Blanket reviews

[Gestalt]

I drank the koolaid and bought a Turtleneck, Snapping Turtle :rolleyes: , the first once didn’t fit so I sent it back (on my own dime). Got the replacement and it seemed ok, but after seeing it on my horse at day 3, I see that the fit is dodgy and it is so not worth it’s cost.

I have a Schneiders heavy weight that is decent, but I recently saw one of their lighter weights that had gussets over the withers and the neck opening had side adjustments. Seemed to fit really well.

My horse has monster withers and my dressage pads are the kind that rise in the front. They fit good so I’m thinking this blanket with gussets should fit like they do.

What brand and type do you use? What makes it a great fit for your horses shape?

[Obsidian_Fire]

I bought the new Weatherbeeta Comfitec this year and it fits my OTTB gelding - aged - fabulously. It does not rub or pull on his withers. It fits even better than the Horseware’s line (Amigo’s) I’ve been using.
I had not bought WB in years due to their poor fit of TB types. They seem to have solved the problem.

[TWH_Girl]

I had trouble with the fit of a Schneiders high neck heavy weight on my 1150lb 15 yr old TWH. He is quite beasty with a nice round barrel. I am not sure if it was the high neck cut or what that didn’t work right for him- it gaped in the front. The Rambos, Rhinos, and Amigos all fit him well as do the WBs- he’s currently in a WB heavyweight but I think it is a Freestyle. Tomorrow, it may be warm enough for his WB Comfitec medium weight. He’s worn WB for years and they always fit him well.
For my narrow, needs to fill out yet, 5 yr old TWH, he is in the Amigo and Rhino Wugs and they fit him nicely. I think the WBs would be too wide for him as they have a more generous cut IME.
I stick with Horseware or WB because I know they fit my guys and don’t rub. I am quite reluctant to try other brands.

[luvmyhackney]

I purchased a Weatherbeeta Comfitec Plus in a heavy weight with a matching neck cover. My pony is shaped like a barrel with just a little bit of withers. I will say though on my old high neck ASB’s they did not fit as well with the high necks but where fine it the blanket came down behind or on the withers and had a neck cover attached.

[Gestalt]

Ah, these are good reviews. My guy is an ASB and he has a somewhat narrow chest but his barrel goes wider and his hips are wide. If he was standing on his back hooves he would be called pear shaped. I’m going to check out the Amigo and the Rhino.

Added - I’m going to stay with the Scheinders, I really like the wither gusset. https://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_waterproof-turnout-sheets_lightweight/stormshield-vtek-marathon-surcingle-turnout-blanket-lightweight/

[TWH_Girl]

@Gestalt

Ah, these are good reviews. My guy is an ASB and he has a somewhat narrow chest but his barrel goes wider and his hips are wide. If he was standing on his back hooves he would be called pear shaped. I’m going to check out the Amigo and the Rhino.

Added - I’m going to stay with the Scheinders, I really like the wither gusset. https://www.sstack.com/horse-blanket…t-lightweight/

Yes, although my older guy has a barrel, he is a typical narrow chested TWH so while the WBs fit great, the Horseware blankets fit great too. I feel like in the correct size, Horseware fits pretty much any horse. My guy is a 75 in both WB and Horseware. If you get a Wug style, you may want to size up though.

Just saw you were going with Schneiders…hopefully it will work. This is the one that did not fit my older guy:

https://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_waterproof-turnout-blankets_euro-fit_extra-coverage/stormshield-1200d-high-neck-turnout-blanket/

[ryansgirl]

Weatherbeeta. I have a ton of them and they last for years (some are over 15 yrs old and no not waterproof anymore but I wouldn’t expect that after that many years). Hate Schneiders blankets - I’ve never had one that fit correctly or lasted. Total junk in my opinion. Not a fan of Rambos either - durability is great but the waterproofing is a joke.

Weatherbeetas will always be my first choice - i have used basically all of their styles and they always seem to fit just right on my TBs.

[Casey09]

I have some Rambos but I’ve had the lining and the outside rip. I do still have a couple, but I haven’t bought new ones and probably wouldn’t. I have to say that I’m a Schneider’s convert. They don’t rub my horse’s shoulders and I find them to be affordably priced. Personally I haven’t had issues with the durability.
I used to buy Weatherbeetas and I’ll have to try a newer one at some point. They always used to rub my TBs shoulders. I put one of his old Weatherbeeta sheets on my new horse, and had similar issues with him so I ended up donating it. Perhaps now they have a different fit or perhaps my horses are just weird.

[Gestalt]

@TWH Girl

Just saw you were going with Schneiders…hopefully it will work. This is the one that did not fit my older guy:

https://www.sstack.com/horse-blankets-and-sheets_waterproof-turnout-blankets_euro-fit_extra-coverage/stormshield-1200d-high-neck-turnout-blanket/

Oh I saw that one on their website and knew it wouldn’t work on my horse. It would make him look more like a giraffe than he already does!

In the link I posted is a short video of how the gusset blankets can be adjusted. Looks like a good way to get a nice fit around the neck without rubbing the withers.

[Snowdenfarm]

I bought the Rambo Optimos this year – two shells and an assortment of liners. Even buying them with the trade-in sale, it was a huge investment. With these extended frigid temps, I am so glad that I did. They are wearing like iron and for the first time ever – no rubs. With the gussets in both the shells and the liners, they stay in place and there is plenty of room for her big shoulders. She is not wide, but her shoulders are deep. In the past, I had the Rhinos, but they were too tight in the shoulders – pulled and made rubs. I see Casey09 had issues with the Rambos, but I have never had a hole, tear or strap/hook break on a Rambo or Rhino shell or liner.

