Choosing the Best Stable Blanket for Your Horse
Many horses can benefit from having a stable blanket to keep them warm in the winter. A horse's coat is designed to fluff up and work as a natural insulator to keep them warm. As long as their coat is not clipped, they are dry and out of the wind, and have forage to nibble on, a horse can keep themselves warm without the need for a stable blanket. However, if your horse has a short or clipped coat, is underweight or has trouble keeping weight on, or goes for periods of time without any hay, then a stable blanket is an easy way to ensure they stay warm enough when it gets cold.
Stable blankets are also a great option if you want to keep your horse cleaner in the winter months when bathing isn’t as easy to do when they get dirty or decide to sleep on their manure as a pillow! Stable blankets are typically lined with nylon or polyester to polish the coat while keeping them cleaner in the areas where your saddle would go. This can make grooming time faster before and after your rides.
Our stable blankets are designed to fit a variety of horses from foals, miniatures, and ponies, to horses. Many of our blankets have the Adjusta-Fit feature which allows you to adjust the shoulder placement for a more comfortable fit on your horse’s unique build. You can also use a V-Free wither relief style for a flat or broad-shouldered horse, or the VTEK wither relief design if your horse has higher withers. Horses with an upright head carriage work well with our Cutback wither, or you can use a traditional fit to work on a variety of horses. You can choose from open or closed front styles, belly bands, cross surcingles, or front surcingle closure with various hind leg strap options.
This Horse Blanketing 101 Guide can help you find just the right horse stable blanket. If you’re not sure what type of stable blanket fit would work best for your horse, you can use our easy Blanket Fit Finder tool or read this helpful guide to find out Which Blanket Fit is Right for my Horse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stable Blankets
What is a stable blanket?
A stable blanket is a horse blanket made for wearing when in the barn as they are not waterproof and not designed to hold up to rough turnout play. Stable blankets offer warmth in comfortably fitted blankets that keep your horse warm in cold weather when they are standing in a stall.
Does my horse need a stable blanket?
Your horse may need a stable blanket if the area you live in experiences cold temperatures in the winter months or if you keep your horse clipped or with a short coat. Stable blankets for horses help them maintain body warmth while they are standing in a stall for long periods of time, often without always eating hay or moving around which helps them create body heat.
What's the difference between a stable blanket and a turnout blanket?
The difference between a stable blanket and a Turnout Blanket is that stable blankets for horses are not waterproof and meant to only be used indoors, while a horse is stabled. They keep them warm without the need for the added coverage or waterproof materials used in a turnout blanket. Horse turnout blankets and sheets are waterproof and designed to protect horses from the elements while also being durable enough for turnout and play.
What is the weight of a stable blanket?
Stable blankets come in various weights, or levels of insulation fill, which are what determines how much extra warmth the stable blanket will offer your horse. This fill works much like a coat on a person, the thicker it is the warmer you stay when the temperature drops. For a stable blanket, you can choose from light, medium, and heavy, with each level offering more warmth.
Choose from three main levels of fill-in stable blankets for horses:
- Lightweight - 80-200 grams of fill
- Medium Weight - 200-300 grams of fill
- Heavy Weight - 300+ grams of fill
