I've noticed that if my horses are shivering
because of wind, and rain/sleet/snow conditions (that's the only time I've ever
seen them shiver, btw) that as soon as I throw out some hay, and they start
eating, they stop shivering. Right away.
Don't know if it's "psychological" partly, or just
physical. But the minute they huddle around the hay and eat, they're
A-OK. I do know that if it's a cloudy, blustery, rainy and/or sleety day,
they will eat more hay and I know it keeps them warm.
Back when we had pasture, they'd be out in the
pasture eating even dead grass on a cold, windy day and be just fine. Now
we don't have so much readily available grass so they're dependent on the
hay. Sure makes a difference.
(I don't blanket any of our horses unless I'm at
camp, or trailering in very cold weather.)
