wet blanketing horses?

Question

I have been told I need to wet blanket my horses to get them ready for spring. I am not sure what this means...and I have never done it before. Anyone know!

Answer 1

Wet blanket therapy means WORK YOUR HORSE. Don't hop on and run it to death, but start a riding regimen that makes the horse sweat a little. Ride a bit longer every day - this will slowly condition your horse to be ready for the riding you will likely do this spring and summer.
Your horse works up a sweat - therefore, the wet blanket! (saddle blanket).

I'd start by longeing if you haven't ridden in a while. Then when you ride, walk a while, trot a while and go for short lopes, then walk to cool them down. The next day, do a little more.

Answer 2

I have been around horses for YEARS and have never heard of wet blanketing. It may be a locally used term but I have no idea what it could mean. You should check with your VET to see if there is anything special your horses need to get ready for spring.

Answer 3

Wild and Free is right. When people say, "that horse just needs some more wet blankets" or "I did all the training I could do, and all that horse needs to finish him off is wet blankets" they mean that the horse needs more experience and good old-fashioned exercise. By wet blanket they mean sweaty saddle pad.

Answer 4

I'm unfamiliar with this term and i have been around horses for almost 7 years. However the idea of putting a "wet blanket" on a horse is not a good one-- the moisture is not good for their skin and if they do get wet they should be able to dry within a half and hour at least. Horses can catch colds from having wet blankets, get a fungus called "rain rot" and get sores and abraisions on the skin from constant rubbing! Very uncomfortable and unsafe-- It like wearing a wet tee shirt and jeans for hours on end-- Wet jeans are itchy and are a pain! You don't want to do that to your horse... Instead give him a good summer clipping, curry comb him, gentally use a shedding blade on him, give him lots of baths ( occasional) to encourage shedding! They will do it on their own time!

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Answer 5

I've never heard of it either. I don't think I would personally try it with my show horse(s). I just bathe them and use a shedding blade, then groom them daily. I always use a good quality shampoo and conditioner which makes my horses' coats beautiful. Make sure the horse is getting a good diet as well, that has a lot to do with coat and hoof quality.

Answer 6

I wonder if this is a way of encouraging summer coat growth and getting rid of the old winter coat? Dunno though, its an odd comment as putting a wet blanket onto a horse is a really bad idea!

I'd ask the advice giver what he means as its not a term I've ever come across though!

Answer 7

Get a clean 'instructor'. that is wonderful to commence a horse with a conceal on while lunging in less warm climate, yet what you describe is the top of laziness. That horse is going to kick back, then the haircoat will dry flat, caked with sweat. Any moisture it incredibly is seeped into the blanket will stay there until eventually somebody takes it off him and shall we it dry, interior out, interior the sunlight. the splendid technique is to heat the pony up with a easy conceal, like a wool good blanket or cooler with surcingle straps, then eliminate. proceed the lunging as you will possibly routinely. as quickly as carried out, replace the wool cooler, or greater advantageous yet upload a cotton irish scrim THEN a wool cooler, and hand walk the pony until eventually he stops blowing and steaming. finally, the pony would desire to be groomed, in all risk using a nicely-rung-out towel after a number of good curries and brushings to strengthen off extra sweat. in basic terms after the pony is a similar temperature from throatlatch to between front legs is he allowed to stand in his stall and have loose get right of entry to to water. you prefer a clean instructor.

Answer 8

Wild and Free is right on this one.. . think saddle blankets. Not body blankets. Lots of consistent work, training, etc. to prep for shows. In other words, don't give lots of time off and wonder why you're not 'show ready'. ;)