Blanket 101: Which blanket should I choose?

Earlier this year, I posted a blanket guide that highlighted some of the many things I’ve learned in my experience with blanketing along with tips I received from others. As I got Dancer’s blanket out from storage and began waterproofing, I thought back a few years when I was still a blanket newbie. I had trouble finding all of the information I needed in one place and wished for a comprehensive guide to get me started. I hope this helps everyone from the newbies to the blanket pro looking for more tips.

Choosing the right blanket:

This can be tough because there are SO many options out there! First, start with your climate and your horse’s living conditions. Is your horse on full turnout? Does your horse spend cold winter nights in his stall and days outside? What is the coldest temperature you might experience? What is the average high/low during the winter in your region? These are all very important things to consider!

I also want to add that if it’s raining and 45, it can be a lot colder than sunny and 45 and when you factor wind into this it can also change things. The Oklahoma wind cuts through the thickest of winter coats, so that was definitely a factor in my blanket decisions. Reviews on websites are also super helpful, so don’t forget to scroll down and see what others have to say! It could help you narrow down your decision.

The next few items you’ll need to consider are fill/weight and material. I’ve been told to stick with 1200 Denier for fabric, because anything less would get destroyed by my horse. He loves to roll and is fairly active in the pasture. The horses in the barn that I work at all have light turnout sheets – meaning they have no fill or very little fill. Some of the older horses get another light fill blanket added to their sheets if it gets below freezing at night, and it’s removed when the temperature rises above freezing (usually the next morning). If you have a fit horse with no major health issues and live in a fairly mild climate, a turnout sheet is the way to go! If you get feet of snow each day and your horse spends a lot of time outside, go with something a little thicker. Our winters average around 35-50 during the day and anywhere between 20-40 at night. Now, it is Oklahoma so we could have – and did have – 70 degrees one day and snow the next. Seriously! Let’s just say blanketing around here is not for the faint of heart – or the uninformed! I check the weather a few times per day and try to figure out if Dancer needs his blanket all day or just at night… or any combo in between! It can be crazy, but I think it’s worth it. Here’s why…

Dancer spent many years without a blanket, but our winters have gotten more extreme the past few years than ever before. In the past, I could count on a few solid days of snow and probably a few more with sleet. I would keep Dancer inside at night, but he’d still go out during the day with access to shelter. He’d normally stay in the shelter eating his hay, but would wander around and play in the snow a little too. It would melt within a few days and I wouldn’t have to worry too much about him getting too cold because the temperatures didn’t drop too far below freezing and we got a lot of sun. However, in 2011, I noticed that the weather dropped into the teens quite a bit more and the cold temperatures seemed to linger on a little longer than normal. Even though Dancer was in the barn, I found him shivering on a few occasions when the temperature dropped so low and the wind was howling. It was already nearing the end of winter, so I decided right then and there that I’d get him a blanket next year. So, 2012 came along and my blanket research began! I know it’s not for everyone, but he has done great with it this year and I feel so much better knowing he’s warm if we have an unexpected rain/sleet/snow storm when I’m at work or even during the night when he’s turned out. (I only put him in the barn if the weather is really bad)

How to fit the blanket:

This one was a bit of a struggle for me. I measured from the middle of Dancer’s chest to the middle of his tail bone and I came up with 81″. I ordered the 81″, but when I tried it on, it was way too big! I’m not sure if it was just the brand of blanket, which I later learned ran slightly large on some horses, or if it was my fault in measuring. Could have been either or both, but I was lucky that the company I ordered from had a great return policy and I was able to get the next size down, which fit great! Every horse is different, just as every brand is different, so don’t get discouraged if your first estimate doesn’t quite fit. Many blanket companies also have fitting guides that can help you estimate the size you’ll need based on your horse’s height in hands, but measuring your horse is always best. You want the blanket to be slightly loose, but not baggy and slightly fitted but not tight. I know that sounds really vague, but look at the horses in the blanket ads for SmartPak or Dover or wherever you shop and pay attention to where the blanket comes down and how far it goes over the back legs, etc… (SmartPak also just sent out a wonderful newsletter all about blanketing in October!) You don’t want the blanket at your horse’s knees or below, but slightly above and be sure to tighten the belly and leg straps so that they’re not super snug, but just loose enough that your horse can’t get its leg caught in them. They say to leave one hand’s width between your horse and the straps when you’re fitting them for the first time – or checking them, which needs to be done periodically. Fitting a blanket does take time and patience, so be prepared to do a lot of adjusting and stepping back and re-adjusting at first.

Wanna learn how to store, wash & repair your blanket? Click over to Part 2!