Blanketing Decision Guide

Proper blanketing protects horses from weather while avoiding overheating. The Blanketing Decision Helper considers multiple factors.


Key factors:

  • Temperature: The primary driver of blanket weight decisions
  • Wind chill: Wind significantly increases cold stress
  • Precipitation: Wet conditions require waterproof blankets
  • Clip status: Clipped horses need more coverage than unclipped
  • Body condition: Thin horses need blanketing sooner
  • Breed: Hardy breeds tolerate cold better than Thoroughbreds

    • General guidelines (unclipped horses):

  • Above 50F: No blanket needed
  • 40-50F: Light sheet if windy or wet
  • 30-40F: Medium weight (150-200g fill)
  • 20-30F: Heavy weight (300g+ fill)
  • Below 20F: Heavy blanket, consider layering

    • Clipped horses: Add one weight category warmer than the guidelines above.


    Important: These are starting points. Observe your horse's behavior — shivering, tucked up posture, or a cold touch behind the ears indicates they need more warmth.

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