The Bony Pony

When choosing a turnout blanket there are a few things to consider. These include how heavy, how tough, the cut and the size.

 

Heavy weight blankets are for horses that are clipped, have a short hair coat, or are stabled. They generally contain from 300 to 400 grams of insulation.

 

 

Medium weight blankets are a good weight for Western Washington's winter climate. Horses that are turned out all winter, but have a winter coat will do well with a medium weight blanket. They generally contain from 200 to 280 grams of insulation.

 

Light weight blankets are a nice compromise between a medium weight blanket and just a rain sheet. They have from 120 to 140 grams of insulation.

 

 

Rain sheets keep the wind and rain off, but provide no insulation. A horse with a good winter coat may appreciate having a rain sheet to keep the wind and rain out. A rain sheet also makes a good outer layer if you plan to layer your blankets.

 

The toughness of the outer shell of a turnout blanket can be measured by the denier of that outer fabric. The higher the number, the tougher the fabric. A 1200 denier outer shell will be tougher than a 600 denier outer shell. It also depends on the type of fabric of the outer shell. A 1000 denier ballistic nylon outer is tougher than a 1200 denier nylon polyester outer.

 

To determine the size needed, measure from the center of the horse's chest, along the horse's side to the side of his tail. This measurement will be your blanket size. Depending on how the sizes run and the cut of the blanket, you may need to go up or down a size. A well fitting blanket won't be tight through the neck and won't drape excessively over the tail. If you have any questions on blanket fit, feel free to ask for help, that's what we're there for!

 

One other very good reason for blanketing your horse in Western Washington is all the rain we get in the winter. Keeping your horse clean and dry can greatly decrease the chance for your horse getting rain rot.