How to Choose the Right Horse Blanket
Horse blankets are one of the most essential pieces of clothing you will purchase for your horse, especially if you live in places with extreme weather conditions or flies. Horse blankets are great for protecting your horse, but they can be hard items to purchase. Horse blankets and horse sheets need to fit properly so they don't rub or pinch, you must also ensure you are buying the right type of horse blanket. Here we will walk through some things to consider when you are buying a blanket for your horse.
What kind of blanket should I buy?
The type of horse blanket you buy depends on what you will be using it for. Horse blankets can be heavy, light, waterproof, or non-waterproof, and they are often made of various types of materials. Here are some common types of horse blankets:
Stable Blanket - A stable blanket is a thicker blanket that will keep your horse warm indoors during the colder seasons. This blanket is insulated, but not waterproof. Horses living outdoors should not wear a stable blanket on its own during colder weather because the material could get wet and chill the horse. Stable blankets can either be waterproofed or paired with a rain sheet to keep the horse dry when they are outdoors.
Turnout Blanket - A turnout blanket is a thick, waterproof blanket that keeps the horse warm during the cold seasons. This blanket has a strong outer shell that protects the horse from strong winter winds, rain, snow, and ice. This blanket is great for horses who live outdoors in the winter.
Coolers - Coolers are generally used to warm and dry a horse after strenuous exercise in the cold. They are usually made from fleece, wool, or any material that could assist in drying the horse. Some people also use these blankets after washing or grooming the night before a show to keep their horse looking polished.
Rain Sheets - This is a type of waterproof horse blanket that is made from a thin, lightweight, and highly waterproof fabric. These horse sheets usually have almost no filling, and they will not protect horses from cold weather on their own. However, rain sheets can be put over a stable blanket or blanket liners to protect horses from colder weather conditions.
Fly Sheets - Fly sheets are extremely lightweight blankets that horses wear to protect from flies. These horse sheets are usually made from a meshlike, breathable material.
Blanket Liners - Horse Blanket liners are used to give your horse an extra layer. Blanket liners usually go under another blanket and provide extra warmth for horses during the cold seasons. They are usually not waterproof.
What sized horse blanket should I buy?
Here at Schneiders, we have a variety of sizes to choose from. To ensure a perfect fit for your horse you can try a couple of different approaches:
- Try a friend's blanket - If your horse lives in a barn you can always ask to try a friend's blanket on your horse. This is the easiest way to find your horse's size.
- Check the size charts - The next best way to find your horses size is to check the size charts and measure him. Whenever you buy a new blanket you should pay close attention to the product's size chart because horse blankets can sometimes run big or small depending on the manufacturer.
Here at Schneiders we offer a wide variety of horse blankets to suit the needs of you and your horse. Find the best blanket for your climate and style from our large selection of top brands.