In Canada, it’s especially important that your horse has the right blanket. Horse blankets can help to keep your equine friend warm, healthy and happy during the colder months, winter turnout and throughout the year. Our experts at System Equine can help you find the right horse blanket by considering deciding factors such as type, weight, maintenance, and the correct fit. Let’s take a closer look and then help you find the best blanket for your horse.
Type
When it comes to the type of horse blanket, there are several options available to you that can help to keep your horse warm, especially during winter turnout. You can choose from a variety of horse blankets, from stable blankets to turnout sheets and more.
- Turnout blankets
- Stable blankets
- Fly sheets
- Coolers and scrims
- Quarter sheets
- Therapeutic blankets
- Hoods
Today, we are going to focus on two of the most standard options: stable blankets and turnout blankets.
Stable Blankets
Stable blankets are generally used while inside the barn. They are not waterproof, so it’s best to only use them while your horse is in the barn. These horse blankets are designed with a centre seam and rump darts, giving it a contoured shape to properly fit your horse. They are also available with hoods for additional warmth on particularly cold days or nights, or for horses than have a full clip that might require more blanket coverage.
Turnout Blankets
Turnout blankets and sheets offer many of the same benefits as stable blankets but are waterproof. These blankets are generally best for horses outside in the paddock on a cold, snowy or rainy day. Even if it’s dry outside, moisture in the air and surprise rainfall can quickly dampen a blanket that isn’t waterproof. If left on your horse for a prolonged amount of time, a wet blanket can cause irritation, discomfort and can even lead to unwanted skin conditions.
Fill
The amount of fill in a horse blanket can affect how warm it keeps your horse. The more fill in the blanket, the warmer your horse will be. With this in mind, other factors that can determine how much fill is the right amount for your horse can also include the climate, environment inside the stable and condition of your horse’s coat.
Here is a general guide to help you determine how much fill your horse blanket should have:
- Sheet with No Fill: Protection from wind and rain
- 100 Gram Fill: Light warmth
- 150 Gram Fill: Light/medium warmth
- 200 Gram Fill: Medium warmth
- 250 Gram Fill: Medium/heavy warmth
- 300 Gram Fill: Heavy warmth
- 400 Gram Fill: Extra heavy warmth
For help choosing the right amount of fill for your needs, speak with our team of equine experts at our tack store today.
Size
Before purchasing a horse blanket from your local tack store, you must first measure your horse. To simplify this process, we suggest having a second person help you and follow the steps below:
- Stand your horse on a flat, even surface and place the tape measure at the middle of their chest.
- Have your second person hold the end of the tape measure in place and then run the tape measure straight alongside the horse’s body until you reach the middle of their tail.
- This measurement should give you an indication of the size blanket needed. If the measurement falls in between sizes, we suggest moving to the next size up to be safe.
For horses with a wider shoulder, we recommend going with a blanket that has a higher or specialized gusset. For a horse with a higher wither, you will need a blanket that has a higher cut or full neck, as it can relieve pressure on the wither.
Cleaning
Washing your horse blanket is something you will want to do several times a year, generally at the end of the season. For this job, we recommend bringing it to a specialized cleaning service to help ensure that it is cleaned correctly and the blanket isn’t accidentally ruined. If you do choose to wash the blanket at home, use a specialized detergent for horse blankets. Afterwards, hang to dry – never put a horse blanket in the dryer. If it is a waterproof blanket, you will need to re-waterproof it with a waterproofing product.
Horse Blankets for Sale at System Equine
Visit our blog for more helpful information about horse blankets and other pieces of equestrian tack. To get started, visit our horse tack store today where one of our experts will be more than happy to assist you with winter turnout, caring for your horse and even upgrading your barn. From horse blankets, grooming essentials and supplements, to horse fencing, stalls, dutch doors and more, System Equine has you covered.
