Is last year's turnout still actually waterproof?
How to test it at home before you need it, how long a turnout should really last, and when to stop repairing and start replacing.
By The Schneiders Product Team · Updated August 12, 2026
Family owned in Chagrin Falls, Ohio since 1948. We design our own blankets, sheets, and fly gear, and we turn horses out in it.
Test it before the weather does. Lay the blanket flat, pour a cup of water on the shoulder, back, and rump, and wait ten minutes. Water that beads and rolls off is fine. Water that soaks in and leaves a dark damp patch on the lining means the finish is gone and it needs reproofing.
Waterproofing fails quietly. A blanket that looks perfect can wet through in the first real storm, and you find out when your horse is already soaked. Ten minutes in August beats a cold, wet horse in November.
How do I test whether it's still waterproof before I need it?
Test all three spots, not just one. The back and rump take the most sun and rain and usually fail first, while the shoulder can still look brand new.
Seams are worth a separate look. If the outer fabric sheds water but the seams wick it through, seam tape has lifted -- that's a repair, not a reproofing job.
Is it worth paying to have last year's blankets reproofed, or does that money go further on a new one?
A wash-in or spray-on reproofer costs a fraction of a new turnout and can add a couple of seasons to a blanket that's otherwise in good shape. Wash first -- reproofer applied over dirt and salt doesn't bond properly and you'll waste it.
The honest test is whether you trust it in a storm. If you'd still bring the horse in rather than rely on it, the blanket has already stopped doing its job.
What's the actual life expectancy of a turnout before I stop repairing and start replacing?
Denier tells you something but not everything. A high-denier shell on a horse who plays rough in a herd can still go before a lighter blanket on a quiet horse who lives alone.
Track it by repair frequency rather than age. One patch in year four is normal. Three patches in one season means you're maintaining something that's finished.
There's a rip that's been there since March. Repair it now or trash it?
Size is the deciding factor. Under about four inches, in the body of the fabric and away from stress points, is a tape or patch job you can do yourself in ten minutes.
Tears at the chest closures, surcingle anchors, or leg strap attachments are different -- those are load-bearing, and a failed repair there means a blanket hanging off a horse in a field.
Wash, test, reproof, repair
Everything to get last year's blankets back in service before the first cold, wet night.
Blanket CareTurnout BlanketsTurnout & Rain SheetsNot sure whether yours is worth saving? Send us a photo and we'll give you an honest answer -- ask our team.