Winter Is Coming: The Ultimate Blanket Buying Guide

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The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Buying Winter Blankets

Well everyone, it's coming up to that dreaded season we all love to hate in Canada: winter blanketing season! With so many products on the market and conflicting advice on when/how/why to blanket, I've compiled an Ultimate Winter Blanketing guide based on my own extensive experience and research. Whether your horse loves to shred his blankets, is a weird fit or you're not sure what your clipped horse needs, I'll walk you through it step by step. Put down those pumpkin spice lattes, because...winter is coming. (So cheesy, I know!)

 

1. To Blanket Or Not To Blanket....That Isn't Even a Question

 

The topic of whether or not to blanket your horse is a heated one. There are a lot of people who believe we should leave them alone in their natural state (ie. No blankets, like ever). Considering we've domesticated our horses, I think this is a pretty moot debate. Leaving your riding horse in freezing rain and sub-zero temperatures without a blanket, to remain damp and chilled all day just doesn't seem like a great idea to me, regardless of how thick their coat is. Some people may beg to differ, but even non-riding horses need a little help in -30 degree arctic freezes.

 

So with that out of the way; let's talk about weight of blankets and when they're necessary.

 

2. When and How To Blanket Clipped and Un-clipped Horses

 

Each horse has different needs depending on if they're clipped or not, and of course each individual horse may tend to always be slightly cold or warm. Please be smart and use your discretion, but this chart outlines a basic guide for when your horse will need a blanket.

Note:

Not all blankets are created equal. I've purchased lower-end blankets with supposedly 300g of fill, only to find the fill compressed and acted more like a light stable blanket. Winter blankets can be incredibly pricey, but if you do your research, you'll find that in a lot of cases, price does equal quality. If you have a mature horse, you're better off purchasing a blanket of slightly better quality, than having to replace it halfway through winter. This is not only annoying, but it will probably cost you  more in the long run. The argument of, "well my horse shreds his blankets" doesn't justify buying cheap blankets. Believe me, I have been down that road and last year alone, purchased SIX different blankets before sucking it up and buying a Bucas Power Turnout. It's going on 2 years and even with my rough geldings, it has barely a mark on it.

 

So now that we have a guideline on how and when to blanket, let's talk fit and style.

 

3. How to Measure For Fit

 

Most of us know how to measure a horse for a blanket: take a tape measure from the middle point of their chest, run the tape flat around their body to their hindquarters, roughly at the point of their bum. An important rule to note: if the measurement falls in the middle, always round up a size! You're always better off to have a slightly bigger blanket, especially since you may end up layering blankets for the winter.

 

 

 

This system gives you a good outline for generic sizing, but most blankets will be trial and error depending on the cut, style and shape of your horse. Several brands such as Bucas and Rambo have their own blanketing guides, which I have found to be very accurate and useful. Rambo is the most confusing, as unlike other brands they measure in 3' increments instead of 2'. 

 

Here's Rambo's online blanketing guide

 

Use the tape as a guide and then do your research to see if they tend to fit big or small. I've had an 18 hand horse fit an 81" in a Bucas and a 78" in a Shedrow. Here's a handy list that I've found in my experiences over the years:

 

Bucas – Fits Warmbloods very well, especially those with broad shoulders. Runs true to size or slighly large. Incredibly durable and lasts forever.

 

Rambo -  Excellent blanket for warmbloods or QH's, tends to run large. Arguably the most durable and tough blanket on the market

 

Rhino – Very similar to the Rambo, but is slightly narrower. Mixed reviews on durability.

 

Amigo – Almost identical fit to the Rhino. The most affordable of the Horseware line, but definitely the most prone to destruction.

 

Weatherbeeta – Very generous in the shoulder and tends to fit larger. Very sturdy and durable brand, with nice design touches for comfort.

 

Pessoa – Fits most average horses, runs true to size. Fairly durable and good value.

 

Schneider's – Tends to run a lot smaller. Mixed reviews on fit and durability.

 

Shedrow – Fits most horses comfortably, runs large. Depending on your horse, can disintegrate in days.

 

Clearly there are dozens more brands out here, but these are the ones I have the most experience with and the ones I think are most worth your money.

 

4. Show Me What You're Made Of

 

Having a high denier rating (the strength of the fabric weave) is imperative, especially if your horse goes out in a group. Or just likes to pull off their blankets because they're special (not mentioning any names, Quantum).

 

 

Most designs have either a rip-stop weave which is supposedly meant to stop a rip from deepening or a waterproof nylon material. In my experience, the rip-stop weaves tend to tear off in squares, but that could just be me. I've had a lot of luck with the new fabrics in the Rambo and Bucas lines, which are made of a pimply ballistic nylon material that seems to stay waterproof and rip-proof for a ridiculously long amount of time.

