Welcome to Horse Blanketing!

For many horse owners, blanketing can feel overwhelming and worrisome. Choosing the wrong blanket can easily overheat your horse or leave him shivering in the cold. Depending on your horse’s age, body condition, and health, either of these scenarios can be very detrimental. With this in mind, it’s important to understand the principles behind horse blanketing before buying your own. We’ve created this horse blanketing guide to help you navigate the tough choices behind keeping your equine partner comfortable!

How Horses Maintain Body Temperature

First of all, it’s important to understand how our horses thermoregulate. Horses are amazing animals and use multiple body systems to maintain their temperature. A horse’s temperature should fall in the range of 37.5-38.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 to 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit). To create heat, horses eat forage (like hay or grass), which ferments in their digestive system, releasing heat. This keeps them warm and is part of the reason horses should have forage at all times during colder months of the year. Horses also have tiny piloerector muscles located at the hair shaft that can “loft” or stand up the hairs, changing their direction and trapping air close to the body. The trapped air warms up and helps our horses maintain their body temperature.

Your horse has something called a lower critical temperature (LCT), which is the lowest temperature at which they can exist internally without burning extra energy. Once the temperature outside drops below your horse’s LTC, your horse will need additional calories and hair (or blankets!) to keep him warm, especially senior horses. Selecting the right horse blanket depends on many things, but we do it to enhance or replace their natural ability to maintain their body temperature. 

We might have to blanket for several reasons; your horse might be changing climates (moving from Mexico to Canada, for example), your horse might be clipped, or he might be aging and having a hard time maintaining his weight. As horse owners, it’s our duty to keep our horses comfortable.

Horse Blanket Glossary

With so many terms floating around, blanketing can be extremely confusing. Here’s a quick-reference glossary to help you navigate.

• Anti-Sweat Sheet: commonly known as a “cooler,” these sheets are usually made of wool or fleece and are put on a sweaty horse to help him dry and prevent a chill.
• Ballistic: a thick, tough kind of nylon that does not tear easily and is commonly used for horse blankets and straps.
• Belly Strap: straps that run under the horse’s barrel and attach one side of the blanket to the other.
• Chest Closure: The area at the front of the blanket that closes.
  • Buckle-front: Buckle-style closures that are used to close the front of the blanket. These are highly adjustable, allowing for a custom fit.
  • Closed Front: There are no clips or buckles at the front of a closed-front blanket. They are fully closed and must be pulled over the horse’s head for blanketing.
  • Easy-Clip: Any kind of metal snap that you can open and close with one hand. These closures are particularly helpful in the winter, as you can do them with gloves on.
  • Surcingle: Chest straps with “t-locks,” which are the same as most belly straps. Two metal pieces interlock to close.
  • V-Front: Blankets with buckles that sit lower on the chest, which alleviates pressure on the neck when the horse has his head down to eat. These are great for summer blankets when horses have their heads down while grazing.
  • Velcro-Front: Any blanket with a velcro front closure. Usually equipped with several pieces and a “back-up” clip in case of velcro failure.

• Cooler: Also called an “anti-sweat sheet,” coolers are lightweight, stable sheets that are used to help dry a sweaty horse. Usually made of fleece or wool.
• Denier: A unit of measurement which defines the mass density and fineness of the fibers of textile. A higher number indicates a stronger denier.
• Dress Sheet: Used in the stable and at horse shows to keep your horse shiny and clean between classes or after grooming.
• Fly-Sheet: Used in the summer to deter biting flies and bugs from bothering your horse. Made of mesh, they’re lightweight, and some are even UV protective.
• High Wither: These blankets are cut so that the neck opening sits higher up, helping to prevent rubbing and discomfort on the withers.
• Hood: A detachable neck cover.
• Leg Arch: Horseware Ireland’s patented Leg Arches™ are cut around the legs, which allows better freedom of movement and comfort.
• Leg Strap: Straps (usually elastic) that criss-cross between the horse’s hind legs, preventing the blanket from twisting or moving.
• Lining: The innermost layer of a horse blanket, usually a silky material, is designed to prevent rubbing and keeps your horse shiny.
• Neck Cover: As the name implies, it’s a neck covering attached to the blanket. It differs from a hood because it cannot be removed.
• Quarter Sheet: A small blanket, usually attached to the saddle and used while riding, which covers the horse’s hindquarters. They can vary in material and weight, depending on the temperature they will be used in.
• Rain Sheet: A turnout blanket with no fill; these are waterproof and good for use during rainy, windy or muddy weather.
• Rip-Stop: A type of woven nylon fabric that makes it stronger and less prone to tearing.
• Scrim: Usually made of light, breathable mesh, scrim sheets are used to keep dust, flies, and debris off your horse. They are large and can be thrown on overtop of the saddle and tack, making them ideal for horse shows. They cannot be used on an unattended horse.
• Sheets: A type of horse blanket that does not have any fill or “stuffing.”
• Shell: The outermost layer of a horse blanket, usually waterproof.
• Shoulder Gusset: An extra piece of fabric sewn in at the shoulder (and sometimes hip area) to allow for a greater range of motion.
• Stable Blanket: A stable blanket is a blanket with fill used indoors to keep your horse warm, dry, and clean. Not usually waterproof, so it cannot be used for turnout unless a waterproof blanket is used over top (for example, a rainsheet).
• Stable Sheet: A blanket with no fill to be used indoors to keep your horse clean and dry. It cannot be used for turnout unless a waterproof layer is used over top (for example, a rainsheet).
• Surcingle: A type of strap with a T-lock closure. Surcingles can be belly or chest straps.
• Tail Flap: An extra piece of fabric at the rear of the blanket that covers the top of the tail. Usually present on winter blankets and rain sheets to help keep your horse extra warm.
• Tail Strap/Tail Cord: A piece of rope (plastic, nylon, or braided) which sits below the tail against the hindquarters. This strap prevents your blanket from twisting to the side.
• Turnout Blanket: A horse blanket with fill to be used outdoors. These must be waterproof and come in many different fills and styles.
• Turnout Sheet: A horse blanket without any fill, used for turnout. Rain sheets and fly sheets are good examples of this.
• Weight or Fill: This refers to the amount of stuffing in a blanket. Fill ranges from 0-45o grams on average.

