Horse blanket how-to"s & tips

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How to measure and purchase the right blanket for your horse(s)

The choices when it comes to purchasing a horse blanket are tremendous, and also tremendously confusing. Size, weight, water resistant, waterproof, breathable, turnout, stable blanket, heaviness, thickness, shape; there seems to be no end in possibilities. No horse is built the same, nor is in the same living conditions, so in a way it is good there are so many choices, but it does get a bit confusing. In this article weâll try to make things a little less confusing, and help you at least get in the right direction towards purchasing the right blanket for you and your horse(s).

Why blanket?

A horse has a great natural layer of insulation, his/her coat. As summer turns into fall and the temperature drops, the coat grows. In colder weather, the hairs of the horse will stand up and a stagnant layer of air is created. This non-moving layer of air is one of natureâs best methods of insulating any animal. When you take this layer away by either clipping your horse, or when the horse has no protection from the elements with a shelter and wind and/or rain/sleet brings the hairs down, we as the caregivers and responsible horse owners must provide with an alternative. Hence the blankets.

Finding the right size, or how do I measure my horse

Generally speaking, the easiest way to determine the correct size for your horse is to measure the horse from the center of the chest to the end of the buttocks. Most brand of horse blankets size their blankets according to that measurement, so when your horse measures 77 inches from the center of the chest to the end of the buttocks, a size 78 would be the correct size for your horse. Some European brands measure slightly different, they size by measuring from the center of the chest to all around to the tail and then subtracting 4 inches. Harry's Horse is one of the brands that determines the sizing that way.

Sometimes people make the mistake to buy a size too large for their horse. That is ok, if the blanket is going to be a 'top layer' with several layers under it, but not if it will be a bottom layer. It is a nice thought to cover the buttocks, but in reality is interferes with the horse. Not only will the blankets get stained with manure, but you will find rubs on the shoulders and neck/mane. Your horse will not be the first to have lost part of the mane because the blanket 'rubbed the wrong way'. Gussets will help with rubbing, but not when the blanket is simply too big.

Breathable, water resistant and waterproof

It is hard to find the perfect balance between waterproof and breathable. A waterproof blanket will not let any water through; a water resistant blanket will let water through when it gets really wet in for instance a heavy rainstorm. Breathable simply means the moisture will wick slowly over time. Do not expect it to be instant.

When your horse is outside in all elements it is going to be a âtoughâ, because waterproof and breathable donât go hand in hand very well. For the more playful horse it is important that the blanket is breathable, so if he does get sweaty from running around, the moisture will evaporate and he doesnât stay wet, cold and may get sick or at least chilly. So for the more docile horse that is out a lot your choice may be more leaning towards a more waterproof blanket.

Layering and blanket weights

Laundering blankets is a hassle and costly. A fairly simple way to avoid to extra cost, deterioration of your blanket and fact that you will need several expensive blankets, is to put a simple cotton sheet as a first layer. These sheets are easy to launder on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, whatever you prefer. When the chill is in the air, a nice fleece will help with regulating the horses body temperature, fleece wicks the moisture away and provides warmth when needed.

While the horse is stabled it is nice to put a stable blanket on. Usually these are mid-weight, anywhere from 200-400 gr. Stable blankets are generally much easier to wash then turnouts, especially the heavy big ones, so to avoid that it is an option to put 2 stable blankets on a horse when it is really cold outside.

Turnout blankets and sheets are either waterproof or water resistant (see above) and come in a variety of weights as well. When your horse is outside and the wind is hauling a nice thick heavy turnout (donât forget the neck gator!) may keep your horse comfortable. But putting on several layers with a thinner top turnout sheet may do the trick as well.

How can I tell if my horse is too hot or too cold?

The telltale sign of a hot horse is of course sweating. But donât judge the sweating just by the shoulders, sometimes the plastic lining from the blanket is rubbing the horse and causing him to sweat (because of lack of breathing ability of the blanket right at the shoulders) while the rest of the horse is actually quite chilly. A cotton sheet in this case will really help! Now if the horse is also sweating at other places, especially in front of the hips, then definitely take of a layer!

But how do you know if a horse is cold? IF you see your horse shivering, of course, but that is often the very last stage for the horse. There are other signs that appear much sooner. Feeling the chest and on the inside of the hind legs are an indication, but another telltale sign is the ridgeline on the stomach. When you look at your horse from a distance, youâll see a faint line when he tucks in his tummy, right under the rib cage. If you see this line, the horse is physically stressed, in other words, just plain cold! He is pulling his organs up into the belly cavity to protect himself. And this happens before you will see your horse shiver.

If you need more help with finding the right size or blanket, don't hesitate to contact us through the chat or email buttons!