Horse Blanket Care

Turnout

                Waterproof shell – usually not quilted

                Breathable

                Different weights – shell fabric weight and loft. Shell fabric often specified in denier (thread count) and loft specified in ounces.

                Has surcingle straps or belly band and leg or tail strap

 Stable

                Shell not waterproof, woven fabric like canvas, cotton, or wool

                Often quilted

                Different weights – usually light to medium, shell and loft

                Often don’t have leg straps

                Not suitable for turnout in wet weather

 Sheets

                One layer of shell, no loft. Sometimes have thin fabric lining or mesh.

                Can be waterproof or not.

                Many different fabrics, nylon, cotton, canvas, Teflon or waterproof fabric

 Specialty

                Coolers, Show sheets, Neck covers, Hoods, Slinkies, Blanket liners, Fly sheets, ¾ sheets, exercise rugs

 Considerations for Choosing a Blanket

Function

The function you want your blanket to perform will help determine what type, weight, and style you choose. There are many considerations concerning the function that should be taken into account.  Blankets basically keep the horse warm and dry. Which blanket weight and type you choose then should perform those functions and fit into the horse’s life and your budget.

 Consider what is your horse’s life like:   Is your horse stabled and worked in a heated barn, how warm is it heated, does your horse grow a heavy coat or no coat, does your horse work in the winter, how much does he work, is your pony old or young and have trouble keeping weight on in the winter, do blankets come off at night or stay on unless you are riding, is your horse a young gelding out with other young ones ( they hate to wear clothes). Young horses can be a real budget issue since they grow out of blankets and also are really hard on their clothes. Tail flaps are a really fun plaything.

 If you aren’t sure about some of these considerations, ask your trainer or an experienced horse person about choosing a blanket or sheet type.

 Fit

Most catalogs show the method to measure for a blanket size. If your pony falls between sizes it is best to get the smaller size. It will keep the rear end from getting in the way and being too full of manure and rubbing the tail. Some brands have large neck openings and don’t fit narrow shouldered horses very well. Some brands have extended or warm blood sizes for horses with big shoulders and necks. No one brand is perfect and fit can be adjusted with darts. It is important to be sure that a blanket is not too large since they will not stay in place and will be unsafe. A blanket that is too large and adjusted with straps that are too tight will be uncomfortable and the straps will constrict the horse’s movement and tear. A too small or ill fitting blanket will rub at the point of the shoulder and withers.

 Form

Blankets and sheets with a smooth fabric next to the horse’s hair work the best. The smooth lining will not stick to the hair and the blanket will re-seat itself after the horse rolls or lays down to sleep.  Fleece, flannel, jersey and sheep skin type linings stick to the hair and when the horse rolls the lining sticks and tears. These linings also collect hair like there is no tomorrow and are difficult to clean and aren’t really any warmer for the horse than a smooth lining. A smooth light sheet or blanket liner can be put under the heavier fleece lined blanket to prevent problems but be sure the sheet fits well.

 Blankets with a floating shell hold warm air well and usually are water proof but when they tear it can be a large one. Quilted shells help keep tears from getting too big but are not always water proof.

 It is sometimes better to have a couple of lower cost blankets rotate them for maintenance than one very expensive blanket.

Care and Handling of Blankets and Sheets

Safe way to put on blanket

Fold the blanket from the tail to the chest, put folded blanket over withers, fasten chest straps, pull blanket back over hind quarters, smooth and straighten, fasten surcingles and leg straps

 Safe way to remove blanket

Unfasten leg straps and surcingles, unfasten chest straps, fold blanket back from front and remove over hind quarters. Don’t unfasten chest strap first in case the blanket slides back and tangles in pony’s legs.

 Safe way to fold a blanket to hang on stall bar

                Fold blanket in half the long way along the center back, fold again the long way tucking in leg straps and surcingles, fold again the short way and hang on bar on stall. This keeps loose straps from hanging and being a safety hazard in the barn aisle.

 Always store blankets and sheets clean and dry!! Even the least bit of dampness turns into mildew over the off season. Do not store blankets dirty since the acid in the urine and manure destroys fabric as it sits. A good blanket may not be so good when you take it out a few months later.

 Maintenance

 Blankets are like any part of your tack. Regular maintenance is necessary for safety and long life of your blanket.

 Get items washed regularly. Waterproofing lasts through many washings but acid in urine, manure and grit and sun exposure will destroy fabric and stitching. When manure gets caked on the back end of a blanket and leg straps, it often cannot be really cleaned.

 If you wash them yourself, use a tumble washer and the temperature specified on the blanket. Try to brush off as much mud, manure, hair and shavings as possible.  Hang to dry. Drying in a dryer does damage the waterproofing and some blanket linings shrink differently from the shell.

 Get tears and loose straps and buckles fixed as soon as possible. Small tears soon become big and buckles and straps get lost. Loose items are dangerous.

Get repairs done before storing so items are ready to use when you take them out. There’s nothing worse than needing a blanket and finding that is was put away dirty and missing parts and can’t be used right away.

  Repairs