Many people ask me how the horses manage when it is bitterly cold outside. The herd at The Equine Connection are all in very good health. They have all grown a thick, long winter coat to get them through the winter months. Although I rarely blanket my horses, I will blanket an older horse that is having trouble keeping her/his weight on. One of the senior horses right now is Landor. He will be 20 years old in January. Although 20 is not particularly old for many breeds, he has most certainly entered his senior years. He is very large - 18 hands 2. The largest horse I have ever met. He has arthritis and lives with a body that has had more than its fair share of injuries. One of the ladies who has befriended Landor offered a nice, warm blanket big enough to fit him. He looks very handsome in his blanket, and is very appreciative, as am I. As my colleague Helen explained to me, the blanket simply helps conserve body heat. In addition to the horses growing a winter coat for the winter, and Landor getting a blanket to supplement his own fur, if it is extremely cold I feed them extra hay. So, the herd is set for the winter and will now enjoy some rest from the equine-assisted learning and therapy work they do in the spring, summer and fall. Just like us they too need pauses and it is good self-care for them to have the winter off from work.