Equine turnout blankets come in all colors and materials, but the Equisearch website recommends horse owners go for the best quality they can afford. Manufacturers typically construct the outside blanket layer of canvas, waterproof nylon and other synthetic materials. Blanket linings come in wool or synthetics, can be removable, and will fully or partially fill the underside of the blanket against your horse's skin. Because your horse wears its blanket during the snow and rain of the winter months, when the temptation to roll and play in the muck is hard to resist, choosing the correct size and type of blanket can save you money and protect your horse from injury.
Fitting Your Horse
Step 1
Halter and place your horse in cross-ties or tie the lead rope to the stall door to keep your horse from moving.
Step 2
Stand on the left side of the horse, and, with your left hand, hold the end of the tape measure against the point where the neck joins the center of your horse's chest.
Step 3
Stretch the tape measure along the widest portion of your horse's left side with your right hand and mark the spot where it ends with your right thumb. Note that measurement.
Step 4
Hold the start of the tape at that spot with your left hand and reach the rest of the tape around the point of your horse's buttock, stopping at the edge of the tail. Note that measurement.
Step 5
Add these two measurements to get the blanket size. Blankets typically come in even sizes, from 30 inches for foals to 88 inches for large horses. Round up to the next even number if your total measurement is an odd number.
Making a Choice
Step 1
Investigate the average winter temperature in your area by checking with your local library or visiting the website of your local newspaper. Choose the weight and material of your blanket depending on the temperature and whether you plan to clip your horse or leave it hairy.
Step 2
Assess where your horse will be living during the cold months of the year. Pick a heavier, waterproof blanket if your horse lives in turnout all of the time. If your horse lives in a stall or barn during the winter months, you may need only a mid- to light-weight sheet.
Step 3
Evaluate the different types and weights of blankets to determine which works best for you and your horse. Sheets come in lightweight cotton and waterproof materials; medium-weight blankets and turnouts with around 200 grams of fill can protect against light rain and snow, state Dr. Carey Williams and Nettie Liburt of the Equine Science Center of Rutgers University. They suggest using heavyweight blankets with around 300 grams of fill on a fully clipped horse during extreme cold at the peak of winter.
Tips and Warnings
- Dr. Benjamin Darien of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine suggests that horses not be blanketed in areas where the average temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the October, 2005 issue of "Horse Illustrated" magazine. In his article, "Does My Horse Need a Blanket," Dr. Darien recommends that horses living in temperate climates of 40 to 60 degrees wear either a lightweight sheet or a mid-weight insulated blanket. In 30 to 40 degree weather, he advises a mid-weight blanket for non-clipped or a heavy blanket for clipped horses; under 30 degree weather, horses should wear either a heavy blanket or a heavy blanket with a polar fleece liner as the weather gets colder.
- If your horse has never worn a blanket, train it first using a small, round tablecloth. Rub the fully-extended cloth over the entire body and then drape it over your horse's back, advises Will Walls in the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service in the Winter, 2010 newsletter. To avoid rubbing your horse's mane and breaking the hair at the withers, use a cut-back blanket that clears the lower neck.
Things You'll Need
- Halter and lead rope
- Cross-ties or stall door
- Cloth measuring tape
References
- EquiSearch: Selecting a Turnout Blanket for Your Horse
- Rutgers University Equine Science Center: To Blanket or Not To Blanket
- "Horse Illustrated"; Does My Horse Need a Blanket; Benjamin Darien, DVM; Oct. 2005
- North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Svc.: Blanketing Safety
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