This is a quick reminder to periodically pull your horse’s blanket off in the winter!

The East Coast has been unusually cold and icy these past few weeks. The horses where I board are all in heavyweight blankets and are going through a lot of extra hay.

Even though I’ve been unable to ride due to the ice, I made sure to pull my gelding’s blanket to check his weight. And sure enough, he dropped a bit. He is a senior horse with some dental issues that cause him to quid hay. This is his first winter on a complete feed and it’s been a bit of experimenting to find what works best for him.

If your horse isn’t blanketed, it’s still important to put your hand on them and check their body condition score. Ribs are not always as visible on a thick winter coat.