Yes, you can generally put a blanket on a wet horse, but only under specific conditions and with the right type of blanket. Putting the wrong cover on a wet horse can trap moisture, leading to skin issues or rapid chilling. The key is knowing when to blanket and what kind of blanket to use to help the horse dry effectively without harm. This guide will walk you through the safe steps for drying a wet horse and when covering them is helpful or harmful.
Assessing Your Wet Horse: When to Cover and When to Wait
The decision to blanket a wet horse depends heavily on how wet the horse is, the weather conditions, and what the horse was doing just before it got wet. Simply covering a blanket on soaking horse without thought is often a bad idea.
Degrees of Wetness
Not all wet is the same. We must look closely at how soaked your horse is.
- Damp (Lightly Moist): The horse has only a light sheen or scattered damp spots. The skin underneath feels mostly dry.
- Wet (Sweaty or Rained On): The coat is visibly saturated, and water might drip when you run your hand over it. This often happens after a good rain shower or a light horse sweating after exercise.
- Soaking (Drenched): The horse is dripping heavily, perhaps from a severe downpour or heavy washing. This state requires the most careful management for preventing chills in horses.
Environmental Factors to Consider
The outside temperature and wind play a huge role in how quickly a horse dries and how vulnerable they are to getting sick.
- Cold and Windy: If it is cold and windy, the evaporation process happens very fast. This rapid cooling can quickly lead to a chill. In these cases, quick action is needed.
- Warm and Humid: If it is warm but very humid, drying takes much longer. A blanket might trap the humidity, leading to skin problems like fungus or rubs.
- Shelter Availability: Do you have a dry, draft-free space? If not, managing the wetness outside becomes harder.
Safe Practices for Drying a Wet Horse
The goal when managing a wet horse is always to encourage natural drying while supporting the horse’s body temperature regulation.
Toweling and Scraping
Before you even think about a blanket, you should help remove as much surface water as possible. This is crucial for stable management wet horse.
Immediate Actions
- Use a Rubber Curry Comb or Sweat Scraper: Start by scraping excess water off the horse’s body. This forces water droplets off the hair shaft, speeding up drying time significantly. Work in the direction of hair growth.
- Vigorous Toweling: Use old, absorbent towels (like large beach towels or specialized chamois) to rub down the horse firmly. Focus on the main muscle groups where heat is generated. Be thorough but gentle.
- Target High-Risk Areas: Pay special attention to the belly, flanks, and the area under the mane, as these spots stay wet the longest and are prone to rubbing.
The Role of Movement
If the horse is horse sweating after exercise, movement helps generate internal heat to aid the drying a wet horse process.
- Light Work or Walking: If conditions allow, walking the horse quietly in a dry, covered area helps the muscles generate warmth. This internal heat helps “cook off” the remaining moisture from the inside out.
- Cool Down: If the sweating was due to exercise, a proper cool-down walk is essential before any blanketing decision is made. This prevents tightening muscles and reduces immediate heavy sweating.
Deciphering When to Blanket: The Safety Timeline
Deciding when to blanket a wet horse is the most critical part of the process. We look at two main scenarios: post-exercise sweat and rain/washing.
Scenario 1: Horse Sweating After Exercise
When a horse exercises heavily, it sweats to cool down. Covering them immediately traps that sweat, which defeats the purpose of cooling and can cause serious issues.
Never put a standard turnout blanket on a horse that is actively sweating heavily.
The Right Approach to Post-Exercise Wetness
- Cool Down First: Always walk the horse until their breathing returns to normal and sweat stops actively running.
- Use a Cooler (Wicking Blanket): This is the key item for after-ride care horse. A cooler, often made of wool, fleece, or specialized wicking material, is designed to draw moisture away from the skin and release it into the air.
- Keep Moving/Walking: Keep the horse walking slowly while wearing the cooler, especially in a draft-free area. This helps the cooler do its job efficiently.
- Monitor: Check the horse frequently. Once the cooler feels damp and the horse feels dry underneath when you touch their skin, remove the cooler. If the horse starts to cool down too much (shivering), you may need a slightly heavier layer once mostly dry.
Scenario 2: Rain or Washing
If the horse is soaking wet from rain or a bath, the approach differs based on the temperature.
Cold Weather Blanketing
If the horse is wet, cold, and the temperature is dropping, the priority is preventing chills in horses.
- Towel Dry Thoroughly: Scrape and towel the horse as much as possible.
