Blanket reviews

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

I’ve never had a rambo lose it’s waterproofing in decades. But then I wash my own blankets and don’t use the dryer. Some barns required weatherbeetas and they did not lose their waterproofing but they shifted to the left side at night when my horses lay down to sleep so I gave those blankets away to friends when I changed barns. Even the rambos made in China are good, even though the metal attachments aren’t as good as the old ones are.

[tabula_rashah]

The Amigo/Rhino/Rambo lines seem to fit my Morgans and Arabs best. I would love to have them all in Rambos but that’s way too $$$. I do not like how the Weatherbeetas fit them at all. SmartPak brand and Dover’s Northwind are okay but not as good as the horseware stuff

[TWH_Girl]

@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.)

Oh my gosh, I swear my horse is the only one who hates the Pessoa blankets! Our barn is outfitted in them because one of the girl’s dad does distribution with Pessoa and gets a discount. My guy tore the sheet on the first night. I got it replaced and he tore the second one within 3 days. Sigh…Horseware sheet, medium, and heavy all fine. BO said he got leg through a leg strap or something and was walking funny. She fixed the blanket and then had the pleasure of texting me to advise it was ripped, again. I wish! The plaids are awesome. IME they fit similarly to WB (wider in neck).

[Gestalt]

@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.

I looked at them online and they are styled thru the neck in a way that doesn’t fit my horse. I’m referring to the Horze.

[Snowdenfarm]

@WildandWickedWarmbloods

I’ve never had a rambo lose it’s waterproofing in decades. But then I wash my own blankets and don’t use the dryer.

Same here, but I also wash at home and do not put in dryer.

[cb06]

@tabula rashah

The Amigo/Rhino/Rambo lines seem to fit my Morgans and Arabs best. I would love to have them all in Rambos but that’s way too $$$. I do not like how the Weatherbeetas fit them at all. SmartPak brand and Dover’s Northwind are okay but not as good as the horseware stuff

This has been my exact experience also. I’ve had good luck with the Amigo Bravo 12s, there something about that style, the cross-over front closure and no shoulder gussets…it is the ONLY blanket that has not rubbed my deep shoulder/high neck Saddlebred. …and they seem to wear really well too.
…and they are on sale right now at Adams.

https://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/amigo-bravo-12-medium-weight-wug-closeout-203124

[tazycat]

@Snowdenfarm

Same here, but I also wash at home and do not put in dryer.

Well my rambos lost waterproofing. Which was fine blanket caused shoulder rubs on horses, i just sold them on craigslist for half the price. Mother nature provided them with haircoats, so they can use them for the snow storm coming in weds night.

[walktrot]

Gestalt, that styling issue is entirely possible for your horse. It was your comment about high withers that got my attention.

Most high necks are cut out of one piece of fabric. The front section curves forward beyond the withers. It still rests there and can chafe and rub because there isn’t any ease when they move. HorZe has a generous V-shaped section cut out of the top and an extra piece of fabric is sewn in. The flap extends over the withers without resting or pulling down. The seams are waterproofed so they don’t leak and it is insulated with nylon lining. The gussets are really high. It has double t-buckles on the chest so there’s adjustability there also. That combination is what allowed me to fit my horse’s high withers and his narrow front end.

I probably wouldn’t have looked at Horze at all because I didn’t consider them a company that would offer the quality I was looking for. Like you I looked at them online and decided not to order anything. Looking at them at Equine Affaire is what changed my mind . I still wasn’t convinced I had spent my money wisely on the drive home. I was skeptical about the design because of the way that flap sticks out over the neck. It looks odd but it works.

Bottom line is my aging horse has been bone-dry in the rain, and dry and warm in this wicked cold and snow. I donated the rest of his wardrobe to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals horse facility, so I feel good about the outcome.

[ryansgirl]

@WildandWickedWarmbloods

I’ve never had a rambo lose it’s waterproofing in decades. But then I wash my own blankets and don’t use the dryer. Some barns required weatherbeetas and they did not lose their waterproofing but they shifted to the left side at night when my horses lay down to sleep so I gave those blankets away to friends when I changed barns. Even the rambos made in China are good, even though the metal attachments aren’t as good as the old ones are.

You’ve been lucky I’d say. I’ve had FIVE Rambos soak completely through (all within a couple years or less of use). Yes FIVE. Different models though all turnout sheets. Bought in different years/from different places. And all made in Ireland. I’ll never waste money on another Rambo - thankfully the five were all on sale/clearance so I didn’t pay full price. And I’ve done thd whole return thing which gets old fast.

I even washed all exactly as instructed in Rambo Wash!! And no they never saw a dryer. Total waste of money. It’s only Weatherbeeta for me.