We’re all faced with different problems when we go to blanket our horses in the winter. Some horses like to destroy their expensive new threads, while others need a blanket to keep their summer coat looking pristine for the winter horse-show season. Then there are those that simply need extra protection against wind and snow during those brutally cold winter days. Depending on what climate you live in and what you like to do with your horse, blanketing needs and problems vary.
Here we spoke with five different horse owners—who live in different parts of the country—to see what problems they’re faced with come blanketing season, and help them find a blanket that fits their personal needs.
The Houdini
Owner: Katie Navarra, Mechanicville, New York.
Blanket needs: Protection from the snow. While Katie lets her horse, Bella, grow a winter coat, she still likes to blanket her horse during the colder months. “Bella has a tendency to be sensitive to damp weather,” Katie explains. “So I need something that’ll keep her dry when she’s outside in the snow, or in her stall.”
Blanket problems: Durability. “Bella is tough on her blankets,” Katie shares. “She’s a Houdini; I’ve had her escape out of multiple blankets, so I need something that’ll stay on her and won’t rip easily.” Katie also notes she’s become specific about the blanket’s hardware. “It gets pretty cold where I live, so I like to have a blanket that has a snap-closure front, so I don’t have to worry about taking my gloves off to throw a blanket on Bella.”
Blanket recommendation: The SmartPak Ultimate Horse Turnout Blanket. Its heavy-duty, Teflon-coated 1,680-denier waterproof shell resists rips and tears, and it’s backed by SmartPak’s 10-year durability guarantee. Quick-clip front closures are easy to use with gloves on, while shoulder gussets, two low-cross surcingles, and leg straps keep the blanket in place without shifting or rubbing.
More info: $279.95 to $299.95; smartpakequine.com.
Blanket recommendation: The Weaver Premium Turnout Blanket, Heavy Weight. A waterproof, breathable 1,200-denier ripstop shell and 300 grams of fill keep a snow-loving horse warm and dry. Snap front closures make it quick to put on in the cold, and extra-large shoulder gussets give her room to move without fighting her blanket.
More info: $149.99; weaverequine.com.
Summer Hair Coat
Owner: April Freeland, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Blanket needs: Keeping a show coat. “George and I compete year-round on the Quarter Horse circuit, so it’s important that he has a tight hair coat all year,” April shares. Due to a strict horse-show budget, she also looks for durable blankets that are reasonably priced and will last for several winter seasons before needing replaced.
Blanket problems: The ability to use a blanket in different climates. “We travel to horse shows all around the country, so I need a blanket I can use when we go to shows in colder climates,” April shares. “Oklahoma typically has a mild winter; I don’t want to have a very heavy blanket because my horse lives indoors. If he gets hot and starts to sweat, eventually he gets cold from the sweat and starts to grow hair.”
Blanket recommendation: The Cashel Lightweight Turnout Winter Blanket, 100g. With just 100 grams of fiberfill, it keeps a show coat slick without overheating a horse that lives indoors—so he won’t sweat and start growing hair. The tough 1,200-denier ripstop shell is built to last for several seasons, and the smooth nylon lining helps keep his coat polished.
More info: $149.99; cashelcompany.com.
Active Pasture Horse
Owner: Kelsey Stangebye, McHenry, Illinois.
Blanket needs: Active blankets. Kelsey owns several retired horses that spend a majority of their time in the pasture. “Unless I have one that doesn’t tolerate the cold well, I usually don’t blanket my horses until it gets below 30 degrees,” Kelsey explains. “I like to to keep them outside as much as possible, so I need a heavy, waterproof blanket.”
Blanket problems: Finding a blanket with loose gussets and front-buckle closures. “Some horses don’t like when you put a blanket over their head; I like to buy blankets that have the easy-to-close, front-buckle closures, so I don’t have to worry about getting a heavy blanket over each horse’s head when they’re out.” Kelsey also needs a blanket with gussets. “If a blanket doesn’t have loose gussets, I notice rub marks on my horses’ chest and shoulder areas,” she explains.
Blanket recommendation: The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Prelim Turnout 360g. This heavyweight turnout has a twin-buckle front closure, so there’s no pulling it over a horse’s head, plus traditional side gussets for easy movement. The 1,200-denier ripstop shell is waterproof (tested to 2,000mm+) and breathable, and 360 grams of polyfill handles below-30-degree days.
More info: $119.99; tractorsupply.com.
Rainy Winter
Owner: Kendra Anderson, Portland, Oregon.
Blanket needs: A medium-weight, waterproof blanket. “I let my horse, Cadence Rose, grow out her winter coat, so blanketing for me isn’t only about warmth, but more about being waterproof,” Kendra shares. “My horse isn’t tough on her blankets, but I look for a blanket with higher denier so it lasts for multiple seasons and won’t rip from the slightest rub,” she explains.
Blanket problems: Finding a blanket without an attached neck that can handle Portland’s wet winters. Kendra doesn’t blanket for the entire winter season, but it’s important that Cadence Rose stay blanketed during the core parts of it. “We don’t get an extremely cold or snowy winter, but our winters are very wet from all the rain,” Kendra shares. “I prefer to keep my horse in a pasture with a shelter, so I need a blanket that’ll stay stationary and keep her dry at all times.”
Blanket recommendation: The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Prelim Standard Neck Medium. The standard neck stops at the withers—no attached neck—and the waterproof, breathable 1,200-denier ripstop shell (tested to 2,000mm+) stands up to rubs and a long, wet Pacific Northwest winter. The 220-gram polyfill adds just enough warmth for a horse with a natural coat.
More info: $114.99; weatherbeeta.com.
Buyer on a Budget
Owner: Staci Huffman, Rathdrum, Idaho.
Blanket needs: A cost-efficient, waterproof blanket. “My horses live outside a majority of the time,” Staci says. “And the snow adds weight, so I need a blanket that won’t be heavy to wear when it’s snowing out.” Another important part when she’s blanket shopping: Finding a blanket that’s in her budget, yet durable. “I have a large family and multiple horses; a good value is an important part of purchasing a winter blanket,” Staci explains.
Blanket problems: Blankets that pull on horse’s shoulders, and front-snap closures that break. “When a horse rubs on the front of his blanket, the snaps tend to break easily,” she shares. “I still like having a front closure, because I don’t want to pull the blankets over my horses’ heads, but I look for a glove-friendly closure that won’t break.” She also mentions the importance of comfort over the neck and shoulders. “In the past, blankets have caused some of my horse’s mane to fall out from the rubbing, and they’ve also rubbed hair off in the withers and shoulder areas,” Staci explains.
Blanket recommendation: The NRS Turnout Horse Blanket. It packs a waterproof, breathable 1,200-denier shell and 250 grams of poly fill into a budget-friendly price, and features like a tail flap, fleece wither protection, replaceable leg straps, and shoulder gussets help it last through multiple winters.
More info: $124.99; nrsworld.com.