How to Know When to Blanket 

Just as humans are individuals with temperature preferences, horses have preferences! Some will do better than others in cold weather, which comes down to their individual needs, such as their digestive health, body condition, hair coat, age, and where they live. Keeping these factors in mind, you can decide whether or not you should blanket your horse and then how to select the right blanket. Let’s break down how each element affects your decision.

Digestive Health

Since your horse produces warmth by breaking down forage, their digestive health is crucial for heat production. Horses with dental issues may have difficulty eating enough forage to maintain their body temperature. Be mindful of any health issues your horse may have, and support them accordingly with blankets or accessible forage (soaked hay cubes, for example).

Body Condition

Equine body condition is rated on a scale of one to ten, with one being emaciated and ten being obese. Typically, the ideal body condition is somewhere between 4 and 5. If your horse is too lean, he will not have enough stored energy (fat) on his body to help keep him warm and will struggle to maintain his internal temperature. Underweight horses are best supported with a blanket and 24/7 access to forage to reduce stress on their homeostatic systems. 

Hair Coat

A fluffy hair coat is important for warmth. If your horse does not have enough hair, he won’t be able to trap air near his skin, creating the insulating layer we described earlier. If your horse is clipped, or is not used to the climate and hasn’t grown a winter coat yet, it’s best to blanket him. 

Age

Older horses typically have difficulty maintaining their warmth due to various factors, including reduced digestive efficiency, poor denture, and lower weights. Keeping them warm is important to reduce stress on their aging bodies, and blankets are a great tool. 

Living Circumstances

If your horse hasn’t become accustomed to his new climate yet (for example, your horse moves up north from a southern region), he might not handle the temperature change very well. While he transitions to the new climate, supplying blankets and adequate forage is important. Another thing to consider is whether or not your horse has access to shelter and constant forage. If your horse is turned out with friends in a paddock with a shelter and choice hay, he will likely be fine without a blanket; but if there’s nowhere to get out of the harsh wind or snow, a blanket will help protect him from the cold. Your horse must spend as much time as possible outdoors for a myriad of health reasons, but you don’t want your horse freezing either. A clipped horse is particularly sensitive to the cold, so make sure you supplement their missing coat with blanket warmth.

Types of Horse Blankets and Denier

Sheets vs. Blankets: what’s the difference? 

Sheets are a type of horse blanket with no fill (no insulation). Sheets can be waterproof or not, depending on their purpose. Turnout sheets are waterproof and great for rainy conditions. Comparable to rain jackets for humans, they’re lightweight, waterproof, and great windbreakers.

Stable sheets are used indoors since they’re not waterproof. “Blankets” usually refers to a blanket with fill, which are warmer than sheets. Horse blankets are used in colder weather to ensure your horse stays warm, whereas sheets are typically used for warmer (but rainy) or windy days.

Depending on the weather, different blankets or sheets are important to have on hand. Every season brings challenges; rain, snow, hot sun, and bugs… the list goes on! Luckily for our horses, we have tons of blanket options. The most important things to remember are waterproofing and warmth (fill).

What is Denier?

Once we understand the role fill and waterproofing have in our blanket selection, we should consider the denier of the blankets or sheets. Denier is a term used to describe the tensile strength of a fabric, which affects how easily it can tear or become damaged. A higher denier means the blanket is stronger and will withstand more wear and tear, typically seen in outdoor sheets and blankets.

