Cold Weather, Even Colder Horse

QHJewel672 · 12-14-2005, 06:24 PM

Well here in Minnesota we got hit by a snow storm, I Get home around 4pm So i dont have much time to ride. I went to the barn to saddle up Roxy and she was wet as all could be!!! Did everything to dry her off Nothing worked. she is 98%arab and the rest paint So she is thin skined. What im trying to ask is when she is wet Do i try to dry her off, do the best i can and ride Or do i just not ride. She was SO cold she was shaking and everything. Also when she is wet is it ok to put a blanket on her or just let her dry off by her self.

~Allie~
http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org...ifieds/ad56991

snickers · 12-14-2005, 07:06 PM

Tough one.
I would try and dry her off as much as I
could. If she is too wet, I would not ride her.
Saddle pads do have a tendency to rub raw
spots on wet backed horses.
If she is not to wet, I would blanket her.
I have had slightly wet horses blanketed,
and dry underneath.
Dont know if this helps.
If I could, I would send some warmer cold
your way. Stay safe.

beth55051 · 12-14-2005, 09:01 PM

I wouldn't ride her if she's wet. The saddle and pad will just rub her hair off esp. if she's thin skinned.

What I do if my horses are wet and shivering is blanket them until they are not. I use water repellent blankets not cordura and felt. I leave the blanket on until they are completely dry and warm. I don't take the blanket off until it stops snowing and is sunny out otherwise they can get chilled.

It might not be a bad idea just to buy her a good quality blanket and plan on putting it on her before it starts to snow. Something with a 1000 or better denier nylon will repel snow and water fairly well. Either that or stall her. But then there's the stall to clean.

pasomystic · 12-14-2005, 09:10 PM

Totally agree with Beth--if your horse is shivering, blanket. My horse never shivers, lol, and therefor I do not blanket, he has a nice full winter coat, and it seldom rains here--cold and dry, which he loves. But any horse shivering needs some help.

Sasilady · 12-14-2005, 09:26 PM

Like Snickers said, dry her off...take some towels and rub as much of the moisture out of her coat as you can, then put a blanket or two on her until her coat is dry. Warm water and maybe a warm mash with free choice hay would go over well too. I just read some ideas for cold wet horses in a magazine yesterday, and using a hair dryer after toweling to dry her off was mentioned too. If you think she can handle the excitement!

Good luck!

Rebecca · 12-15-2005, 08:11 AM

I would not ride a wet shivering horse for much the same reasons already mentioned.
Use plenty of towels, get the horse's belly dry too.
The rubbing will help stimulate circulation. Then blanket the horse and keep the horse under shelter until the shivering stops.
I have used a hair dryer before. Once the horse got used to the sound,
he loved it.

Rebecca

12-14-2005, 06:24 PM
QHJewel672 Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milaca Minnesota Posts: 341	Cold Weather, Even Colder Horse Well here in Minnesota we got hit by a snow storm, I Get home around 4pm So i dont have much time to ride. I went to the barn to saddle up Roxy and she was wet as all could be!!! Did everything to dry her off Nothing worked. she is 98%arab and the rest paint So she is thin skined. What im trying to ask is when she is wet Do i try to dry her off, do the best i can and ride Or do i just not ride. She was SO cold she was shaking and everything. Also when she is wet is it ok to put a blanket on her or just let her dry off by her self. ~Allie~ http://horsetopia.horse-for-sale.org...ifieds/ad56991

12-14-2005, 07:06 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 9,801	Tough one. I would try and dry her off as much as I could. If she is too wet, I would not ride her. Saddle pads do have a tendency to rub raw spots on wet backed horses. If she is not to wet, I would blanket her. I have had slightly wet horses blanketed, and dry underneath. Dont know if this helps. If I could, I would send some warmer cold your way. Stay safe. __________________ The "real" FACE of white trash is not here. http://diamondpfarm.webs.com/

12-14-2005, 09:01 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,966	Cold horse I wouldn't ride her if she's wet. The saddle and pad will just rub her hair off esp. if she's thin skinned. What I do if my horses are wet and shivering is blanket them until they are not. I use water repellent blankets not cordura and felt. I leave the blanket on until they are completely dry and warm. I don't take the blanket off until it stops snowing and is sunny out otherwise they can get chilled. It might not be a bad idea just to buy her a good quality blanket and plan on putting it on her before it starts to snow. Something with a 1000 or better denier nylon will repel snow and water fairly well. Either that or stall her. But then there's the stall to clean.

12-14-2005, 09:10 PM
pasomystic Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,926	Totally agree with Beth--if your horse is shivering, blanket. My horse never shivers, lol, and therefor I do not blanket, he has a nice full winter coat, and it seldom rains here--cold and dry, which he loves. But any horse shivering needs some help. __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.

12-14-2005, 09:26 PM
Sasilady Newborn Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Monticello, ME Posts: 30	Like Snickers said, dry her off...take some towels and rub as much of the moisture out of her coat as you can, then put a blanket or two on her until her coat is dry. Warm water and maybe a warm mash with free choice hay would go over well too. I just read some ideas for cold wet horses in a magazine yesterday, and using a hair dryer after toweling to dry her off was mentioned too. If you think she can handle the excitement! Good luck!

12-15-2005, 08:11 AM
Rebecca Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East Texas Posts: 3,184	I would not ride a wet shivering horse for much the same reasons already mentioned. Use plenty of towels, get the horse's belly dry too. The rubbing will help stimulate circulation. Then blanket the horse and keep the horse under shelter until the shivering stops. I have used a hair dryer before. Once the horse got used to the sound, he loved it. Rebecca