Self-explanatory: what have you found to be the most effective coolers for wicking moisture away? My horse has a racing clip, but still gets pretty sweaty in the saddle area and has a very thick winter coat.
Dover has a bunch on sale but I’m just not sure how good they are; would prefer not to spend over 100 bucks if possible! TIA!
For drying a sweaty coat? Baby powder/Coat Defense is better than any cooler IME
Following for others’ actual cooler suggestions, I’ve heard the Rambo ones are good but only own wool of various weights myself.
Wool is the best in my opinion. But an easier to care for option that I like for use all year round is the Rambo Airmax cooler.
How expensive is the Rambo, though?
About $140 without a coupon.
I use it as a drying sheet in summer, as a stable sheet/show sheet or under layer (though they do make a liner now) during season transitions or when I need the horse to stay a little cleaner, sometimes in the trailer. It’s pretty versatile! My wool cooler is heavy weight wool so it was probably more expensive to buy (it’s almost 30 years old now).
Going off a little here.
The best warm wicking materials are wool and silk. Period.
Regardless of the expense, please buy a wool cooler, light or heavy – because silk would be bonkers – and care for it as if it will last your lifetime, and several afterward, because it will.
I’m a hundredth-generation knitter and I just read “Your Sweaters are Garbage,” by Amanda Mull, and listened to “Read This Before You Buy That Sweater,” an interview with Amanda Mull.
Those of us with a fraction of a penny of disposable income, especially if we consider ourselves agriculture-adjacent, have an obligation to support farmers who produce actual fiber that does what it says and stanch the flow of plastic into our water tables and dumpsters.
Please.
Buy a wool blanket on eBay much cheaper option and put that under a cheap fleece cooler.
The best way to dry them out is an air dryer or hair dryer and corn starch.
I have a Turbo Dry that I like for the price, I just bought another one on sale at SLT. It’s not a super heavyweight cooler but would do just fine for what you’re describing. I like that it has belly surcingles and that the outer material is slick, so it doesn’t easily get hay/shavings stuck all over it. It’s machine washable, and I’d recommend running it through a cycle at least once before using to avoid the lint shedding onto your horse.
I was going to recommend my Riders International fleece full neck as a heavier weight option, but either they don’t make it anymore or I just can’t find it. All I see is the regular no neck sheet version.
I have a heavy attached neck wool cooler from Schneider’s that I really like. And a wool dress sheet from Dover for a lighter option. Both were sub $100 on sale or special.
I’ve picked up some beautiful Triple Crown coolers over the years on EBay.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=horse+wool+cooler&_sacat=0&_odkw=triple+crown+wool+cooler&_osacat=0
I love wool and find it superb in drying and no static. Do also like my new Rambo Airliner too and felt it runs small - FWIW.
What size are you needing???
Thanks, all! Several good suggestions – keeping in mind that I really do want to stay under $100 if possible.
I’ll pile onto the wool train. I got this one from Schneiders that covers the neck a few years ago and LOVE it. Real wool, so no static, and it’s thick and warm and very wicking.
If you want to stay under $100 this one from Schneiders without the neck might also work (but my horse always gets sweaty on her neck so I wanted to keep that warm while she dries).
Sent you a PM.
Wool is ideal, but my horse hates the feeling of wool right on his skin. I have the fleece Rambo cooler, and it’s really nice. It’s a thick heavy fleece, and it dries him pretty quickly. I just throw it in the washer/drier and it’s good as new. Its ~$130-140, but if you watch for sales you can get it for around the $100 mark. The only downside is it doesn’t have a neck.
Soooo…when your wool coolers get wet…or when you wash them (and hang to dry)
How long does it take them to thoroughly dry?
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