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We understand that blanketing horses can seem overwhelming. But take a deep breath, friends, we’re here to help simplify with this in-depth but simplified horse blanketing guide. Continue reading for understanding of reasons to blanket horses, different horse blanket types, sizing horse blankets, cleaning horse blankets, helpful tips and more!
There are two main reasons horse owners blanket their horses and ponies:
There is much to consider when selecting a horse blanket, details such as age, body condition and coat thickness. Additionally, horses across the country experience a variety of climates, weather conditions and stabling environments. Luckily, just as your closet holds clothes tailored to the day and season, there are different types of horse blankets available, too, so you can select just what your horse needs when he needs it.
Let’s first look at a few horse blanketing basics -- sheets vs. blankets and turnout vs. stable. How familiar are you with the differences between each?
A horse sheet is lightweight and is perfect for those mildly cold or windy days. They have no fill.
A horse blanket offers fill, which is essentially a form of insulation sewn into the blanket to add warmth (think of your poufy winter coat!) The higher the fill number on a blanket, the cozier the pony on those cold days.
Sheets and blankets come in two varieties: turnout and stable. To put it simply, turnout sheets and turnout blankets are intended for horses at turnout. They will feature waterproof material to keep pasture ponies dry. Without waterproof technology, a wet horse blanket could only make your horse colder, which is of course not what was intended!
Stable sheets and stable blankets are ideal for horses kept inside a stable and are not made from waterproof material. They serve an important purpose by keeping stabled horses comfy, warm and sleek.
When you are selecting a horse blanket, you will notice a few number sets under the product descriptions, noting denier and fill.
Denier denotes the durability of a horse blanket or sheet. It measures nylon fiber density on the outer material of horse blankets. Denier ranges from 70 to 2400D. The higher the denier, the more durable it is for those tough-on-blanket horses (you might have one or two in mind!)
As we shared earlier, fill is padding that adds an extra layer of warmth to your horse’s blanket. Both with denier and fill, the higher the number, the tougher or warmer the blanket’s material will be.
Do you know the degree of blanket warmth your pony needs and when? We put together this easy-to-reference chart to help as a guide!
| Weather Conditions | Grams of Fill |
|---|---|
| 50-60° | Sheet (0g) |
| 40-50° | Light blanket (100g) |
| 30-40° | Light or medium blanket (150 to 250g) |
| 20-30° | Medium or heavy blanket (200 to 300g) |
| Below 20° | Heavy blanket (300 to 400g) |
Did you know that wardrobe malfunctions happen to horses, too? It’s true! If a horse’s blanket or sheet isn’t properly fitted to him, it could slip off to the side, which could cause him to trip or tangle, possibly resulting in injury.
Learn how to measure a horse for a blanket with these quick and simple horse blanket sizing steps. When measuring your horse, start from the center of his chest and measure around the widest part of the shoulder, along the barrel and around the widest part of the hindquarter to the center of the tail. Keep your line horizontal to the ground. His blanket measurement will be the same as the number of inches measured. If the exact number of inches is not available to select from, size up to the nearest measurement.
Before buckling your horse’s new duds and sending him to the back field amuck, double-check your measurements to make sure the blanket is a perfect fit. First, put on the horse blanket, and check that:
Properly storing and cleaning horse blankets and sheets will help them last.
You also can extend the life of your horse’s blanket by keeping it up off of the ground and away from opportunistic rodents who may look at your gorgeous new blanket as a home (or worse -- a snack!)
During the colder months, when you may appreciate quick access to your horse’s blankets, you can store blankets with blanket racks, which can hold several blankets at once, keeping tack rooms tidy and fluff-free. Or, you can look into individual solutions for blanket storage, such as a horse blanket wall rack to hang on your horse’s stall door or a blanket storage bag.
After your horse’s blankets have protected them from the rain, snow and the muck of cold weather, it’s time for a good cleaning. You can either opt for cleaning horse blankets yourself, or, you can send them to a blanket laundry service.
Cleaning horse blankets may be easier than you think! Just follow these steps.
