Horse blankets are essential, especially during winter and rainy seasons. They help in keeping your horse warm, safe, and comfortable. However, purchasing them can be daunting if you are unaware of the essential things to consider when shopping.
Here is what to know when buying a horse blanket
1. Types of horse blankets
Identifying the best type of blanket that will suit your horse’s needs is the best way to start. Generally, all the blankets work to cover your horse, but their differences and purposes are significant. The main types include:
- Turnout blankets: Turnout sheets and blankets are made with rigid, waterproof material to protect the horse from the elements and hold during activities. A waterproof horse blanket is ideal in rainy seasons and outside activities.
- Stable blankets: Stable blankets are usually used to cover your horse while it’s out of the elements inside the stable, stall, or barn. It helps to protect the horse from dirt and dust while keeping it warm after work.
- Fly sheets: fly sheets helps in keeping flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and other types of pests away from the horse to minimize insect bites. Materials in horse fly sheets range from tight, lightweight windowpane mesh to thick polyvinyl materials.
2. Buying the correct fit
A dressage saddle must fit your horse correctly to work properly and safely. Therefore, you must measure your horse and use the measurements when buying the blanket. You should measure your horse when standing on flat ground and keep the tape straight when measuring it from the chest to the hind legs.
To get the correct fit, be sure to check the following:
- Leg straps: leg straps that are too snug will rub and irritate the horse’s skin, while too loose straps can tangle and are risky. The secret is ensuring a hand’s width between your horse and the belt.
- Neck opening: Ensure the blanket covers your horse’s chest completely while allowing for free neck movement.
- Drop: The length or drop is essential to give your horse the broadest range of motion and avoid tripping or tangling.
3. The fill of the blanket
The fill determines the level of warmth of a horse blanket. The higher the number of fill grams, the warmer the blanket. However, consider other factors such as the horse’s age, climate, and condition when deciding the suitable grams.
4. Determine durability
There are lots of options when it comes to horse sheets and blankets. The denier of a blanket is the thread thickness of the outer shell that describes its toughness: the higher the denier number, the stronger the blanket. If you’re looking for something durable, a denier of 2100 or more is recommended.
Other things you’ll need to know when buying a horse blanket include the following:
- Age: Know when the horse can no longer keep himself warm.
- Heath: The health condition will help you know the correct type of blanket you need to buy.
Final thoughts
Buying a horse blanket is a critical process that demands accuracy and a lot of consideration. If you do it right, your horse will be warm, comfortable, and safe. But if you do it wrong, the horse can pick injuries, and the harsh climate will adversely affect it. So ensure you know the above thing when buying horse blankets.