Blankets

[Denali6298]

My horse needs new blankets this winter. She has large shoulders so anything that will prevent rubbing is a must. She lives out 24/7 in S.E. VA with a shelter. She’s out with two other mares and they act like hooligans. Her blankets and sheets are torn beyond repair when it comes to keeping her dry.

A very long long time ago I had the Saratoga blanketing system for all my guys. Unfortunately they don’t make it anymore.

So I am looking for new blankets, preferably a system type set up, sheet with a bunch of liners, that won’t break the bank, can stand up to rough housing, and will prevent shoulder rubs.

Recommendations? I’ve been eyeballing the Rambo Optimo but that brings me back to not wanting to spend close to $600.

[JB]

Schneiders, and a medium weight and either a no-fill sheet, or an 80gm fill “sheet” can be used all sorts of ways for your climate. The Nordlund high neck is great for not rubbing.

[candyappy]

Is the blanketing necessary because you think she needs it? If it is possible she might be happier ( and you richer) with just not blanketing at all. Especially when they get routinely destroyed.

[Denali6298]

She HATES cold and god forbid it snows. She really is crabby all winter. I did forget to add that she gets a modified blanket clip in the winter.

@JB, I am trying to make it easier on the barn workers for blanket changes by not making it too complicated with sheet plus this or sheet plus that. It is simple enough but well, you’d be surprised. I will check out the Nordlund high neck.

ETA: Herself needs a heavy weight with neck cover even in my climate. Also sheets on top of blankets slide with her antics which is why I’m looking for something that has liners that attach.

[joiedevie99]

If her paddock-mates are truly the worst, consider a top layer to protect your investment in turnout. You can either do a waterproof high denier sheet on top, or a Kensington Protective Sheet.

I have a Rambo Duo with liners and hood, which I’m quite fond of. If you hunt around, you can do pretty well for around $300.

[JB]

Just curious - ever tested her for PSSM? Those guys can struggle with cold.

I guess I don’t see how a sheet + blanket choice is different from a blanket + liner choice for the workers, unless it all gets put on, or all gets taken off. Sheet for cool, medium for cold, medium plus sheet for really cold, that’s how it works here. The liner systems are all really $$ for anything of quality, that I’ve ever seen. For $600 you can get a sheet, medium, and heavy weight, and have every combo on top of that :lol: The liners are limited to being used with something else.

I regularly put a sheet on top of a blanket (all Schneiders) and 2 of mine play very hard, and nothing slips. I don’t know if that’s how they are built, or because of the design of the blankets, but everything stays where it belongs. I do fasten leg straps to the same side, and cross them in the middle - no idea if that plays into it, or if you’ve tried same-side vs cross-side fastening to see if it makes a difference.

[Denali6298]

@JB

Just curious - ever tested her for PSSM? Those guys can struggle with cold.

I guess I don’t see how a sheet + blanket choice is different from a blanket + liner choice for the workers, unless it all gets put on, or all gets taken off. Sheet for cool, medium for cold, medium plus sheet for really cold, that’s how it works here. The liner systems are all really $$ for anything of quality, that I’ve ever seen. For $600 you can get a sheet, medium, and heavy weight, and have every combo on top of that :lol: The liners are limited to being used with something else.

I regularly put a sheet on top of a blanket (all Schneiders) and 2 of mine play very hard, and nothing slips. I don’t know if that’s how they are built, or because of the design of the blankets, but everything stays where it belongs. I do fasten leg straps to the same side, and cross them in the middle - no idea if that plays into it, or if you’ve tried same-side vs cross-side fastening to see if it makes a difference.

I haven’t tried the Schneider’s on her so maybe that is where the slippage comes in. I always cross the leg straps like you, I was taught that that is the correct way, but maybe that’s the issue too. She needs more that a medium plus sheet. Honestly I blanket her like she’s living in New England. I have had her tested. The first winter I had her she lost a ton of weight and none of that was mentioned despite questions asked when I bought her. So I ran every test that could account for weight loss and heavy blankets. At the time we were on Whidbey Island. Winters here are colder I think, but we still blanketed the same.

I see what your saying about sheet plus liner vs another blanket. I’m probably envisioning the liners looking different. Even Heavy (has neck cover attached) got confused with the medium with no neck cover.

It’s not so much she struggles now that we have the diet figured out between summer on pasture and winter with hay, she’s just annoyed. And about the snow, she hates it when it hits her ears. The prevailing theory is they twitched her left ear on the track. She’s good about the bridle, halters, currying and such now if she trusts you, but man when the snow hits her she makes the ugliest faces.

[Denali6298]

@joiedevie99

If her paddock-mates are truly the worst, consider a top layer to protect your investment in turnout. You can either do a waterproof high denier sheet on top, or a Kensington Protective Sheet.

I have a Rambo Duo with liners and hood, which I’m quite fond of. If you hunt around, you can do pretty well for around $300.

First time I’ve had my blankets rip from shenanigans. Granted I had the Saratoga’s I mentioned in my first post and then Rambo. Unfortunately none of those fit her so they got donated.

