Marlene, can you turn him out with just a duck
canvas turnout blanket for this first winter and then by next winter he should
be acclimated to your weather?
We are orignally from San Jose and rarely every
blanketed our horses (unless I was showing), when we moved to Mariposa near
(Yosemite) we blanketed the first winter, simply
because it got darn cold up here! (Not as cold as you guys probably
get though) 4 years later they don't wear blankets now and they are doing
just fine.
It is true that the shorter days (shorter sunlight)
does seem to encourage the growth of hair in horses...that is why a lot of show
barns have lights on in the stalls 24/7 to inhibit or stall the growth of
hair.
I think we as people forget that the
horses round body is designed for HEAT RETENTION, a lot of us blanket
because it makes us feel better. Its also easier to keep them clean.
If it were me I would try and blanket him this first year, if anything it would
make me feel better. :)
