This message is from: Mary Thurman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Regarding the use of blankets on Fjords: We live on the extreme West coast of Washington state. Very wet country in the winter, although we do get the occasional "Alaska Express" with blizzard conditions and temps below zero. Although our weather is considered "mild" it is extremely wet - which, when combined with the winds we usually have, can really chill a horse that is already wet to the skin. We put our horses in the barn at night on a regular basis to force them to dry out. They prefer to be outside checking out all the smells on the wind - except for Line who grew up in Norway and HATES to be wet! Ever see a Fjord pout? Ears back, lips buttoned up, whole body saying "I'm NOT happy"!! She spends most of her winter standing at the door to the stall looking out, except when it snows. That definitely lights a fire under the old gal!! Last year we bought the first two "real" horse blankets we've ever owned (we have kept a lightweight horse sheet around for the occasional sick horse). They are canvas duck blankets meant for turning horses out in wet weather - no lining or quilting in them, just canvas duck. We use them mainly to keep the horses we ride somewhat clean - and to keep them clean at the Libby show. They work well, but get kind of dingy looking because you cannot wash them. You just brush them off and blast them with the hose once in a while. I have considered blanketing Line some winter just to see if it cuts down on the thickness of her coat. She grows a REALLY furry coat, then sheds from Mid-December until the end of May!! Thought I might try putting that lightweight sheet on her early in the year to keep the hair down a bit. Maybe some year. This winter is predicted to be a bad one, so everyone is growing "natural" protection. We find blankets on Fjords in this damp country to be a mixed blessing. Fjords are "warm" horses - even in their summer coats - so they tend to sweat under a blanket, which can cause more problems than it solves. If they are where there is a draft they can be chilled, which isn't good. If their coat is not allowed to dry out - which can happen in the winter when they aren't being used (so their blanket is not removed regularly) - they can still develop a fungus infection which causes the hair to fall out. Our vet has always said that "natural is better" for these guys. We feed grass hay, which produces a lot of body heat as it is digested, so maybe ours are extra "warm". Who knows. Mary ===== Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