Shop horse blankets for sale at Valley Vet Supply to ensure your horse is snug as a bug with a high-quality horse blanket or sheet that meets his specific needs.
All photographs and images courtesy of Valley Vet.
This article originally appeared on Valley Vet and is published here with permission. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians for people just like you - people who want the very best for their four-legged friends and livestock.
There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.
Dr. Chris Newton, known for treating spinal nerve pain and developing rehabilitation techniques based on classical dressage training, joins Dr. Peter Morresey and Dr. Bart Barber to discuss the intersection of horsemanship and veterinary care. Together, they explore how keen observation, advanced treatment methods, and rehabilitation techniques can improve a horse’s response to pain. Tune in for a conversation that blends cutting-edge veterinary science with the timeless art of dressage.
While popular equestrian sports like show jumping, dressage, horse racing, polo and Western pleasure are well-known, there are many unique and less common horse sports and activities that offer different challenges and showcase the versatility of horses and riders. Here are some unusual horse sports
Horseball: This is a fast-paced team sport that combines elements of polo, basketball, and rugby. Teams of four riders pass a ball with handles and attempt to score by shooting it through a hoop.
Polocrosse: A hybrid of polo and lacrosse, players use long lacrosse-like sticks with nets to carry, pick up, and throw a ball while on horseback, aiming to score goals.
Pato: Originating in Argentina, this is a much rougher version of horseball, so intense it has been banned multiple times. Teams compete to get a ball with handles into a net.
Cowboy Polo/Horse Soccer: Informal games played with brooms and large rubber playground balls or extra-large, soft balls that horses bat forward with their front legs.
Jousting: Competitive jousting focuses on accuracy, with riders in armor using balsa wood lances to score points by hitting targets.
Mounted Archery: Riders shoot arrows at targets while their horses are in motion, often on a course with a single moving target. It requires incredible coordination and accuracy.
Tent Pegging: An ancient cavalry practice where riders gallop and use a lance or sword to pick up small targets (pegs) from the ground. It's popular in India, Australia, and parts of Africa and the Middle East.
Endurance Riding: While sometimes considered mainstream, this discipline involves very long-distance races over varied terrain, testing the stamina of both horse and rider.
Ride and Tie: A unique endurance sport where a team of two riders and one horse alternates between riding and running. One rider sets off on the horse while the other runs, then they switch.
TREC (Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition): A French equestrian sport that involves a mounted orienteering course, a mastery of gaits, and an obstacle course, testing a horse and rider's partnership and skills for trail riding.
Skijoring: Derived from a Norwegian term meaning "to be driven forward," skijoring involves a person on skis being pulled through the snow by a horse (or dogs or a vehicle).
Vaulting: Often described as gymnastics on horseback, vaulters perform acrobatic and dance movements on a cantering horse, typically on a lunge line. It's a recognized FEI discipline.
Buzkashi: A traditional Central Asian sport, incredibly rough and fast-paced, where riders compete to seize and retain possession of a goat or calf carcass.
Working Equitation: This discipline showcases the practical skills of horses and riders used in traditional working livestock environments. It includes dressage, ease of handling (obstacle course), and speed tests.
These sports highlight the incredible athleticism and intelligence of horses, as well as the diverse ways humans have partnered with them throughout history and across cultures. Take a look at Other Disciplines on EIE. It is amazing what you'll find!
You can find more informative articles in our section on Riding Disciplines. Be sure to take a look at our Curated Amazon Store.
Julie Goodnight demonstrates the care and cleaning of English and Western riding boots. This is a educational and safety video brought to you by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)
Read more: Care and Cleaning of Riding Boots with Julie Goodnight (18:15)
Barn fires are devastating events for the equine community to deal with, and the emotional toll and financial impact can be felt for years. Understanding the common causes, and taking action to address them, will help reduce the risk of such a catastrophic event occurring.
The three leading causes of preventable barn fires are outlined below along with practical tips in prevention:
This article originally appeared on Equine Guelph, The University of Guelph and is published here with permission.
You can find more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.
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