Five Tips for Choosing a Horse’s Blanket

Fall is here, and even though the daytime temperatures might not yet feel like it, the changing leaves signify that winter will soon be on its way. If you have performance horses that you’re trying to keep slicked out for the futurities or early derbies, you’ll need to be prepared with the right kind of gear to not only keep their hair coats maintained, but to also help them stay warm when temps finally take the plunge.

With so many different types of horse blankets and sheets on the market, though, you might be confused on which your horse needs. Tegan Still, a product developer at Equibrand, which manages Classic Equine, Classic Rope, Rattler Rope and Martin Saddlery, gave Quarter Horse News some tips on choosing the right one.

Fit Is First

Before you start deciding what kind of blanket you’ll need, you’ll want to know what size and fit your horse requires. As build can vary from horse to horse, not every blanket will fit each horse the same way. The perfect blanket for your horse should be comfortable for them and not cause any rubs. Since stock horses in particular are often compact but broad, beware of blankets with lots of darts, or folds sewn into the fabric, which can create the wrong shape for your horse.

“A lot of blankets are over engineered,” Still said. “They have too many darts and can be unforgiving. They’ll rotate from side to side. You’ll see some will fall down and sit on one side in particular. Nine times out of 10, it’s because it has too many precise assumptions of a horse’s body. Unless the horse is just that perfect shape, it’s not going to sit the same on all body types.”

Straps can help the adjustability of a blanket that is slightly too big or small, but blankets that are quite large or shaped incorrectly can be dangerous for your horse, especially if his legs get caught in the straps. Plus, if the blanket isn’t covering the horse correctly, it’s not doing its job of keeping him warm.

Choose Your Options Wisely This horse has a well-fitted blanket with an open front. * Photo from Pexels

Once you know what size your horse needs, there are a few other things to consider. For instance, do you want an open or a closed front? Both have their pros, so what you choose may come down to personal preference.

“If you have a horse that you can’t slide it on over the head, then you may prefer an open front so that you can put it on over the back and then just do the front up,” Still said. “Some people may use a closed front just because they don’t want to mess with the buckles. But, the open front gives you some adjustability. If you’re going to use your sheet on a different horse next year that might have slightly larger shoulders, you might want to adjust it out a hole or something like that. A closed front, obviously, is not adjustable.”

Another choice you will need to make is whether or not you want your horse to wear a hood with his blanket. If you have a horse at home that isn’t showing and is warm enough in its barn, then you can likely go without putting a hood on. If you are hauling a horse to shows and want to keep him clean and slick, you might want to consider getting one.

“Generally, in the performance horse world, you want to keep your entire horse slick, so it’s nice to have that hood because it keeps their neck slick, as well,” Still said. “Their coat stays very even when you use a hood. But in some instances, like if you have a climate-controlled barn where you don’t need that little bit of extra warmth, sometimes they’ll be warm enough just with a slinky. It just depends on their environment.”

Pick a Slinky in Milder Weather This horse is wearing a slinky to stay clean but could use a size smaller. * Photo by Amy Olson

When most people think of blankets, they tend to think of a thicker material with some fill meant to keep horses warm and toasty. If your horse is going to be in an area with a mild winter, though, he might be OK with just a slinky. The purpose of a slinky, which is made from lightweight spandex, is to keep a horse’s hair coat shiny. On its own, it won’t provide much warmth, but it does prevent hair from standing up and puffing out.

“When you are showing, as soon as it gets under 60 degrees, we start putting slinkies on them at night time,” Still said. “It basically keeps that coat slick and keeps the hair laying down in the right direction, stops them from fluffing up if you have a cooler night.”

Slinkies will also keep your horse clean in their stall at events, shielding their hair and skin from manure spots, dust and grime. They can be layered under blankets and sheets to protect otherwise exposed areas like the belly, neck and mane.

Sheets Are Good for Lower Temps and Layering

If temps drop into the 40s and 50s, you might reach for a stable or turnout sheet next, depending on whether your horse is stalled or lives out in a pasture. Sheets have no fill and are ideal for lighter coverage. They can be layered over slinkies or can be used under heavier blankets.

If your horse stays outside, make sure his sheet is rated for the outdoors. You’ll want a higher denier count, as that will protect from rips, and some water resistance. Be advised, though, that water-resistant does not mean waterproof. If your horse is out in the rain, especially in the cold, you’ll want to keep an eye on him to make sure the blanket is not soaking through to his skin, which could cause him to get sick.

“Our turnout blankets’ exterior shells are waterproof, but you should always monitor your horse for dryness,” Still said. “If they’re out where they can’t get under a shelter and it’s been three days of constant rain, then you need to make sure that it hasn’t saturated the hair enough to seep under the chest or neckline, and they’re not getting wet underneath the blanket anywhere.”

When It’s Frigid, Reach for a Blanket

When temperatures get into the 30s and below, your horse could very easily get cold if he or she has no winter hair coat. A that point, you’ll want to go for a blanket with fill to make sure your horse can stay warm. The more grams of fill a blanket has, the warmer it is going to be.

“Our 5K blanket has 100 grams of fill, and then our 10K has 300 grams of fill, so the difference between them is which sort of climate you’re in and whether you’re layering or not layering,” Still said. “There’s so many different aspects that come into it, but you have to think about your climate and what you’re trying to achieve, and how much fill you desire in your blanket.”

Horses in cooler climates will generally have blankets with more fill. * Photo from Pexels

If your temps are a little too cold for a 100-gram blanket, but not low enough for a 300-gram blanket, you can pair your blanket with a sheet to find a happy medium.

One More Note

Since temps often fluctuate throughout the day, your nighttime blanketing system may not be appropriate for your horse during the daytime. Your horse should never start sweating under his blankets, as this can cause illness and other issues. Depending on the weather in your area, you may need to switch to a lighter blanket during the day or take off blankets completely to keep your horse comfortable.