- Apply a Waterproof Turnout Sheet (Lightweight): If the horse is still quite wet but you need them outside, use a waterproof, breathable turnout sheet. This stops new rain from soaking them further while allowing what little moisture is under the blanket to escape. Crucially, this is not for warmth; it’s for protection.
- Stable Management: If indoors, use a light fleece cooler or toweling while monitoring closely. The goal is to transition to a dry, warming up a cold wet horse environment quickly.
Warm Weather Blanketing
If it is warm, putting any blanket on a soaking horse is usually unnecessary and harmful. They will dry faster naturally outside than under a sheet that might trap humidity against their skin. Focus solely on scraping and toweling, and let the sun and air do the work.
Choosing the Best Blanket for Wet Horse Situations
The material and design of the cover matter immensely when dealing with moisture.
Coolers and Wicking Blankets
Coolers are essential for managing moisture content. They do not repel water; they manage sweat.
| Cooler Type | Best Use Case | Key Feature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece/Polar Fleece | Everyday after-ride care horse; light sweat. | Excellent wicking action; dries quickly itself. | Good for moderate temperatures. |
| Wool | More intense sweat; cooler temperatures. | Superior heat retention and wicking; heavy duty. | Can be heavy when fully saturated. |
| Wicking Sheet (Mesh/Wicking Blend) | Heavy sweating in warmer weather. | Maximum breathability; lightweight. | Best for horse sweating after exercise when it’s not cold. |
Turnout Sheets vs. Turnout Blankets
If you must cover a wet horse due to severe weather, you need a sheet, not a fully insulated blanket.
- Turnout Sheet (No Fill): This is a waterproof, windproof outer shell with no insulating fill. Its purpose is to keep external water off while letting internal moisture escape (if the sheet is breathable). This is the safest choice for covering a damp horse outside in the rain.
- Turnout Blanket (Insulated): These have fill (like polyfill) for warmth. Do not put an insulated blanket on a soaking wet horse. It will trap the moisture against the skin, slow drying, and rapidly pull heat away from the horse, making them colder.
Breathability: The Secret to Safe Covering
Modern stable management wet horse relies heavily on breathable materials. Breathable fabrics allow water vapor (steam) created by the horse’s body heat to pass through the fabric layers and evaporate. Non-breathable plastic-backed sheets trap this vapor, causing condensation on the inside—leaving the horse feeling clammy and often leading to skin infections.
Warming Up a Cold Wet Horse Safely
If you have a horse that is genuinely cold—shivering, lethargic, and soaking wet from a sudden storm—immediate, careful action is required to avoid hypothermia. This involves warming up a cold wet horse gradually.
Step-by-Step Warming Protocol
- Get Indoors: Move the horse into a draft-free stall immediately.
- Scrape and Towel: Remove all standing water using scrapers and towels. This is non-negotiable.
- Apply a Cooler: Put a good quality fleece or wool cooler on the horse. If they are shivering violently, you might consider layering a second, slightly heavier cooler over the first one temporarily.
- Offer Warm Water: Encourage the horse to drink lukewarm (not hot) water. Hydration aids in internal temperature regulation.
- Monitor Heat: Feel the horse’s ears and legs frequently. If the ears feel icy cold, the core is struggling. If the ears start to feel warm, the cooling process is working, and the horse is starting to generate its own heat.
- Remove Layers Gradually: As the horse begins to dry and warm up, remove the first cooler layer. Once the second layer is damp, remove it. Do not leave a wet cooler on a horse once it has absorbed moisture.
Preventing Chills in Horses Proactively
The best strategy is always prevention.
- If you know you have to wash a horse in cold weather, wash only the parts absolutely necessary.
- If you are trailering a horse home after a cold ride, ensure you have a warm, dry place ready and the correct cooler waiting.
- For horses prone to catching chills, consider clipping coats during winter, as long hair holds moisture much longer than short hair.
Special Considerations for Clipped Horses
A horse with a clipped coat dries much faster than one with a full winter coat. However, they are also more susceptible to cold when wet.
- Clipped and Sweaty: A clipped horse that sweats during exercise will often dry much faster under a cooler than an unclipped horse.
- Clipped and Rained On: If a clipped horse gets caught in the rain, they will chill much faster. In this case, covering a damp horse with a waterproof turnout sheet is often necessary, even if they are only slightly damp, to protect them until they can be brought into a warm stable to dry fully.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Covering a Damp Horse
Many well-meaning owners make mistakes that harm their horses more than help them when dealing with wetness.
