By Emily Konkel
With our extreme winter weather this year, choosing a proper blanket for your horse is very important. There are three main types of blankets to choose from: turnout blankets, stable blankets, and sheets. Choosing a blanket for your horse should be based on the environment your horse lives in.
Turnout blankets – Turnout blankets are designed to withstand the outdoors. This means that they are made out of tough fabrics that are waterproof and breathable. They allow horses some flexibility in terms of “horse play.” Turnout blankets are generally available in three different weights. These weights are based on the amount of insulation in the blanket. Light weight turnouts have no fill, medium weight turnouts have approximately 200 grams of fill and heavy weight turnouts have 300+ grams of fill. If you can only provide your horse with one blanket, a turnout blanket will probably be your best bet.
Stable blankets - Stable blankets are designed to keep horses warm in a stall or stable. If your horse spends most of their time indoors, this may be the best blanket choice for you. These blankets are also great for winter shipping and body clipped horses. Keep in mind that these blankets are NOT waterproof. They actually tend to act more like a sponge when they are wet. Stable blankets range from light weight, to medium weight and heavy weight. However, these blankets generally have a higher fill weight and lighter exterior fabric than turnout blankets.
Sheets –
Horse sheets are lightweight cover ups that can be used for a number of things. They are made out of a very thin material. Sheets can be used in the summer to keep bugs and dust off your horse or to prevent sun bleaching. They can also be used in the stall to keep your horse clean after a bath.
This breakdown of the different blankets will hopefully be a tool to help you choose the proper blanket for your horse. For more information on different
blankets visit:
https://www.equestriancollections.com/help_center.asp?section=Tips%20and%20Helpful%20Hints&question=2898
