Many horses today have wardrobes that rival those of their owners—winter rugs, turnout sheets, rain covers, fly gear, and more. We know these blankets can help keep horses warm, dry, and fly-free, but how they impact some aspects of horse health remain unclear. Take vitamin D, for example: Horses need sunlight to synthesize this vitamin that’s important for bone health. So does blanketing affect their ability to produce it? That’s what a research team from New Zealand recently tried to find out.

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