Selecting a Horse Blanket

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I have great passion for a good horse blanket. My husband doesn't quite understand it; especially when I get carried away and buy what my horse doesn't really need. But, it's still fun searching for the perfect blanket even if you don't need one. Let's assume that you do need one!

The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you will be body clipping your horse during the colder months of the year. If you will be doing this, for competition or whatever, you will need to make sure your horse is blanketed properly; both in the stable and on turn out.

Here's a short list of what you will need:

1. A stable sheet
   
2. A stable blanket
   
3. A turnout sheet
   
4. A turnout blanket

In colder climates you may need more, or different, weights of blankets. For example, there are cotton sheets (the lightest), medium blankets (I like the Baker brand), and warmer hollowfill blankets. The warmest blankets can come in different weights as well, and some companies, like Wilsun, will custom make a horse blanket to your specific weight requirement.

In addition to the climate you are in, the horse itself may determine the weight required. An example might be a thin-skinned thoroughbred that's a "hard keeper" and needs additional warmth. This sort of horse may also have a harder time keeping weight on. A particular horse may also be hard on blankets.

Certain brands, such as Rambo, Weatherbeeta, and New Zealand are more durable. These will cost extra, but you don't want to buy a new horse blanket every year due to wear and tear.

One other thing to consider is the confirmation and breed of your horse. This relates to getting a good fit, and could determine the style or brand you need to purchase. There are now blankets available if your horse is high in the withers. So, it's important to understand how your horse should impact your selections.

There are a couple of horse blanket types that you will need to consider. A Quarter sheet is good to use when you've clipped your horse's hair and you need to keep the hind quarters warm while riding in cool to cold weather. In my opinion, this is a luxury item. Make sure you set a conservative budget before you start or you'll end up buying things you don't need.

Cooler sheets come as Fitted Coolers or Square Coolers. Fitted coolers are also known as a dress sheet or a dress cooler. The fitted coolers are used for style at the barn or at horseshows to keep your horse warm after a workout or competition. These can be found in wool or polar fleece. I've found that a good quality wool lasts much longer than polar fleece. Polar fleece tends to rip, tear or stretch. A wool cooler is more expensive, but you also won't be replacing it as often.

A square cooler comes over the neck. It you're not showing, I think that a nice wool square cooler is the best bet for your money.

One thing you might consider instead of a fitted or square cooler is an Irish Knit Skrim. The main difference is that these can be used year round and it pulls moisture from the horse. They are generally less expensive and not as warm. While they can be used year round, I would recommend you use something like this in the spring, summer or fall.

When blanketing your horse, you should always start with a cotton sheet as the bottom layer. Make sure this has a nylon shoulder lining to prevent shoulder rubs. Next add a medium with horse blanket - I recommend a Baker's brand medium stable blanket. There are other decent medium weight blankets and you can find many in the Dover catalog.

A heavy weight blanket is necessary for colder weather. I really like Weatherbeeta and Rambo brands. You can also get high quality custom weight blankets from Wilsun. If you need neck warmers or hoods due to weather, I don't recommend any lycra based hoods. And stick with something that doesn't go completely over the face. Most higher necked horse blankets should eliminate the need for a hood, in most cases. If your horse spends a significant amount of time outside, an attachable neck hood might be required; especially if your horse has been clipped.

On your first foray into the purchase of a horse blanket, I highly recommend that you utilize your local tack shop. This way, it's far easier to get the right fit for your horse since you can bring it right back for an exchange. In this first year, you simply need to find the best fit for your horse and it's hard to do online. As you become more experienced, you can venture online to find better prices and better brands.

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