When the cold wind blows, you know it’s time to get out the horse rug and cover up your beloved horse so she stays warm and toasty. In winter time, a horse rug or blanket is one of the handiest pieces of horse equipment you’ll own! But how do you know you’ve got the right horse blanket for the conditions and your horse’s individual needs?
The first thing to consider is whether the horse will be wearing the blanket outside or just inside the barn. If she will only need to wear it in the barn, it does not have to be weatherproof (waterproof) and it can be quite a bit lighter weight. This kind of blanket (or rug) is called a stable blanket.
If you will be letting your horse wear a blanket outside, then you need to look into horse turnout rugs. These feature an outer layer of waterproof, windproof material, and inner layers of filling for warmth. Some even have a lining that wicks moisture away from the fur, helping to keep the horse even drier.
Most of the time a turnout rug manufacturer lists the lowest temperature that the blanket can be relied upon to keep the horse warm. You’ll see a temperature range of (for example) -10 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. That means it should keep your horse warm in -10 degree temperatures, but please note: As soon as temperatures climb back up to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you should take the horse rug off. Otherwise your horse will get sweaty underneath it, and that will make her feel cold.
For horse turnout rugs, be sure to look for one that does not have a seam running down the back. Those seams tend to leak water.
Another feature of horse rugs is the rip-ability of the outer fabric. You will see some with a Denier rating for the outer Ripstop layer, and the higher the Denier number, the less likely it will rip if it snags on something. 600 Denier is usually adequate for a turnout rug, but they go all the way up to 1200 Denier. Naturally, the cost climbs up there too!
To figure out what size blanket your horse needs, simply have your horse stand square, then measure from the center of her tail at the base where it joins her body to the center of her chest. That’s the size blanket you need. For example, if you measured 80 inches, then you need an 80-inch blanket. Round up to the nearest size if the measurement didn’t come out exact. For example, my horse measures 71 inches, and a 72-inch blanket fits her perfectly.
Be sure to choose a horse rug for its durability, warmth and weatherproofing, not for the color or style. We all want our horses to look fabulous in their horse blankets, but if it doesn’t keep her warm, she won’t appreciate looking nice!