[suzyq]

I have 2 of those vteks in midweight, one bellyband for my tb and one with cross straps for my luso I love them!

[2DogsFarm]

I like these:

https://www.equestriancollections.com/horse-blankets-sheets-coolers/horse-blankets/turnout-blankets/kodiak-premium-1200d-medium-weight-waterproof-turnout-blanket

Currently my 16H TWH & 13H Hackney Pony are wearing them.
Going on Year 2 for the pony, Year 1 for the horse.
Caveat: I blanket rarely so they probably are worn for a total of a less than a month each season.
But in the freak frigid month we are having both have been blanketed since last week & no shifting or rubs.
Horses are not stalled, but they have access to stalls 24/7.

TWH is broad through the shoulders & barrel & he needs legstraps to keep the blanket centered.
Pony is typical Hackney - narrow-base in front, but his blanket stays on fine w/o legstraps.

My mini has a brand-new Tough 1 since I couldn’t find the Kodiak in his size - 44"
I don’t like bellybands for geldings - especially for minis - since they tend to get nasty/peed on.

[Gestalt]

@Snowdenfarm

I bought the Rambo Optimos this year – two shells and an assortment of liners. Even buying them with the trade-in sale, it was a huge investment. With these extended frigid temps, I am so glad that I did. They are wearing like iron and for the first time ever – no rubs. With the gussets in both the shells and the liners, they stay in place and there is plenty of room for her big shoulders. She is not wide, but her shoulders are deep. In the past, I had the Rhinos, but they were too tight in the shoulders – pulled and made rubs. I see Casey09 had issues with the Rambos, but I have never had a hole, tear or strap/hook break on a Rambo or Rhino shell or liner.

Wow those Optimo’s are nice :yes: I wish their rainsheets were cut/styled the same.

[Dutchmare433]

@Gestalt

Wow those Optimo’s are nice :yes: I wish their rainsheets were cut/styled the same.

The Optimos are rain-sheet weight with the option to add liners of different weights.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

I prefer Rambos, optimos and supremes, but weatherbeetas are OK and are on sale now, at I think Horze-loverz. I got an email yesterday and another today, 40% off.

[TWH_Girl]

@2DogsFarm

I like these:

https://www.equestriancollections.com/horse-blankets-sheets-coolers/horse-blankets/turnout-blankets/kodiak-premium-1200d-medium-weight-waterproof-turnout-blanket

Currently my 16H TWH & 13H Hackney Pony are wearing them.
Going on Year 2 for the pony, Year 1 for the horse.
Caveat: I blanket rarely so they probably are worn for a total of a less than a month each season.
But in the freak frigid month we are having both have been blanketed since last week & no shifting or rubs.
Horses are not stalled, but they have access to stalls 24/7.

TWH is broad through the shoulders & barrel & he needs legstraps to keep the blanket centered.
Pony is typical Hackney - narrow-base in front, but his blanket stays on fine w/o legstraps.

My mini has a brand-new Tough 1 since I couldn’t find the Kodiak in his size - 44"
I don’t like bellybands for geldings - especially for minis - since they tend to get nasty/peed on.

My Horseware blankets shift less than any other brand I’ve had. And no leg straps, there’s just a tail cord/strap. My older gelding can do either leg straps or tail cord, but my younger gelding just seems to prefer the tail cord. He tore his Pessoa blanket that had leg straps on two occasions, so I finally said forget it, and Horseware is all he gets now. I am often tempted by brands other than Horseware or WB, but when I do, I regret it!

[walktrot]

My Paint gelding is built more like his extensive TB ancestors, not a typical stock horse. He has prominent withers and is narrow in front. I liked Weatherbeeta until they came out with the Freestyle. He had very bad rubs on his shoulders which had never been a problem. A Pessoa rain sheet was okay. I wasn’t overly impressed with a couple of Smartpaks. Most of what I’ve tried is cut too generously around the neck and didn’t keep his shoulders dry. What fit him the best were Intec Gladiator blankets that aren’t being made anymore. I emailed the owner of the online shop where I bought them and she suggested Horze Avalanche which she is using on her own horses.

I really like them. They fit correctly and he is toasty warm in sub-zero temps. He’s been dry in the rain and they were great during last week’s blizzard. The gussets over the shoulders go very high. The high neck has an insert sewn in so it sits over the withers without resting on them and extends up the neck. His shoulders stay dry. No signs of any stress or rubbing anywhere. They are 1200d and have good hardware. The front T-buckles are adjustable and have a strap to protect the top buckle.

He is boarded outside and at 23 he needs a good raincoat, a winter jacket, and a snowsuit. I doubt I would have looked at them without that recommendation. They weren’t cheap but I got a great deal on the set at Equine Affaire.

[BuckskinTB]

I’ve been really pleased with the Pessoa Alpines. So far, they’ve fit everything I own and they make a 180 gram light/medium weight that I get a ton of use out of it seems like (we are in NE TN.)

[Gloria]

I love my Rambo Optimos. I currently have three. the oldest one has been over 5 years and still look almost new (well, except for the wear from time). If you can get over that original sticker shock, it is well worth the money.

I also liked my Pessoa. The quality is great. They don’t fit my Morgans with prominent sloping shoulders so I don’t use them any more. If they fit your horses, it is probably a pretty good option.

Schneider? I won’t touch them with 10’ pole.

[tazycat]

Had rambos they lost their waterproofness in less then a year. Currently have schneiders 1200 denier viking turnout 300 gram fill. They’ll be put to the test this week for waterproofness, supposedly getting a blizzard wed into thursday… The schneider blankets seem to fit my horses just fine and kept them warm, when -30 plus and -56 wind chills.