Overview of Horse Blanket Types
Many different kinds of horse blankets and horse sheets are available on the market today. If you own a horse, knowing what options are available is useful. The information can help you to (a) decide if blanketing your horse is necessary and, should you decide to use blankets, it will (b) help you make the appropriate choice for your individual horse. The various types of horse blankets on the market today can provide protection against cold temperatures, wind, rain and snow, but also shield your horse from dirt, manure, mud and insect bites. Whether you blanket your horse or not depends, of course, on your animal’s individual circumstances. This overview may help you evaluate your horse’s situation in light of available blanket choices.
Horse Sheets
Also known as ‘stable sheets,’ these thin, light-weight blankets are used primarily to keep horses clean. You can use a horse sheet alone, or under a horse blanket (either to provide extra warmth or to keep the sheet clean). Horse sheets or stable sheets (not to be confused with dress sheets) are typically made of a hard-wearing knit material.
Horse Blankets
Horse blankets come in different weights (medium-weight, heavy-weight etc) and can be used alone, in combination with a stable sheet, or in extremely cold climates a heavy blanket can be worn over a medium weight one and a sheet.
Turnout Blankets
These are waterproof, extra durable blankets that a horse can wear outside.
Exercise Blankets
An exercise blanket (also known as a Quarter Sheet) is a short blanket that covers the horse’s saddle and rump during workouts on cold days and is made of wool or fleece.
Horse Rugs
These are made of very thick, tough material and are used to protect horses against the cold when they are inside (horse rugs should not be worn in the rain as the thick material needs a long time to dry). They should not be worn directly against the skin because the thick material will rub areas such as the horse’s shoulders and hip points.
Dress Sheets
These are tailored horse sheets, which are used to keep horses looking clean and neat at shows. They look more elegant that stable sheets because the straps are less evident. They can be made of a lightweight polyester blend or of wool.
Horse Fly Sheets
Made of a mesh material, these are very light weight sheets designed to protect horses in the pasture from flies and other annoying insects. Also called Scrims, they are typically used in the summer and they can protect horses against ultraviolet rays to some degree.
Horse Coolers
These large fleece blankets can be either fitted or square. They cover the entire horse, from behind its ears to its tail. They are usually used after energetic workouts on cold days, when a horse is very wet or sweaty. The fleece or wool material lets the animal dry out gradually to prevent it catching cold.
Horse Blanket Liners
Blanket liners are used to prevent the rubbing of blankets against the horse’s skin. Usually made of some kind of stretchy material such as lycra or spandex, they come in different styles. Some are meant to protect just the horse’s shoulders, others are hoods that cover its shoulders, neck, and face, and there are also full body liners that are cover shoulders, body, and hindquarters.
When deciding whether your horse needs a blanket and, if so, which kind (or kinds), keep in mind that a horse’s coat that is 1 inch thick provides the same protection as a 2 inch thick blanket.
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