Horse Blankets

There are a variety of horse blankets to serve a variety of purposes, such as weather protection, insect protection, and protection from chills after a hard workout. Whether you live in a cold climate, warm climate, or somewhere in between, your horse will likely require a horse blanket at some point during the year.

A horse blanket is designed to cover the horse from chest to rump, with some blankets also covering the neck. There are two, or sometimes 3 straps that cross underneath the horse's belly attaching on the other side holding the blanket securely in place, while allowing the horse to move freely. There are also two or more straps that buckle across the chest, although some blankets are designed to pull over the horse's head. Most horse blankets also have elasticized or non-elasticized straps that loop loosely around the horse's back legs so the blanket won't slip sideways.

Rain sheets serve the obvious purpose of protection from the rain. These horse blankets are usually designed to be waterproof and breathable. Look for a rain sheet with no seams on the back to ensure there is no possibility of leakage. Most rain sheets have no padding and are used mostly in the fall and spring during seasonal transitions.

In the winter you will need a warmer horse blanket with some sort of fill or insulation. The gram of fill you choose should depend on how much warmth a particular horse needs. If you have a short haired, thin skinned thoroughbred, you'll need at least 300 grams or higher to provide maximum warmth. The higher the grams the more insulation the blanket has, so keep this in mind while shopping for a winter blanket for your horse.

Before going out and purchasing a blanket for your horse you should first figure out if your horse really needs one. Mother nature has equipped the horse with the natural ability to grow a thick, warm coat to keep it warm during the winter months. Because of this, a blanket can often do more harm than good. As a matter of fact, a one inch thick horse's coat is equivalent to a two inch thick blanket. So as you can see, most horses are capable of handling the cold weather. If you are a casual winter rider, you'll find that most vets and experts will tell you to leave your horse in as natural a state as possible. Horses are, after all, designed to withstand sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, if you clip your horse for showing during the winter it loses its ability to keep itself warm in cold weather. You will then have to keep it blanketed until the spring.

Certain extreme weather conditions of course require you to use your judgment. Even a wooly horse caught in a freezing wind and ice rain storm will benefit from a horse blanket, especially if it has no shelter.

Fly sheets are a type of horse blanket designed to protect your horse from those pesky, biting flies. During the summer months biting flies are an annoyance that your horse has to put up with all day. A very light sheet with tiny holes throughout is used to protect the torso of the horse from the biting flies. A fly sheet is quite necessary to bring relief to your horse not only from the flies, but also from mosquitoes and other biting insects as well. As for the rest of your horse, a spray on repellant or a rub on repellant will help.

Horse blankets are not necessary in all situations. You will need to evaluate your own situation and decide what type of blanket, if any, is right for your horse. If you do decide to buy a blanket, be sure to measure first so you get the most accurate fit possible. Measure from the center of your horse's chest all the way to the center of the tail. This should give you an accurate measurement. Measure a few times to be sure so you get the right size in the first place and don't have to return it for another.