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Turnout blankets? Favorite brand, info, etc?

5K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  kmdstar 
#1 ·
Hey! I know it's summer but the barn I'm bording at requires turnout blankets for all horses by fall. So I have a few questions since I'm new to choosing a good blanket.
What brand works beat for you?
(most durable, warmest, water proof, etc)
What does "grams" mean?
(in the ads for them it says 100 grams of fill)
What's the best material/ mix of materials to have in a blanket?
How do you know what blanket is best for your horse?
How do you know if it's a good fit?
What's a reasonable price for a blanket?
Do you have another additional recommendations for a blanket/ fitting a blanket?
Thanks for any information!!!
 
#4 ·
I have cheap one: Saxon 600D Waterproof for already 4 years. Just washed them today for the next winter. Besides little rips here and there they still very functional.
 
#5 ·
I prefer Rambo's and Amigo's, I also have Rider's International Supreme (from Dover).

The grams of fill are how warm the blanket is. The denier is how sturdy the outer material is.

How much fill you need depends on how cold it gets and how your horse personally deals with cold. My trainer blankets according to each horse's needs so it wasn't an unusual sight last Winter to see everything from 4 layered blankys on one horse to nothing on mine at the same time. My gelding doesn't get cold, he has quite the blanket collection but has yet to wear any of them other than his rain sheet.
 
#7 ·
What type of weather do you have where you are? Is it the dry weather that can drop to -40 (celcius) or the bone-chilling humid cold? Is there a lot of snow or is it rainy?
 
#8 ·
It gets to maybe -single digit numbers (F) Usually rainy occasionally snow. Sometimes bonechilling winds. Others it's rather warm for a winter nite/day.
In other words the wether here is not really consistent but it cand get pretty cold.
 
#9 ·
What brand works beat for you?
(most durable, warmest, water proof, etc)

The higher the denier the more waterproof usually, I like deniers at least 1200... my favourite rug has a denier of 2000

What does "grams" mean?
(in the ads for them it says 100 grams of fill)

Grams is how much fill it has - it usually goes no fill for just a rain sheet, 100 grams is similar to a jute rug or autumn, 200 - 300 is a winter weight for colder places...

What's the best material/ mix of materials to have in a blanket?
Fabric varies but I like a cotton lining a a decent canvas rug

How do you know what blanket is best for your horse?
Usually experience - you learn what fits and doesnt slip...

How do you know if it's a good fit?
Its snug but doesnt pull, cover them to the tail... doesnt slip...

What's a reasonable price for a blanket?
I pay up to 250 for a cover as a rule (Nz Dollars) but depend on the weight - I would expect to pay more for a winter weight cover..

In NZ we have our horse out a lot 24/7 so we tend to have alot of rugs... I have a rain sheet, 100 gram, 220 gram, 300 gram, canvas jute and thermal line, as well as a couple of weighted cotton summer sheets...

Some good brands (Not sure if you have them there) are Weatherbeta, Zilco or shires... Also love Mark todd ones!

Seperates are usually slightley more expensive but tend to save the mame

Read more: http://www.horseforum.com/horse-tac...-favorite-brand-info-etc-89151/#ixzz1PtgMmD1V
 
#11 ·
When I blanketed, I used a Saxon medium weight waterproof blanket on my girls and I really liked it. One of them made it through two winters and still has no rips or anything. The other one is also rip free but I only used it one winter. It did a good job of keeping my girls cozy and warm, the only thing is if I thought of it back when I bought them I would have gotten a high neck (not covering ALL of the neck, just higher than your usual neck).
 
#13 ·
I like Schneiders blankets. Horsewear at Schneider Saddlery They hold up well and are reasonably priced. Most of the blankets that I have purchased from them have been around $80 to $90.

I use medium weight blankets which usually run in the lower 200's as far as fill. Anything close to 300 grams and over is a heavy weight blanket. I live in Virginia and we still get some nasty weather in the single digits (F). My horses are out 24/7 with barn access, and they seem just fine.

Make sure that your blanket says WATERPROOF, not water resistant or weather resistant, if they are going to be out in the rain.

Denier does not have anything to do with how waterproof a blanket is. Denier has to do with the strength of the fibers in the blanket. The higher denier, the more abuse a blanket can take, such as biting and pulling from both the horse wearing it and other horses.

A good fitting blanket will cover the horse completely without his bottom hanging out the back. Look closely at the shoulders to see if it is tight. If it looks like it is pulled tight against his shoulders and chest, this could cause rub marks on your horse.

Since all horses are different, what works for my horse may not work for yours. It is all trial and error until you find the one that fits your horse the best. Most places will let you return a blanket if you just tried it on your horse and did not get it dirty. When trying them out, put a bed sheet on your horse so that the blanket stays clean.
 
#14 ·
I bought Froggy a Saxon in an emergency type situation and I ended up loving it. Would totally recommend them to anyone looking for a tough, warm blanket. Froggy can be kind of hellish on blankets as he is quite the dirtball. I quick spray down with a hose and all that muck came right off and the blanket looks better than brand new.

I would rather buy a Saxon and pay to have it professionally laundered and rewaterproofed. I am cheap though...lol
 
#15 ·
I have had really good luck with the Riders (dovers brand) in the 1200 denier. They make all different weights, have an easy close front with velcro and clips instead of the buckles I can NOT do up when it is cold, gussetted shoulders, leg straps.......and they come in many weights and fits for my drafty and my "normal" horse. I have also found that no matter what I buy from them (I have tried other kinds), they stand behind it. I have had a couple (one Riders and one a Weatherbeeta Orican) that my new guy ripped within the ffirst month. It was clearly a horse thing, not the fault of the blanket, but they had me send it back (complete with mud!) and they replaced it. No questions asked.

My old guy has had the same Riders sheet for 4 yrs-the new one....well he is a blanket destroyer since he loves to roll, But they seem to be holding up ok for him too.
 
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