Mistake 1: Blanketing Too Soon
This is the biggest error. Blanketing too soon traps moisture. The trapped moisture increases the risk of skin issues like rain rot or fungal infections (like girth itch). The trapped water also pulls heat away from the body through evaporation—the exact opposite of what a blanket should do.
Mistake 2: Using a Dirty or Old Blanket
If you are covering a damp horse, the blanket must be clean. Dirty blankets can carry bacteria and fungus, which thrive in the damp, warm environment created between the blanket and the horse’s skin. Always ensure blankets are washed regularly.
Mistake 3: Leaving the Blanket On Too Long
Even a breathable cooler or sheet should come off once the horse is dry. Leaving a dry horse under a cooler, especially indoors, can cause them to overheat, sweat slightly, and become damp again, or lead to rubs due to friction. Check the horse at least every hour when actively using a cooler.
Mistake 4: Using a Non-Waterproof Sheet in Rain
If you are putting a sheet on a soaking horse outside to keep more rain off, ensure it is fully waterproof (high denier rating). If you use a flimsy, non-waterproof sheet, it will soak through, and you’ve essentially wrapped your horse in a wet, heavy sponge.
Maintaining Dryness: Stable Management Wet Horse Routine
Good stable management wet horse routines keep your horse healthy year-round.
Daily Checks
Make it a habit to check the horse’s condition every time you handle them.
- Feel the coat texture: Is it smooth, or is it slightly bumpy (piloerection, signaling they are cold)?
- Check for rubs: Look under the chin, behind the elbows, and along the girth line, especially if a blanket has been worn.
Blanketing Schedule Adjustment
In the transition seasons (spring and fall), weather changes rapidly. You might need a flexible schedule.
- Have best blanket for wet horse options ready: A lightweight waterproof sheet, a medium-weight fleece cooler, and a dry turnout blanket.
- If rain stops, remove the turnout sheet immediately and replace it with a fleece cooler until dry. Then, remove the cooler.
Drying Areas
If possible, dedicate an area for drying horses. This area should be:
- Draft-free.
- Well-ventilated (but not breezy).
- Warm—perhaps near the main barn aisle where body heat is present, but away from heavy traffic.
Final Thoughts on Safety
Putting a blanket on a wet horse is a nuanced task. It requires assessment of the environment, the horse’s condition, and the type of cover you select. Prioritize scraping, toweling, and using specialized wicking materials like coolers for drying a wet horse after exercise. Use waterproof, breathable sheets only when absolutely necessary for preventing chills in horses outdoors in harsh, wet, cold conditions. When in doubt, keep the horse moving lightly, scrape excess water off, and let the air do the final work, rather than risking trapped moisture. Proper after-ride care horse procedures, which include correct cooling and drying, prevent illness and maintain coat health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I put a standard fleece blanket on a horse soaking wet from rain?
No, it is generally not recommended. A standard fleece blanket will absorb the water, becoming very heavy, and slow down the drying process significantly by holding moisture directly against the skin. You should always scrape and towel down the horse first. If the horse is cold, use a fleece cooler first to wick moisture, and only transition to a dry, insulated blanket once the horse is nearly dry underneath.
How long should I leave a cooler on my horse after exercise?
There is no fixed time. Leave the cooler on only as long as it takes for the horse to dry fully. Check frequently (every 20–30 minutes). Once the cooler feels damp or heavy, and you touch the horse’s skin and it feels dry and warm, remove the cooler immediately. If you leave a damp cooler on, it stops working and can cause the horse to chill or develop rubs.
What if my horse continues to sweat under a blanket indoors?
If a horse continues horse sweating after exercise or starts sweating under a blanket indoors, the blanket is likely too heavy or the horse is not fully cooled down. Remove the blanket immediately. If the horse is still warm, walk them for a few minutes or increase ventilation in the stall. If the sweating continues heavily, you may need to switch to a lighter wicking sheet until the active sweating stops.
Is it better to leave a wet horse outside or bring them into a cold barn?
This depends on the external conditions. If it is sunny, warm, and there is no wind, drying outside is best for natural evaporation. If it is cold, windy, or actively raining, bringing the horse into a dry, draft-free area (even if the barn is cool) is safer for preventing chills in horses. The key is avoiding wind chill while they are wet.
What is the best way to manage a horse’s coat clipping schedule for winter?
For horses that work hard in the winter, a partial or full clip is common. If you clip, you must be prepared for stable management wet horse more often. A clipped horse needs protection from rain and wind, meaning a high-quality waterproof and breathable turnout rug is essential when they are outside.