Carlos Davis

Educating yourself on the many types of horse blankets and blanket accessories and the different weights and deniers is an essential part of horse care. Denier refers to how thick the yarn is and how tightly woven the fabric is. A higher denier results in a more substantial fabric. Choosing the correct blanket can also save you hundreds of dollars in maintenance and repairs. Understanding Horse Blankets To measure your horse for a blanket or sheet, you will need a soft tape measure, such as used when sewing. It is best to have a helper for measuring your horse. Start with the horse standing square. Have one person hold the end of the tape measure at the center of the horse's chest and measure to the middle of the tail. Horse blankets often are sized in three-inch increments, starting at 60 inches, so round your measurement up to the nearest standard size. Foal and mini blankets often are harder to find and run from 24 to 58 inches, depending on the brand. Put your horse's blanket or sheet on, secure your horse safely with an appropriate halter and lead, then work front to back. First, fasten the chest closure, the surcingles or belly straps next, and finally, the tail or leg straps. Remove blankets from the opposite direction to reduce the risk of the horse spooking and stepping on or getting tangled in a loose blanket. In basic terms, denier tells you how strong the outside layer of the blanket is. Blankets typically range from 450 denier to 1200 denier, the lowest denier meant for indoor use and the highest for paddock or outdoor use. Some blanket brands and styles, such as the WeatherBeeta Comfitec, also use ripstop technology, preventing a small hole or puncture from destroying the whole blanket. The next factor to consider is blanket weight, which determines how warm it is. Horse blankets and sheets range from unlined (no filling) to heavyweight containing 300-400 grams of filling. Clipped horses sometimes need both a heavyweight blanket and a blanket liner in extremely cold weather. Turnout Blankets Turnout blankets are the horse equivalent of your winter coat. They are waterproof, usually made of a higher denier fabric, and may also have ripstop technology. A high neck horse blanket will help to ensure your horse stays warm and dry. Light blankets usually contain 100-180 grams of fill and are used in temperatures between 50 °F (10 °C) and 30 °F (-1.11 °C), depending on whether your horse is clipped and his tolerance to the cold. Medium weight blankets run between 200-280g and are used when the temperatures dip between 40 °F (4.44 °C) and 10°F (-12.22 °C), depending on the individual horse. Heavy blankets 300-380g are used at temperatures 20 °F (-6.67 °C) degrees and below, with clipped horses requiring double blanketing if outside below 0 °F (-17.78 °C). At these below-freezing temperatures or in wet weather, your horse may also need additional protection, such as a neck cover. In addition to the different strengths and weights, blankets come in various cuts and styles, fitting different horses better than others. Here at Corro, we carry all the major brands, including WeatherBeeta, Tough-1, and Horseware Ireland, in Rambo and Amigo styles. Stable Blankets Intended for inside use (think your favorite sweater), stable blankets are often used to give clipped horses an extra layer of protection inside their stalls. Unlike turnout blankets, they are not waterproof and often come in lower denier strengths. They do come in the same weights as the turnout blankets but do take into consideration that the combined body heat of all the horses in your barn, plus the lack of windchill, is likely to keep even an unheated barn much warmer than outdoors. Horse Sheets An unlined horse sheet is similar to your long sleeve shirt or lightweight rain jacket. Turnout sheets are used to keep rain, snow, or wind from penetrating your horse's coat and chilling him. A stable sheet may also be used to help keep a horse clean after a bath, especially if you have a big show planned the next day. At Corro, we offer many different colors and styles, such as red, navy blue, black, and even the Horseware Rhino plaid, making it easy to coordinate your horse's blankets with the rest of his tack. A variation of the typical horse sheet is the quarter sheet or exercise rug, used to keep the horse warm while riding in harsh weather. As the name suggests, some cover only the horse's hindquarters, while others go all the way to the front of the saddle, with slits to feed the stirrups through. Coolers and Blanket Liners Horse coolers are often made of fleece or wool and are used to keep a horse warm and wick away moisture after he works up a sweat or gets bathed. We carry both Centaur and Horseware Ireland coolers in various colors and fits. Blanket liners add a layer of warmth in cold weather and are particularly useful if you live in a climate where you only get a few very cold days a year. Many blankets, such as the Horseware Ireland line, have added clips and velcro to prevent the blanket liner from slipping out of place. Some liners may also have additional fleece at the wither, helping prevent rubbing, especially in horse breeds with high withers. Fly Protection Used in conjunction with fly masks and boots, fly sheets help protect horses from biting insects. Some fly equipment also serves as sun protection for light-skinned or sensitive horses, reducing the chance of sunburn or damage. Fly masks with ears help prevent bugs such as ticks from entering your horse's ear, while neck covers and nose covers provide additional protection. The Horseware Ireland Mio line is a familiar favorite for fly control, including an attached hood or neck cap and coming in sizes from 66 to 84 inches. Additional Blanket Accessories In addition to a warm blanket, your equine pal may also need an insulated neck cover to prevent heat loss in cold or wet weather. The Kensington neck warmer is compatible with any blanket with D rings and will help keep your horse toasty from the ears down. Lycra horse sheets and hoods are a bit like your horse's underwear. They help to prevent rubbing and keep the horse clean. As the weather warms and you prepare to pack away winter gear, use a designated blanket wash, as this will brighten colors and reduce damage to the waterproofing materials. Every few years, it may be advised to re-waterproof your horse's blanket as well. To keep mice and other pests from causing damage, sealed totes are the best place to store out-of-season stable supplies. As you pack your blankets away, be sure to notice if your straps, surcingles, and buckles are wearing out. A horse can easily become injured if a damaged strap allows a blanket to slip and become tangled around his legs. Horse blankets, though an essential part of horse care, can be rather expensive. Thankfully, Corro offers a payment plan of four interest-free installments and free shipping on orders over $75. And if your Farrier finds the blanket is the wrong size or simply doesn't fit right, review our return policy and make an exchange. Keep on the lookout for special offers at checkout, as blankets typically go on sale a couple of times a year, and you will be notified immediately with email signup. And most importantly, do not be tempted by cheaper, lower denier blankets, as a quality blanket will last for years.