The world of blankets is large and full of never ending combinations. Through this blog you’ll find tips on how to find which combination works best for your horse!
Things to Ask yourself
- Am I going to keep my horse clipped during the winter?
- Do I have adequate shelter in the pasture my horse is in?
- Is my horse older and/ or sensitive to the cold?
- Did my horse recently move to a colder climate or vice versa?
- Is my horse an easy keeper, hard keeper, or otherwise compromised by health issues?
Knowing the answer to these questions before purchasing a blanket will help you determine what weight at what time is best for your horse.
Different Weights
Just like human blankets, horse blankets are created with different temperatures in mind. The main thing that changes is the fill of the blankets. There are three main different types of weight, lightweight, mid-weight, and heavyweight. Lightweight blankets generally have 100 grams of poly fill. These are good for mild cool days such as when fall is in full swing. Mid-weight blankets are the most common and versatile of the bunch. Medium weights generally have between 180- 200 grams of fill and are used during most of the winter. Heavyweights have 300- 440 grams of fill which are used for extreme winter conditions.
Durability
Horse blankets come with different deniers or durability. The denier of a horse blanket is how we measure the density of nylon fibers. It’s used to determine the strength of the exterior material. A higher denier, such as 1200D, tells us the blanket is more durable and water-resistant than a lower denier, which is generally measured at 600D. Blankets with a lower denier are usually called stable sheets or just sheets while blankets with a high denier and are therefore more durable are called turnout blankets. Be sure to take this into account when purchasing a blanket, especially if your horse spends a lot of time outside.
If you’re still not sure what kind of blanket your horse may need you can try Dover Saddlery’s Blanket Wizard! This wizard considers the weather in your area and will give you a good idea of what kind of blanket your horse will need. Remember, it’s smarter to blanket with a lower fill if you’re not sure because if your horse sweats under their blanket they will be colder than if they didn’t have one to begin with.
Great article. Thank you.