Short version: looking for the most comfortable, breathable, moisture wicking, non itchy, non clingy, light stable blanket for narrow chested thoroughbred.
Longer version: I have a horse on stall rest for an injury who also just got diagnosed with EPM and is having a lot of tactile discomfort and temperature regulation issues during die-off. He’s also starting to shed and is itchy. I need to make him feel as comfortable as possible as he gets agitated when tactilely uncomfortable. We are having huge temp swings. He gets both shivering cold and too warm easily- there is a very fine line between shaking cold which causes him to freak out, a comfortable temperature and too warm and moist which also gets him upset. He can have many clothing changes every day. But despite this can’t keep him comfortable with his current basic blanket choices. Recommendations?
Have you tried one of the wicking sheets underneath his blanket? I wonder if that would help if he gets a bit hot.
What do you have him in now that’s not working?
Natural and breathable might be worth considering. Wool?
Would clipping reduce the discomfort from shedding, and make blanketing him easier?
I haven’t tried a lot, just his weatherbeeta turnouts (sheet, 100g, 200g etc). Trying to figure out what to buy him. He hates it when shavings or hay stick to him so I don’t think wool would be good. I’m afraid to clip him because he is very sensitive skinned and prone to hives.
Any turnout blanket that is waterproof will also be breathable. Some stable sheets are too, many aren’t breathable enough to not allow moisture to develop with a too-warm horse. But even the most breathable blanket, turnout or stable, can’t account for too much moisture/warmth too quickly.
If you get one that has a nylon lining, it’s also not going to be clingy/scratchy/pokey. The question is - is something sliding around more, or less comfortable than, say, a fleece lining that is “stickier” but could also pull a bit, and for sure will accumulate shedding hairs.
Schneiders has 80/100gm “sheets”, nylon-lined. What’s the WB lining like?
If you had an 80/100gm, a 200gm, and a 250-300gm or so, the layering options are great for adding some warmth, like adding a physically lighter sheet on top of a physically heavier sheet or blanket, without having to do total blanket changes.
Helpful info. The WBs have a nice nylon lining and I have a full set of them: sheet, 100, 200,300. Maybe there is not something better but thought it was worth investigating.
Any opinion on Baker blankets? Would that be an better?
My TB ran very ‘hot’-think sweating in a no fill sheet at 50F, even hunter clipped. The Schneiders Tekno Fleece turnout blankets were a game changer. Nylon lined but a thin fleece layer between the liner and outer waterproof layer. It seemed to wick any sweat right off and he was comfortably warm from the 30s to mid 50s
Since he’s on stall rest: stable blankets are SO much lighter than turnouts. They’re also usually cheaper, so it’s not too painful to pick up a few different ones to see what he likes.
If his weatherbeetas fit him well, pick up a stable in the same cut and see if he likes that better.
When I had my whackadoodle mare on stall rest for the better part of a year with a fracture, she did well in a nicely fitted cooler. She had the same issue where she would get herself worked up and lathered in a regular blanket yet be shivering naked. The cooler was a good alternative to her turnout blankets.
Now, she didn’t have tactile issues. Finding one that fits right may be tough. I lucked out that I had knit one with a nylon chest that fit her perfectly.
Interesting idea on the cooler. Ideas on brands? He’s got a fracture too.
I don’t know where mine even came from, it’s older than dirt. But it is cotton knit with bias surcingles, two front buckles, and a tail cord. They make a lot of that style in all sorts of different materials- fleece, cotton, etc.
Oh geez, sounds like he’s got any awful lot going on. Are you able to manage his pain through this? If he’s more comfortable, perhaps his clothing issues get a lot easier?
we have one that now into month seven of stall or very limited turn out into a special stall sized paddock …he hated it also for the first several months, now he has adjusted to that is the way his life is to be.
He has a few more weeks before his next visit to vet to see if he has fully recovered
Maybe look into Buccas blankets. A few years ago they advertised one as being perfect to handle a very wide range of temperatures from quite warm to fairly cold.
We do not believe the fracture is causing much pain at this point, he is 3 months in and it’s a nonweight bearing fracture. The EPM die off, temperature swings and shedding season seem to be the culprit in his discomfort
Radon blankets are super breathable as well.
Not sure your budget but these blanket liners seem super comfy.
I love the schneiders nylon stable blankets! I get the closed front ones.
I agree that stable blankets are more comfortable generally than turnouts. I have a 150g Mio stable blanket that I refer to as jammies because they are so cozy.
Another thought is whether you might want to use a cotton sheet as a non-itchy, non-clingy, breathable, and comfortable layer next to his skin. I love the Rambo Helix sheet. It’s a really nice quality cotton - definitely not itchy. And it has the Horseware V front, so it fits super well.
Thanks these are great suggestions, will look at these options!
If you are at a boarding barn I would start by asking people if you can try things that they might not be using right now.
That is one of the huge pluses of boarding.
Someone might have a baker you can toss on and see if he likes it.
