It can get down right nasty in the SE with cold
front rains that usually come in the middle of the night. When the horses are
camping a waterproof sheet helps and maybe a layer of fleece.
But don't forget the most important thing....hay.
Lots and lots of hay. A healthy horse really shouldn't have any problems in the
rain, as long as they have something to keep the internal fires burning. I have
seen my horses stop shivering in a matter of minutes once they started to chomp
away. I had two horses go through a whole bale one night during a really cold
rain in Tennessee. Every time I checked on them, they were wet, (didn't have
raincoats yet) but not a muscle was twitching.
Also, another valid reason to keep your horses in
good flesh. If they have enough body fat, they are pretty well insulated. But
when a horse comes to a ride to thin, and over worked, their health and well
being will be compromised no matter how many blankets you put on. If they spend
the night trying to stay warm, and then have to go out and run 50 miles,
things might not go right in the end.
I have started to carry lots of hay when I go to
rides. That way, if we get caught in rain, I can leave a bale in the pen and let
them munch on that. If I have hay leftover, I just take it home.
If you do put your horses in the trailer, make sure
they are quiet. We camped next to someone who did that, and none of the dozen or
so trailers around got any sleep that night! Stomping and screaming is all we
heard, all night loooooong.
