I have always felt like I should put my Drafts in when they have gotten soaked to the bone wet and the weather is expected to drop very quickly. And I mean in the 20's and 30's. So here is the question...How much of an extreme is there for Drafts?? I know they can take quite alot when it comes to weather but how much is too much for them? Also, I have a yearling cross should I be more careful with her untill she gets older? I just have always felt she can't quite handle the extremes yet being so young. What are your thoughts on this?

I'm with you, Becki--I hate to see a horse shiver. I'd definitely give them shelter. If they're wet, they can't even fluff out their hair to trap any body heat at all. Then if it gets windy, they've got to be miserably uncomfortable, to say the very least. Obviously, horses can survive nasty weather just fine. Wild horses certainly don't have nice dry barns to go into, but I can't imagine it does any horse's health any good to get so chilled.

Horses can withstand a lot of cold, but not if they get soaking wet. So snow and minus 40 F is ok, rain and 40 degrees F can cause some serious cold shivering. If they have shelter, this will help a lot, as they will choose to use it when they need to. Youngsters won't have nearly as much padding as adults and can be more sensitive. My draft cross is a lot more tolerant of cold and wet than our Thoroughbred for the same reason. Be sure to have so some good blankets to use when you find your horses shivering.

I do have a big walk-in stall that all 3 can fit in, but it is rare that they are in it, even when it is cold and rainy. So, I guess this means they are okay with it. But of course my cross yearling won't go in unless the Belgian and Percheron go in. So I guess I will just debate whether I have to put her in. Thanks for the info.