Winter has blanketed a lot of the country already.  Black Friday has passed and some of the shopping is done, and now it’s time for wrapping our treasures.

My husband and I would always rush home to ride in the first snow fall of the winter.  By February we didn’t even want to think about it.  Although riding on your horse on top of his winter blanket was always a warm thing to do.

Wrapping and blanketing has a different meaning when it comes to our horses.  Up north blankets have gone on, but unlike Christmas presents, the wrapping won’t come off until spring.  Ahh, I remember it well.  Once again, that’s why I live in Florida.

This is just one of the those “Public Service Announcements.”  Don’t forget to remove those blankets every once in a while, and make sure you still have a horse underneath.  We go along and assume that what we covered is what we will uncover in six months, but that is not necessarily true.

When a horse is cold, they shiver.  When they shiver, they burn fat.  When they burn fat, they lose weight.  So check for weight loss.

Also check for dry skin, or other skin conditions that you won’t notice with the blanket on.  Perhaps the blanket may be rubbing a certain spot raw.  Make adjustments or add more padding.  They now have sleazy sleepwear for horses that could help keep those rubs from happening.

I know it’s cold out, and you don’t want to be out there longer then you need to be, but think of his/her comfort.  Oh yeah, you are going to get the look when you take it off, but sometimes just leave it off long enough for them to roll in the snow or on the ground.  They still need the stimulation of a curry and brush on their bodies to get the oils and the circulation going, and it massages the muscles as a bonus.  You know how great it feels to get that tight object off your body after it’s been on a while?  Well they feel the same way.

There’s nothing like a good scratch by an old friend.

P.S.  Don’t forget to oil those clips with 3 in 1 oil to keep all moving parts moving when you need them.  Our moving parts, not so much.