Horse Blanket
A Mini Guide to Blanket Types & Fitting
Choosing a horse blanket for your horse can be confusing. You may find the easiest place to start is at a tack shop.
Whether you stable or to turn out your horse, you will likely need to make sure the blanket you choose properly fits. The climate in which you reside does play a huge factor when choosing a blanket. You will likely not be shopping for a heavy winter blanket if you live in Texas or Florida.
In this mini guide for selecting the proper horse blanket, we will be discussing how to measure and fit your horse, the different types of blankets, and when it's appropriate to blanket.
Measuring & Fitting
You
will first need to measure your horse for a
new blanket. To do this it may be helpful to have someone help you. You
may also want to make sure your horse is secured first. Take your tape
measure and begin measuring from the middle of your horse's chest,
around the widest part of his shoulder, the widest part of his barrel,
around his hip, to the middle of the back side of the tail.
If you have someone help you, they can hold the tape measure still at the front of your horse while you continue to measure. The number you see at this point will indicate the size of the horse blanket you will be looking for. For example, if you see 80 inches, then you will be looking for a size 80 blanket.
If your horse is an odd number, it is recommended that you go up to the next size. SO if your horse measures 79 inches, then you will be looking for a size 80 horse blanket.
How To Fit
Now that you have the size you need, it's time to head down to your local tack shop for some assistance with selecting the right horse blanket.
If you are a first time buyer or are very new to picking out a horse blanket, I recommend going to your local tack shop because staff there will likely be able to give you some valuable advice when choosing the right blanket for your horse.
Since Stock-Horse-Show-Source focuses mainly on stock breed horses you will likely be looking for a different fit than if you owned a taller or thinner warmblood. Keep in mind your horse's size and body type when shopping for a properly fitting blanket.
A blanket that is too large will be a hazard because it will have a hard time staying in place. A blanket that is too small will likely rub the hair off your horse's chest and shoulders.
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Types Of Blankets
There are so many different types of blankets on the market to choose from. It can be difficult to determine what you need for your horse and your horse may end up needing more than one type of blanket.You can break it down into a couple different categories of blankets. There is the turnout blanket category and the stable blanket category. Blankets in each category are made a little different due to the elements a horse in each category is likely to be exposed to.
Turnout Blanket
The turnout horse blanket is best used on horses that will be turned out to the pasture for long periods of time.
Typically those that are kept on pasture board without a stall to come into, or out in the pasture all day with a stall only at night. These horses are exposed to the weather and elements all the time. It is best to consider purchasing a turnout blanket to keep them protected from the wind and rain.
When purchasing a turnout blanket you want to make sure the outer and inner coverings of the blanket are sufficient to keep your horse comfortable when outside. The outer covering material will be waterproof, water resistant, wind proof, or a combination.
Keep in mind that water resistant blankets,
when exposed to large amounts of rain, will not prevent the water from
soaking through and getting your horse wet. A water proof and wind
proof outer covering will act best to keep your horse warm and dry.
The outer covering of the blanket is usually called the denier. The higher the value of the denier, the more wind and water resistant and the more durable the blanket. Higher denier blankets are also less likely to tear. Denier ranges from 210 to 2100. Lower denier values are good for a stabled horse while the higher values of denier are better for pasture horses.
You will also want to take into consideration the amount of insulation the blanket offers. You will need more insulation if you have recently body clipped your horse in colder weather than if you didn't.
The material of the inner lining of the blanket is also another factor to consider. Examples of some horse blanket lining material include wool blends, fleece, and nylon.
Stable Blanket
The stable horse blanket is for use on horses that are in a stable most of the time. As in choosing a turnout blanket, you will want to take the same things into consideration when selecting the right blanket for your horse.
The denier or outer covering can likely be lower due to your horse remaining indoors. Keep in mind how much your horse will be exposed to wind and rain. If he spends any time outside on a regular basis keep in mind how water and wind resistant your blanket is.
Consider how much insulation your horse will need. Again, you will need a blanket with a higher amount of insulation if your horse was recently body clipped for show than if he had some sort of winter coat.
You also have the option of choosing between a few different liner materials. Again these include wool blends, fleece, and nylon.
Heavy Weight Blanket
A heavy weight horse blanket has at least a 1200 denier or more. This higher denier means it is woven a little tighter and does a better job keeping out the wind and the rain. There is 12-14 ounces of fill for insulation in this blanket which keeps your horse warmer. It is best in colder climates where temperatures get down to about 20 degrees or lower.
Midweight Blanket
A midweight horse blanket is made for moderate climates where the temperature will dip as far as about 30 degrees. The denier on a midweight blanket is about 410-1200 and they usually have about 8-12 ounces of fill.
Light Weight Blanket
A light weight horse blanket is meant for climates that don't get temperatures below 40 degrees. The denier on this blanket is usually about 600 or less. The insulation is about 8 ounces of fill or less.
When To Blanket
When to blanket your horse is also a matter of preference. When deciding whether or not to blanket your horse make sure you keep your horse's comfort, health, and well being as a top priority.
