AUTUMN BLANKETING TIP

Fluctuating fall temperatures can make blanketing a complicated affair. You might be tempted to bundle up your horse with a nice heavy blanket on a cold autumn night, but when temperatures rise again in the morning, he will quickly become overheated. And the consequence isn’t just minor discomfort; a horse wearing a winterweight blanket on a warm fall day can develop dangerous heat stress, just as he might standing in the blazing summer sun.

So when blanketing your horse during variable fall weather, follow this rule: Outfit him in a blanket that’s suitable for the highest temperature that’s likely to occur before you or a barn helper can return to remove it. For instance, rather than put on his thickest blanket based on 33 degree overnight temperatures, opt instead for the lighter weight one that will be suitable the next morning when the mercury rises another 15 degrees.