Denier usually ranges from 600-1200, higher being stronger. If your horse roughhouses a lot outside, 1200D would be a good choice. For a relaxed horse turned out alone or with gentle paddock mates, 600-800D will be just fine. Typically, the price of the blanket will increase with the denier.

Waterproofing of Horse Blankets and Sheets

Horse blankets and turnout sheets are always waterproof (when new, at least) to ensure your horse stays dry outside. As the name implies, stable sheets and stable blankets are for use indoors and are not waterproof. Turnout blankets are usually equipped with a higher denier as well, preventing damage from wear and tear that comes with being outside.

Waterproof blankets will usually stay waterproof for a few seasons but will eventually need to be re-waterproofed. You can do it yourself or hire a professional to do the job for you!

Weight and Warmth of Blankets and Sheets

Fill inside horse blankets is measured in grams, and typical amounts of fill come in a pretty standard range across brands. Some blankets come with neck covers as well, which is just an extra part of the blanket that covers your horses’ neck, which is great for horses with a full body clip, or in extreme cold. 

• Sheets or Light Weight Blankets: 0-100 grams of fill 
• Medium Weight Blankets: 150-250 grams of fill
• Heavy Weight Blankets: 300+ grams of fill

Here’s a helpful chart to help you decide which blanket or sheet to choose, depending on the weather:

Temperature °F	Temperature °C	Unclipped Horse	Clipped Horse
60	15	Nothing	Light Weight Blanket
50	10	Nothing	Light Weight Blanket
40	5	Light Weight Blanket	Medium Weight Blanket
30	0	Light/Medium Weight Blanket	Medium Weight Blanket
20	-5	Medium Weight Blanket	Heavy Weight Blanket (With Neck Cover)
10	-10	Medium Weight Blanket	Heavy Weight Blanket (With Neck Cover)
0	-15	Medium or Heavy Weight Blanket	Heavy Weight Blanket (With Neck Cover) or Double Blanket (Stable Sheet Underneath)
Below 0	Below -20	Heavy Weight Blanket (With Neck Cover)	Double Blanket (Heavy Weight Blanket with Neck Cover and Stable Sheet Underneath)

Parts of a Horse Blanket

Now that we understand when and why we should blanket our horses, let’s go over the parts of a blanket. Understanding this will help you choose better quality blankets that are well-suited to your horse and his needs.

Horse blankets are typically constructed in three layers: the shell, the fill, and the lining. The lining, the innermost layer, helps reduce friction and can even help smooth and polish your horse’s coat. The fill is what keeps horses warm; it’s the fluffy inner part of the blanket.

Stable and turnout blankets can have anywhere from 0 grams in a lightweight blanket to 300+ grams of fill in a heavyweight blanket, depending on what amount of warmth they’re intended to provide. The shell, the outermost layer of the blanket, protects your horse from the elements and is usually waterproof. The shell is also the part of the blanket that we’re referring to when we talk about denier. 

• Belly Straps (called surcingles): The more straps your blanket has, the more secure the fit. Blankets with crossing surcingles (belly straps that cross underneath the horse) tend not to slide as much as blankets with non-crossing surcingles. Some blankets have three surcingles; two that cross and a third, shorter surcingle that goes straight across, over top of the crossed straps.
• Chest Straps: are crucial for your horses’ safety. If your blanket only has one strap and it breaks or comes loose, the blanket will slide down your horse’s body and can wrap around his hind end. As you can imagine, this would be terrifying for a horse and can result in serious accidents. You should always have a minimum of two chest straps or buckles as a safety precaution. 
• Leg Straps and Tail Straps: while they might seem similar, they’re quite different. Leg straps are long, double-ended clips that attach inside the blanket close to your horse’s flank and then cross between the hind legs, re-attaching at the back of the blanket. You will criss-cross them between your horse’s hind legs, or you can loop them through each other when attaching leg straps so they don’t rub on your horse’s legs.Tail straps are simpler; a single strap connects the back of the blanket together underneath your horse’s tail. While leg straps are typically more secure, some horses are irritated by the feeling of them on their legs and cope better with a tail strap. Tail straps are common on stable blankets.
• Gussets: are slots in the front of the blanket that allows freedom of movement of the shoulder. For horses with wide chests and large shoulder blades, gussets are necessary for a turnout blanket. If not, you risk excess rubbing and discomfort on the point of the shoulder.
• Hoods and Neck Covers: blanket necks also vary. There are regular, high neck, and full neck options. Regular neck blankets will sit just above the wither and are the default cut. High neck blankets will sit a few inches above the withers, creating a more contoured fit of your horse’s back, and will rub less on your horse’s withers.Full neck blankets have a built-in neck cover that extends up to the horse’s head, offering full body protection, which is great for extreme cold. “Hoods” refer to a detachable neck cover, which is handy to have in climates with changing temperatures.