 

We can also go into hundreds of special features like wick-away linings, felt lining, comfort necks, etc. But at the end of the day, if your horse is comfortable and warm, I'm pretty sure these bells and whistles won't make a huge difference. I have a few preferences that I adore and think DO make a difference, but it's up to you to decide what works for your horse and how much you're willing to spend. I'm a big fan of nice thick indoor stable rugs, layered up with a good outdoor sheet. This makes life easy for the barn staff and keeps a nice consistent temperature throughout the day. For my exceptionally dirty horses, I sometimes give them fleece or felt-lined rainsheets indoors (read: waterproof coating) which tends to repel more stinky stuff than a non-waterproof stable rug.

 

So last but not least, here is the compiled list of my favourite winter blankets, with helpful tips and features I think make them amazing. I've given some more affordable options too which get you more bang for your buck.

 

 

The Ultimate Blanket Round-Up

 

Best and Favourite All-Around Winter Blanket: The Bucas Power Turnout.

 

 

Be still my beating heart. This turnout completes my life for so many reasons. From its Stay-Dry felt antibacterial lining to its aluminum heat reflection to its impeccable shoulder darts and front closure, this Bucas blanket is superior to almost every blanket brand I've tried. The Power Turnout comes with the sturdy felt lining or 300g of fill for the Extra, as well as a tough ballistic nylon shell, antibacterial dry lining, heat reflective coating and an easy-snap front closure that takes 10 seconds to do up and you never have to worry about broken straps or clips ever again!

 

Hardly any of my horses ever sweat in their Bucas, as the lining acts like a sweat sheet and wicks away moisture. The aluminum heat reflecting coating on the blanket also keeps them super cool and dry, even if the temperature gets warm during the day. My toughest horses have yet to mark up the shell and It's stayed waterproof for ages. It fits my broad-shouldered Warmbloods like a dream and I love the darts that stretch better than traditional gussets. They run fairly true to size, but measure in 3" increments, so you're better off going down a size. The front clasp is probably my favourite, which is so easy to do up and almost impossible to break. It's a bit pricey, but it will last forever and you won't be disappointed! Well worth the cost.

 

Cost: $389.00

 

Second Runner-Up: The Rambo Duo Turnout

 

 

 

It's a pretty close call as to which blanket I love more. The Rambo fulfills my love of layering (see above), meaning you're actually getting pretty great value for the price tag. It comes with a 300g fiberfill stable rug, with detachable 100g outdoor sheet and neck hood. The coating is a 1000 denier ballistic nylon, which is super tough and holds up to rough play. You can use the rainsheet separately for warmer days and the design is flawless. The blankets attach seamlessly to each other and are easy to exchange. This is arguably the toughest, most durable blanket on the market and is loved for it's design and fit. These blankets tend to run slightly large but have always fit my Warmbloods perfectly.

 

It has a patented V-Front Closure which has ensured none of my horses get shoulder rubs and an ergonomical design that shapes to your horses body comfortably. The V-Neck can sometimes be a drag to do up and make sure you have extra clips on hand, as rough horses can sometimes break the clips. Unlike most blankets though, you usually only have to replace a clip and not the whole blanket front. Again, this is a pretty large investment, but definitely worth the money.

 

Cost: $560.00

 

Best Affordable Blankets

 

Not everyone can afford to shell out hundreds for a blanket; I get it. If you're a bit strapped for cash but still looking for quality, here's a couple of blankets that are a steal for the quality.

 

The Weatherbeeta Orican Freestyle

This blanket is great for those who need a great fit, especially for large chested Warmbloods or QH's, and durable design, without breaking the bank. This blanket has fit on all of my tough Warmbloods and sustained little to no damage in groups. It fits very generously in the shoulder with a comfort gusset and dart, and I love the design and fit overall. It comes with 220g of fill with a super durable 1200 denier waterproof coating, and a cozy Oxford lining and quick-clip front closure. They're great looking blankets, the fit is superb and they are guaranteed to last you a very long time. They are definitely a cost-saving win!

 

Cost: $289.95

 

Pessoa Alpine Winter Turnout

 The Pessoa Alpine turnout is a favourite for my young horses; it's durable, relatively inexpensive and has some nice features and always a great fit. The fit is generally true to size and while it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of the other blankets, it's certainly not lacking where it counts. The Alpine comes in a rainsheet, a midweight (180 grams of fill) and a heavyweight with 300 grams. The outer shell is a tough 1200 denier with Teflon coating and a nylon liner that's also durable and prevents rubbing. It has a removable Velcro tail flap, a gusset for a comfortable fit in the shoulder, as well as rust-proof hardware and a dual snapping front closure. For those that don't want to break the bank and need a solid competitor of a winter blanket, this is definitely you're go-to!

 

Price: $159.95

 

So there you have it folks! A detailed guide to winter blanket shopping and some good ideas if you're having trouble deciding on the perfect match. Let me know your thoughts and if there's anything else you guys would like to see! Happy blanket hunting!

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