destroy that insulating effect. If there's no shelter in his pasture, he may need wind- and water-resistant horse clothing to stay warm.
5. Is his stall drafty? Drafts in your barn may have the same effect as outside breezes--they blow away that layer of warm air next to your horse's skin, making him feel colder.
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6. Is he shivering? Don't go by formulas--check your horse to see whether he's too cold. If he's shivering, blanket him (or add blankets) and get him to a shelter. (To see if your horse is too warm, slide your hand under his blanket; if he's sweaty, he needs a lighter covering, or none at all.)

It is important to remember to remove blankets in the morning as temperatures can get really high on many San Diego winter days.  
These question have been adapted from an article written by Dr. Hower-Moritz that was published in horse and rider magazine.