Winter Horse Blankets – How to Choose a Turnout Blanket For Your Horse
Blankets typically come in three different weights. A lightweight, known as a sheet, a medium weight for cold weather and a heavy weight for very cold weather.
Heavy and medium weight blankets are filled for warmth. On the other hand, sheets are not filled.
Just like bed sheets have different thread counts, so do horse blankets. This is called “denier” when referring to horse blankets. A higher denier indicates a heaver fiber. If you have a horse that frequently rips his blankets, a heavier denier is better. Some blankets will have an extended warranty (I have seen up to two years), so you can get your blanket replaced, if it does rip.
Turnout blankets are used on horses while they are turned out in the pasture. They provide protection from the cold and are water proof. They also are designed so your horse is less likely to get tangled up in it.
A stable blanket should only be used while a horse is in a stall. It does not protect against harsh weather and it is not waterproof. Keep in mind that you can use a turnout blanket or sheet in a stall, so stable blankets are not a necessity.
The weight needed for your horse depends on your particular climate. On extremely cold days, I have put multiple layers of blankets on my horses. It also depends on whether your horse is clipped or not. The blanket manufacturer will tell you what temperatures their blankets can be used for.
Typically, I will use a sheet for weather in the 50’s a medium blanket for 30-40 degrees and a heavy weight for weather in the 20’s or teens. I might also opt for a sheet if the weather is in the 60’s and raining. Each horse is different, so use common sense. Older horses may get cold easier than younger ones. I like to place my hand between the blanket and my horse to gauge weather she is warm or not.
Another type of sheet is known as a cooler. It is designed to put on a horse after heavy exercise to absorb sweat and keep the horse from getting a chill while it is cooling off. An anti sweat sheet is similar to a cooler, except that it is more fitted and has straps to secure it to the horse. A horse should not be turned out with a cooler or anti sweat sheet.
Another type of sheet used in the summer is a fly sheet. Fly sheets can not only protect the horse from biting insects, but certain types can protect the horse’s coat from fading in the sun. These are meant to be used while the horse is turned out.