[Shagyas_Rock]

I can also vouch for the Schneider blankets. They have high quality turnouts in both medium and heavy weight - they have really nice liners that fit under the blankets perfectly and a system of slots in the liners through which you pass the leg straps of your outer turnout and clip them to it - which keeps the liner in place. The liners are handy as they can be used under just a turnout sheet when it’s only moderately cold - or under a medium turnout for when the temps drop into the single digits or below. also love it that they provide matching neck covers for nearly every turnout they have. Or as JB stated - they have the Nordlund blanket which has a built-in neck cover too.
I have recently developed a deep appreciation for their Tekno Fleece blankets. These are lightweight blankets with a layer of fleece insulation and they are AWSOME for fluctuating temperatures - especially in late fall/early spring when it’s chilly enough where they need something but it’s going to warm up to 32-40 or so and you won’t be able to get out there and change that blanket - the Tekno fleece prevents overheating or sweating underneath - it’s so breathable. For those of us who live in four season climates they’re fantastic.

[Simkie]

I bit the bullet and bought Rambos for my entire crew a few winters ago. It’s so wonderful. No rubs, no slipping, no leg straps. I find tail cords so much easier. The blankets hold up so well.

I’d go with a 100 gram and liners, if you’re looking for a system. Rambo makes a 100 gram blanket that takes liners, or you can do the Duo, for less $$$ than the Optimo. You can probably even find the liners used. Register the blanket part on the website after purchase to ensure you have warranty coverage.

I used to have sstack stuff, and it’s fine, especially for the money. But they did rub by the end of the season, and moved, and just weren’t as nice overall. I find the Rambo blankets just to be SO much nicer, really in every regard. Worth the cash for me–and that’s across four horses, so it was not an insignificant outlay :lol:

[IPEsq]

Schneiders are the ones my friends use for big shouldered WBs who are serial blanket destroyers. I really like Rambo, but if you get the high denier nylon count from Schneiders, they are much harder to kill. I think you may have to decide between ease of system (Rambo for sure) vs. needing to replace the outer layer frequently on the blanket destroyer.

[Denali6298]

@IPEsq that is my exact dilemma :yes:

Has as anyone used the Noble Outfitters blanket with inserts? https://www.nobleoutfitters.com/products/guardsman-4-in-1-turnout-system

Looks interesting. I saw that last night, but currently down a rabbit hole on the Schneider’s website.

[Simkie]

@Denali6298

@IPEsq that is my exact dilemma :yes:

Has as anyone used the Noble Outfitters blanket with inserts? https://www.nobleoutfitters.com/products/guardsman-4-in-1-turnout-system

Looks interesting. I saw that last night, but currently down a rabbit hole on the Schneider’s website.

Am I missing the denier on that blanket? At that price, with all the inserts (?), 600d seems likely, or at least possible…

[JB]

@Denali6298

@IPEsq that is my exact dilemma :yes:

Has as anyone used the Noble Outfitters blanket with inserts? https://www.nobleoutfitters.com/products/guardsman-4-in-1-turnout-system

Wow, surprisingly little information about that What are the inserts?

I saw that last night, but currently down a rabbit hole on the Schneider’s website.

:lol: :lol:

[XXS]

Horseware blankets are my favourite. And if needed an anti bite spray.

[Denali6298]

@JB

Wow, surprisingly little information about that What are the inserts?

:lol: :lol:

It sounds like they zip in from the reviews on Dover. Leave the blanket on and swap inserts. I saw it in my catalog. Nylon is 1800D.

Im looking at the Warrior Armor v-tek on Schneider’s, they have a “kit” of a medium and a liner to make it heavy. Can’t be too complicated right?

I seriously wish they sold the New Zealand rugs still. That is what I need for my blankets vs. hooligans.

[Denali6298]

@Salo

Horseware blankets are my favourite. And if needed an anti bite spray.

I wouldn’t want to ask the barn workers to spray her blankets down. With my work schedule I only get to the barn 4 days max and leave for trips every month for a few days up to three weeks.

[Simkie]

@Denali6298

I seriously wish they sold the New Zealand rugs still. That is what I need for my blankets vs. hooligans.

You can still find them, but there’s a reason they went away. Heavy, not waterproof…

But here you go:

https://www.tackwholesale.com/products/80-8004

Are you expecting barn staff to change liners? Or are you taking care of all that? It’s way easier to swap blankets, vs dealing with liners.

[JB]

@Denali6298

It sounds like they zip in from the reviews on Dover. Leave the blanket on and swap inserts. I saw it in my catalog. Nylon is 1800D.

Im looking at the Warrior Armor v-tek on Schneider’s, they have a “kit” of a medium and a liner to make it heavy. Can’t be too complicated right?

I seriously wish they sold the New Zealand rugs still. That is what I need for my blankets vs. hooligans.

Oh wow, 1800D for $200?? What’s the catch? LOL I think I understand the insert/zipping thing now. Interesting…

I have no experience with the Warrior, so can’t compare any of that.

[Denali6298]

@Simkie

You can still find them, but there’s a reason they went away. Heavy, not waterproof…

But here you go:

https://www.tackwholesale.com/products/80-8004

Are you expecting barn staff to change liners? Or are you taking care of all that? It’s way easier to swap blankets, vs dealing with liners.

My barn does blanket changes as part of the board. My idea of liners stems from “they look different.” When I bought my horse Dover had a screaming good deal on their Northwind line. I got a sheet, medium and heavy with a detachable neck cover for about $350. My blankets all look the same except the heavy has the neck cover.

I personally see no difference between liners and blankets. I’ve used both for my personal horses and as a barn worker. Blankets are blankets to me. But people are different in preference.

Way back when, people would waterproof the canvas of the New Zealand rugs. At least the people I knew. I know why they went away but dang they wore like iron.