How to Measure Your Horse for a Blanket

Watch this helpful video for how to measure a horse correctly: How to Measure for a Horse Blanket

Step 1: make sure your horse is standing square.

Step 2: place a soft tape measure at the centre of the chest, and lay the tape on your horse’s skin along the widest part of the shoulder and hip, angling upwards towards the tail.

Step 3: mark your tape where the tail hair starts. This measurement (in inches) is your blanket size. For example, if the measurement reads 76 inches, your horse’s blanket size will be a 76. If your measurement is between sizes, always size up for a better fit and comfort for your horse.

Deciding if Your Blanket Fits Your Horse

You’ve chosen and brought home a blanket. Now to decide if it actually fits! There are three key areas you want to pay attention to:

1. The Length: your horse’s blanket shouldn’t drape off his hind end or hang too low on his legs. You want his barrel to be fully covered and for the ends of the blanket to finish just below his elbow and stifle.
2. The Withers: if your blanket is too tight across the withers, he’ll end up with painful rubs. Usually, if the blanket is too tight here, it’s also too tight on your horse’s shoulder. Sometimes using a blanket with gussets helps prevent rubs when a horse’s chest is wide, reducing the tension on the shoulder and withers. High-neck blankets are also an excellent choice for these horses.
3. The Shoulders: the front closure should be in line with the point of your horse’s shoulder. The blanket should lay flat and smoothly along the shoulder with no tension.

Cleaning Horse Blankets

Paying for a horse blanket laundry service might seem like a luxury, but it’s a great way to ensure your horse’s blanket is cleaned properly. Dirty blankets can be uncomfortable for the horse and are difficult for barn staff to use. If using a blanket laundry service is out of budget, be careful using your own washing machine.

Medium and heavyweight blankets can become too heavy when soaked for traditional machines and may cause damage. The heavy debris on horse blankets (manure, shavings, mud, etc.) may also plug up your washing machine or septic system. It’s also important to note that when cleaned incorrectly, the detergent can damage the waterproofing of your blanket and render it useless for rainy or snowy weather.

If you’d like to wash them at a laundromat, call ahead to make sure horse blankets are allowed, and you can even buy special horse blanket detergent and bring it with you. If you decide to wash them at home, try using gentle detergents or natural deodorizers (like vinegar) to remove odours. You should scrub off the heavy debris by hand using a brush and detergent (like dish soap) to remove excess mud before putting your blanket in the washing machine. Once washed, you should always hang the wet horse blanket to dry and never put in the dryer.

Most blanket washing services offer waterproofing and repairing as well, which is a great added bonus. Personally, I like to have my blankets professionally cleaned, repaired, and waterproofed at the end of each season so that they’re fresh and ready to use when I pull them out of storage next season.

Re-Waterproofing Horse Blankets

After many seasons in the mud, sun, rain, and being washed or stored improperly, the blanket’s material will lose its waterproof properties. If you notice that your blankets come in soaked through or that the water no longer beads off the shell of the blanket, it’s no longer waterproof. Instead of spending hundreds and an entirely new blanket, consider re-waterproofing. Doing so saves you money and reduces waste.

Waterproofing your horse’s blankets is pretty straightforward. You can either do it yourself or send it to a blanket laundry service to be done for you. If you want to re-waterproof your horse’s blanket on your own, it’s a good idea to check with the manufacturer first to see if re-waterproofing will invalidate any warranties. You can also ask if they have any specific recommendations for what type of re-waterproofing product to use.

The best way to re-waterproof your horse’s blankets is by using a spray or wash-in product specifically designed for horse blankets. Various products are available on the market, and camping stores are a great place to look. Products designed specifically for horse blankets do exist, but they may be pricier. Whichever product you decide to use, read the instructions on the bottle carefully and apply it as directed for maximum benefit.

Storing Horse Blankets

Storing horse blankets is just as important as washing and waterproofing them. If stored incorrectly, the blanket’s fibers will become damaged over time, compromising its longevity.

During the season, you can hang your blankets on blanket racks that either hangs on the wall or the stall front or in blanket bags that hang on your stall front or tack locker. You’ll need your blankets to be accessible, so make sure you keep them somewhere convenient. Most importantly, allow them to dry fully before folding, and never leave them on the ground or in direct sunlight.

At the end of the season, when it’s time to pack away your winter blankets and swap them out for the summer ones, make sure your blankets are clean and fully dry before storing them to ensure no mold or mildew will form.

When the season is over, pack them in sealed bins to prevent rodents or insects from damaging them, and keep them in a cool, dry place until you need to use them again. If you leave them in direct sunlight, the UV rays will weaken the fabric and can render your blankets useless or cause heavy fading. You can store turnout blankets and stable blankets in the same manner.