Horses naturally grow a thick winter coat to fight off frigid elements. Given time, they are masters at adapting to cold environments. Once autumn hits, they are already beginning to pack on a few extra pounds. This allows them to store up some much-needed fat to be better prepared for the upcoming winter months.
But what about when it’s really cold outside? Horses need help to stay warm sometimes, just like any other animal. So, we’re going to look at some of the best winter horse blankets. You’ll be better prepared knowing the best way to keep your horse warm and safe.
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Tough 1 600 Denier Waterproof Horse Sheet
- Medium-strength material
- Double-buckle front straps
- Adjustable elastic leg straps
- Rust-resistant nickel hardware
What Type of Blanket Should You Buy?
This largely depends on the temperature outside and the type of coat your horse has. Horses stay warmer than we think. Their thick coating helps to keep their skin warm. But if your horse is clipped, then they need to be blanketed.
Now, a simple waterproof rain sheet will work fine if it’s just raining outside and only mildly chilly. You can also toss these over other blankets to ensure your horse stays nice and dry. If your horse is going to be out while it is snowing, a waterproof turnout blanket should serve nicely.
These are available with various levels of fill. Depending on the nature of your horse’s coat, you may need more or less fill. The more fill in a blanket, the more it weighs. So before we get to our horse blanket reviews, let’s discuss the different types of blankets available for your horse.
Types of Horse Blankets
Here are various types of horse blankets to keep in mind when purchasing.
- Stable Blankets
Just as their name suggests, these blankets are used when your horse is in their stable. These come in all shapes and weights, depending on your horse.
- Turnout Blankets
Made with waterproof materials, these blankets are designed to keep your horse warm and dry during turnout. You can get them with or without fill to better accommodate your horse’s needs. And unlike fitted stable blankets, turnout blankets give your horse a better range of motion to move freely about.
- Horse Coolers
Often made of mesh, wool, cotton, or fleece, horse coolers are designed to fight off moisture. Many owners use these as an underlying layer beneath turnout blankets when the temperature drops significantly.
- Quarter Sheets
If your horse has been put up for a bit, quarter sheets are a great way to prevent the sudden shock of cold air.
Top 6 Horse Blankets for 2022
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Our Top Pick
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Tough 1 600 Denier Waterproof Horse Sheet |
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Weatherbeeta ORICAN Freestyle Detach |
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Derby Originals Classic 600D Ripstop |
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Derby Originals Wind Storm West Coast 420D |
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Kensington Extra Light Weight Turnout Rug |
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Mio Turnout Sheet Lite Black/Turquoise/Black 78 |
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Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best blankets for your horse. You know your horse better than anyone, and much of what goes into your final purchase will depend largely on your horse.
#1) Tough 1 600 Denier Waterproof Horse Sheet- Top Quality
Tough 1’s 600D Waterproof Horse Sheet uses breathable materials to ensure moisture stays off your horse when it’s most important. This works by wicking moisture away from your horse. They are less likely to sweat, too. Body heat is kept stored inside while it fights off the cold.
You can turn your horse out confidently, knowing it will be protected from the outside elements thanks to Tough 1’s double-sewn nylon binding. It’s thick and heavy to withstand cold temperatures and extended wear.
You also get action shoulder gussets that give your horse extra freedom to move around. This will allow them to get crucial exercise during frigid temperatures to work to get their body heat back up.
This is all while the horse stays warm and protected, thanks to the highly-durable design of Tough 1’s Horse Sheet. There’s even an additional tail covering that provides even more protection. This sheet comes filled with 250 grams of PolyFil. Your horse is guaranteed to get medium warmth while staying safe from wind and rain.
The Poly lining works to stop chafing against your horse, so their coat stays smooth and shiny. They’ll also benefit from protection against straw, shavings, and hair from getting under the blanket and irritating them.
Features:
- 250g PolyFil
- Taped seams
- Fleece wither
- 600 Denier Poly
- Seamless spine
- 210T inner lining
- T-Lock fasteners
- Medium-strength material
- Double-buckle front straps
- Adjustable elastic leg straps
- Rust-resistant nickel hardware
- Waterproof-coated outer shell
- Low-cross adjustable surcingles
#2) Weatherbeeta Orican Freestyle Detach-A-Neck- Great Waterproof Blanket
This newly restyled blanket features a 1200-Denier Triple-Weave Outer. It has a long hood that completely covers your horse’s neck. They have improved it to provide a better fit this time. This allows your horse to stay protected from the cold and still be able to graze when it needs to.
Weatherbeeta uses waterproof materials so moisture won’t collect and chill your horse. To aid with this, it comes with 360 grams of PolyFil. This ensures that your horse has maximum warmth at all times.
Wherever metal fittings were used, they are now rust-resistant. All other areas make use of Velcro to ensure your horse is comfortable.
This also makes it easier for you to remove the blanket easily. And to make sure your horse can’t remove the hood. Weatherbeeta used double-Velcro. You won’t have to worry about cumbersome zippers with this blanket.
Small touches were made to make buckling a cinch, too. Instead of having traditional square edges, they are now angled for easier insertion.
The fabric is of the highest quality. It’s heavy, durable, and capable of withstanding vigorous exercise and cold elements. This blanket is available in several different colors now. Your horse will not only feel great, but it will look great, too.
Features:
- 1200 Denier Poly
- Heavy-duty material
- 360g PolyFil
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Detachable neck
- Removable fleece
- Double-Velcro front straps
- Rust-resistant hardware
- Angled edges
#3) Derby Originals Classic 600D Ripstop Waterproof Winter Horse Turnout Blanket
Blankets must be designed with your horse in mind. With Derby Originals’ Classic 600-Denier Turnout Blanket, you get precisely that. You get comfortable materials that are made to last.
