Trust the Horse: Study Shows Horses Decide When to Wear Blankets
Conversations in Equine Science
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Show Notes
This episode reviews a 2019 study where 23 horses were trained to use symbols to indicate whether they wanted a blanket put on, left on, or removed. Researchers tested horse choices across a range of temperatures, wind, rain, and seasons to see how weather and individual factors influenced blanket preference.
Key findings: horses overwhelmingly chose blankets at very low temperatures (below −10°C/14°F) and tended to reject blankets above about 10°C/50°F, with most preferring no blanket around 20°C/68°F. Wind, precipitation, clipping, age, and individual variation also affected choices. The episode emphasizes observing each horse and adjusting blanketing to weather and the horse’s needs.