Horses wearing a blanket or rug in the winter ate less hay than did their non-blanketed neighbours, a recent study found.
Healthy horses maintain their body temperature within a narrow
range (98.5°F
to 101°F
/ 36.9°C
to 38.3°C)
despite a wide variation in environmental conditions.
In cold weather they use various physiological and
behavioural methods to conserve body heat, such as piloerection, shivering,
facing away from the wind. Eating roughage generates heat and so helps maintain
body temperature.
Research by Michelle De Boer and others at the University of
Wisconsin–River Falls, assessed the effect of wearing a blanket on horses’ feed
intake, body weight (BW), and body condition scores (BCSs). A report of the
work is published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,
The project was carried out over the winter of 2019-2020,
when environmental temperatures typically average about -10°C.
Sixteen adult horses were recruited to the study: eight wore
a medium weight blanket; the others did not. All horses lived in a dry lot and
were fed grass-legume hay ad lib. The researchers recorded hay intake and
monitored horses’ body weight and condition score before during and at the end
of the study.
Horses without blankets maintained their body weight and
condition score despite the cold weather.
The researchers found that the average estimated dry matter
intake (DMI) was lower for blanketed horses (2.31% BW) than for non-blanketed ones
(2.51% BW) – equivalent to an average of 1kg daily.
The results suggest horses wearing blankets conserve energy leading
to decreased feed intake. Horse owners may save (a small amount of) money from
reduced hay and labour costs when using a blanket.
The researchers emphasised that, when blanketing a horse, it
is important to monitor them regularly to evaluate health, welfare, and BW and
condition.
For more details, see:
Dry Matter Intake, Body Weight, and Body Condition Scores of Blanketed and Nonblanketed Horses in the Upper MidwestMichelle De Boer, Alexandra Konop, Bailey Fisher, Krishona Martinson
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science (2020) vol 94, 103239
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