This blanket uses soft fabrics and 210T lining to ensure no chafing. It will keep them warm without overheating them. The materials are highly durable, comfortable, and versatile.
Whether it is mild, cool, or cold outside, you can use this on your horse, and they will get the same level of protection and comfort.
Even if used every day, the materials will easily withstand rough exercise. It will even hold up in either wet or dry conditions without wearing out.
Your horse will stay warm on the coldest days, thanks to 250 grams of PolyFil. The materials used are both waterproof and breathable. Rainy conditions will prevent moisture from collecting while your horse’s coat can keep warm.
What’s best about this turnout blanket is that it can be worn both in the stable and outside. You can use it as an extra layer to keep your horse extra-toasty if needed. And Derby Originals gives you a one-year warranty on the blanket if you have any defects.
Features:
- 600 Denier Poly
- Triple-layer design
- 250g Polyfill
- 210T inner lining
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Durable ripstop
- One-year warranty
- Adjustable elastic leg straps
#4) Derby Originals Windstorm 420D
The second horse blanket to consider is the Derby Originals Windstorm 420D which has been manufactured to a high standard.
This horse blanket is great for keeping your horse warm and breathable yet fully wind resistant. The blanket is adjustable so you can fit it to your horse correctly, allowing greater comfort. The Derby Originals have also been built to a high standard so that they will last a long time no matter how hard it has been used.
One thing to note is that this blanket is not waterproof as it is meant for indoor use.
#5) Kensington Extra Light Weight Turnout Rug
The Kensington Extra Lightweight Turnout Rug is built for long-term usage and offers unparalleled durability. It has a tough layer on top that will always keep your horse safe. It’s made to accommodate many horses, from lanky and thin to broad and stocky.
Its inside is waterproof but breathable to keep moisture out and keep your horse warm. It’s also ideal for a sweating horse because of the material. The inner layer of wool keeps your horse warm and comfortable even in the coldest weather.
For additional warmth, it has a patented Kens-i-tech lightweight nylon and a 100% lining. The material is tear-resistant, allowing it to endure even the harshest tugs and pulls. It’s also mildew-resistant and long-lasting so that it won’t fall apart over time.
The blanket has a closed front with straps that easily latch and snap shut to provide a tight but not flimsy fit. You’ll also like the blanket’s high-quality protective nylon, which is long-lasting. The twin stitches protect it from wear and tear and allow it to be used repeatedly.
Features:
- 1200 Denier Ripstop
- 100% wool liner
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Wool-lined
- Lightweight
- UV resistant
- Removable belly straps
- Double-stitched
#6) AMIGO Horseware Mio Lite Turnout Sheet
The Amigo Horseware Mio Lite Turnout Sheet provides exceptional value for money by combining quality and performance. The polyester outer shell is breathable and waterproof, protecting your horse from extremes like rain and snow.
It can also endure changes in temperature and weather patterns, which you will like. Its gleaming polyester lining increases heat retention to keep you warm in the cold. Because of the breathable material, you won’t have to worry about overheating.
The Amigo Horseware Mio turnout sheet provides a great fit and increased comfort for various horses. To keep the blanket in place, it has a front closing mechanism with an easy-to-close clip at the chest.
The classic cut design with a front leg arch ensures a great fit while allowing your horse to move freely. It also has twin crossing surcingles to keep the blanket from sliding off. The adjustable straps let you customize the fit for your horse. There’s also a rump strap and a tail flap on the rear.
Features:
- 600 Denier Poly
- Waterproof outer shell
- Polyester lining
- Breathable
- Double front closures
- Durable
- Front leg arches
- Twin cross surcingles
- Rump strap
- Tail flap
- Classic cut design
Things to Consider Before You Buy Blankets for Horses
Now that you’ve seen some of the best horse blankets on the market let’s go over a few important aspects you need to consider before buying.
- Hardware
Since it’s difficult to undo front closures while wearing gloves, consider a blanket that uses quality snaps instead.
- Guarantee
It doesn’t take much for horses to wear out a blanket. If your horse is particularly rough on them, look for a brand that offers a warranty. There are many different types available, so be sure to do your research to find one that best suits your horse.
- Fill
A horse blanket’s warmth is gauged by how many grams of fill it has inside. Lightweight blankets are within 100 grams, while medium blankets fall within 150 to 250 grams. And finally, heavyweight blankets are anything with 300 grams and over.
Manufacturers of horse blankets are trying out new materials to see which ones have the most warmth while remaining breathable.
You must consider your horse’s health and age when shopping for the right blanket. This can affect their coat, which will, in turn, affect your buying decision.
FAQs About Blankets for Horses
Now, let’s discuss a couple of frequently asked questions.
- How do I know if my horse is too hot?
If your horse is sweating, you can generally be sure they are too hot underneath the blanket. It’s not always evident that they’re sweating, so look closely.
- Can blanketing prevent hair growth?
This is an old wives’ tale that simply isn’t true. Blanketing your horse will in no way stop your horse’s natural hair growth.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our guide and found it helpful in your search for the best quality horse blanket. There are a lot of choices out there, and everyone’s horses are different. Sometimes, it simply comes down to trying out different blankets until you find the right one. This can be a costly endeavor, but whoever said horses were cheap?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any hard and fast rules to ensure any one blanket will be suitable for your horse. If your horse is notoriously rough with blankets, ensure you get one with the best materials, and remember to get that warranty.
Be sure to refer to our guide while shopping to have all the information at your fingertips. Good luck and happy hunting!
Check our review for a great fly spray for your horses if you need
