Horses grow great winter coats. If they have a shed to get in out of the wind and wet they can manage without blankets, especially if they are fed good. They are actually better off without blankets, their own coats are plenty. OK, I didn't know that. The horse I'm talking about is quite old and feeble, he was "rescued" from some type of bad situation. I know this only cause my wife stopped one day with Sarah to get a look at the horses.
SD
an older horse should probably have all the help they can get. I remember readinga poem one time and one line stuck with me and made me think hard on the issue. It was being said by a horse and said something like "and when I reach old age love me enough to know when it is time to put me down. Turning me out pasture with arthritis and bad teeth is not always the kindest thing you can do for me." So many people won't make the hard decisions, and think they are doing them a favor by just not riding them.
And I would rather put down an older horse who is past use then watch him go down slowly on their own. I think medical science for horses have actually been a bit detrimental to horse. With all the good feed and med. and everything horse can be kept alive longer then their bodies were meant to last. I see alot of old horse that should have been dead long ago,
Becky