This message is from: mabo...@aol.com
This message is from: jhalst7...@aol.com I need some advice on what kind of blanket I should buy for my Fjord, Patrick. He is turned out 24/7 and so far has not needed a blanket at all and may not need one this winter. I decided that because he is 19 now that I should at least have a blanket on hand in case he should need it. It needs to be "Fjord tough"! Patrick is already growing a significant winter coat. I figure I have about one month a year when he is not shedding a layer of winter coat and then shedding his summer coat :-) ------------------------------------------------------------------ I strongly urge reconsideration of blanketing for a horse turned our 24/7 that has not problem growing a "significant winter coat." Unless my Fjords are clipped for winter work, there is no need for blanketing ever and they like it that way. All my Fjords live out 24/7 and I have had and have a number of Fjords older than 19. They all did fine and thrived. Before anyone leaps in and says Virginia has more temperate winters, I can assure all that it snows here and gets darn cold. We get plenty of the polar vortexes and we had the worst winter in 100 years this year. And all my Fjords were fine. With no disrespect intended, I think many owners blanket because they are cold themselves and feel guilty their horse may be cold. I used to feel that way until I realized that blankets were hot and uncomfortable for many horses, plus required a good amount of monitoring. I can tell you that 24/7 turn-out means at minimum you should check the blanket twice a day every day without exception. I have had horses on 24/7 turn-out get their blankets so twisted they were trapped on ground and had to be cut out of the blanket. I have watched horses twist their blankets so they nearly flip and fall in the field. I have seen cases of rain rot caused by the blanket's vapor lock. I literally don't allow boarders at my farm to blanket on 24/7 turn out. If they want to do that they need to go elsewhere. We have a Nordic breed that was made to withstand Norwegian winters. While it is fine to buy a blanket "just in case" I can only hope that it never is used. I think Mother Nature did a good job with the horse and the Fjord. Margaret Bogie Ironwood Farm Rixeyville, VA www.ironwood-farm.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
