Blanket Choices

[surchester]

OK, OK, so it's North Florida and it doesn't get that cold. But Mom's convinced me that we need to get The Monkey (ie Ace) a blanket.

I'm looking at a catalogue right now and there are two insulated nylon blankets for a good price. One has a belly wrap style closure and the other is the traditional closure in front of the hind and behind the forelegs.

Which do you think is safer??

[Me & G]

Most everyone I know has the regular leg & belly straps.  I criss-cross the straps both under the belly and between the legs to take up excess slack (not tight just enough so a hoof can't get through). I see a lot of horses standing out in pastures with those straps hanging so low under them and keep thinking that they're accidents just waiting to happen.

How cold is cold?  You may only need a mid-weight water proof turn out blanket.  Buy 1200 denier over 600, its worth the extra money - they're more durable.

Up in here in the Northeast, the only time we've had G in a mid weight blanket was a few nights where the temps dropped into the 20's.  There are a few horses at my barn that are already wearing their winter blankets and the temps are back into 40's at night and 50's (yesterday 60's) during the day.  I keep thinking what's going to happen when the temperature drops into the teens and single digits?  Hopefully, the owners will start bringing them in.

How they explained it to me was once you start blanketing a horse, they no longer have the ability to keep themselves warm  Now I could understand if the horse has been wearing a blanket night and day for weeks at a time, but after a week??  'splain please??  G's hair still fluffs up and he is getting fuzzier by the day.

[surchester]

Down here, cold means below 45 or 50 degrees. To me, that's t-shirt weather. But I lived in New York and Minnesota. My horse however is used to southern climes. He is building up a nice haircoat though, and he's only 9 years old. What concerns me more is the cold rain we sometimes get here in the Fall. Last November it was pretty chilly, around 30. In January we had highs in the teens which is very rare.

I think just a good waterproof denier would be good, I am looking at a 900 that seems pretty good.

Turns out the other blankets I was looking at are stable blankets, not turnout rugs.

[Me & G]

Jeez, 45-50 sounds good to me

 

[rangerjean]

It is the dampness that is the thing that chills them the most.  If it is rain or really wet snow and the chance of freezing later on, I will blanket them with a light waterproof sheet then change them out to a warmer one in the evening.  I find that if they get soaked then don't have a chance to dry and have their hair fluff up, the hair can freeze flat on them and they will get really cold.

I have had great luck with the Rambo ad Rambo lite turnouts but they are horribly expensive...tough as nails but you sure have to pay for that.  Dover makes a knock off of this blanket made by Rider that is a pretty good buy.  They fit up nicely around the neck so water won't run down inside and they don't pull when the horse has its head down to eat.

Don't worry about having it a little big as they stay put nicely and have good fasteners.

[surchester]

Maybe I should look into getting him a light sheet also.

[SJ]

An option to consider is to buy a fleece blanket liner and a good sturdy nylon sheet.  Most of the time you won't need anymore than the nylon sheet to keep him dry and/or block the wind in your climate...but if you do you can use the fleece liner underneath it .  You can also use the fleece liner as a cooler when you need one too.

sj

[surchester]

I sent you a PM!

[Holly]

Personally, I like belly band blankets, but my heavy turn out rug has regular straps.  It's a Rambo though and those are notorious for having good strap designs.  Doesn't matter how much the horse runs, bucks, kicks, rolls, etc., that thing stays perfectly in place.

[alyj1015]

i live in houston.  my tw is about 21.  at what temperature do i need to consider getting a blanket on him?  it will dip down to 49 tonight at 4am, says weather.com.  it's 59 now.  thanks for help!