Are You Already Thinking About Blanket Season?

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it’s time to start thinking about your horse’s fall and winter wardrobe. And SmartPak has some tips to help you make smart blanketing decisions.

 

Blanket shopping is exciting and fun, but it can also be a daunting task. With so many different types and styles of blankets, it can be tough to know where to begin. Here are some blanketing basics, with smart tips for everything from deciding to blanket to how to ensure your horse’s blanket is the perfect fit.

 

 

Every horse is an individual and the decision to blanket should be based on their unique needs. Your horse’s environment, along with other individual factors like the length of his hair coat, amount of body fat, and how well he tolerates the cold should all be taken into account when deciding if, when, and how much to blanket.

 

If your horse is clipped, has a short coat all winter, and lives in a frigid climate, he’ll probably need blankets to make up for the warmth he isn’t getting from a thick winter coat. On the other hand, if you look outside and think there’s a woolly mammoth in your pasture, his winter coat could be thick enough to keep him warm by itself.

 

Horses use calories in the winter to keep themselves warm. If your horse is a hard keeper who already has a tough time maintaining his ideal weight, you don’t want him to burn all his calories staying warm. In addition to providing a steady supply of quality forage to make up for the calories he’s burning, adding a blanket for an extra layer of warmth might be appropriate.

 

If your horse lives outside and has a shelter to go into when the weather gets windy and wet, his winter coat—as long as he’s not clipped—could be enough to keep him warm without a blanket. But, if your horse can’t get out of the elements when he’s turned out, a waterproof turnout blanket will help him stay warm and dry through rain, sleet, and snow. Also, consider checking (or having someone check) your horse regularly to make wardrobe changes as needed, make sure that the blanket isn’t shifting or tangling, and remove the blanket to check his skin underneath.

 

And finally, just like with people, some horses tolerate cold better than others. A horse who is less tolerant of cold temperatures (or an older animal who might have a harder time staying warm when temperatures drop) might benefit from the extra warmth a blanket will provide. On the other hand, horses who don’t show signs of being cold (such as shivering or their hair standing up) as soon as other horses might not need to be blanketed as heavily or even all.

 

By keeping these factors in mind, you’re on your way to making smart blanketing choices this season.

 

 

If you’re new to blanketing, the different types of blankets and the pieces that make them up can seem like a foreign language. To get started, it is important to understand the basics of blanket types: the difference between a “sheet” and a “blanket” and the difference between “turnout” and “stable” sheets and blankets.

 

A sheet is the lightest piece of apparel in your horse’s wardrobe. It doesn’t have any fill, so its purpose is to keep your horse clean and protected. A blanket has filling, like the comforter on your bed, to keep your horse warm. Blankets come in a range of fills, or weights, offering different levels of warmth so that you can dress your horse according to the weather.

 

Sheets and blankets come in two varieties: turnout and stable. Like the name suggests, a turnout sheet or turnout blanket is designed to be worn when your horse is turned out (or if your horse lives outside). The exterior material is waterproof and breathable to keep your horse warm and dry. Stable sheets and blankets, on the other hand, are intended to keep your horse clean and warm when he’s inside the barn, out of the elements. Because they’re meant to be worn inside, these blankets aren’t waterproof, so your horse shouldn’t wear them outside.

 

 

A well-fitting blanket will keep your horse warm, cozy, and comfortable, but an ill-fitting blanket can restrict movement, cause rubs, shift, or get tangled. Be sure to evaluate the fit in these three key areas:

 

Shoulders: The top of the front closure should line up with the point of your horse’s shoulder and the neckline of the blanket should lie smoothly above his shoulder without pulling.

 

Withers: A blanket that’s pulled tight across your horse’s withers is a recipe for rubs. You should be able to slide one hand between the blanket and your horse’s withers.

 

Length: A blanket shouldn’t look like a mini-skirt or a bed skirt. If your horse’s belly peeks out, he’s not getting the full benefit of the warmth. If the blanket falls more than halfway to the knee or hock, it’s probably too big overall. Ideally a blanket should cover your horse’s barrel entirely, ending just below his elbow and stifle.