Bucas turnouts - discuss?

[mfglickman]

I’m in New England. Pony will be going to college with DD in Fall (Massachusetts). She has a couple of Smart Pak turnouts that are a few years old and while they’ve held up pretty well they don’t fit her little reining bred brick house body type and tend to shift, and if they fit her booty they gap at the neck.

Since she’s 6 and done growing I started looking at the Bucas turnouts - Atlantic and Power varieties. Considering a “light” around 200g fill. They claim these are appropriate from around 15F-55F due to breathability and heat retention. This sounds like a dream for pony’s comfort and for boarding barn staff not having to swap her blankets for turnout, night time, etc.

Curious if anyone has had real world experience and if the claims hold up to reality. Also wondering if they run true to size? I’m loathe to spend $400 on a blanket but if it will take the place of two-three others it might be worth considering.

[Dbliron]

We have moved to the Atlantics. They fit amazingly, on very different body types (QH, Appaloosa, chunky KWPN, Arab/Trakehner, TB), and they perform exactly as advertised. We have one Power turnout, but the styling is a little different from the Atlantics, and it doesn’t fit as well. We love the Atlantic, Bucas really stepped up on this blanket.

[Pico_Banana]

Are the Atlantics supposed to have the same temp range as the Powers?

[Dbliron]

I am not sure, because I haven’t looked at them for a while. I live in Canada, in an area of central BC, where temperatures can swing 20 degrees C in a day. Our horses are stabled at night, and are out, regardless of the weather, from 5 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in winter, and 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. in spring, summer and fall. The QH, who gets cold very easily, lives in a 300 gm Atlantic from October through April, when temperatures are anywhere between -30 C and 15 C. The others live in 200 gm Atlantics throughout those ranges without getting too hot or shivering. That said, if we have wind chills of -20 or more I add a liner to everyone’s winter wear, but only 100 gm liners. I hope this helps!

[StormyDay]

I can’t comment on the bucas, but the Rambo Wug (the purple ones) seem to fit everyone amazingly. My catty Arab type and my thick Mustang pony both share them and they fit them both equally well.

As far as heat retention and breath ability, I’ve found that your results will vary. My Mustang and mare can wear a heavy from 25 up until about 50 degrees and be comfortable, but my OTTB and draftx can’t wear the heavy Rambo above about 45 degrees.

[CLB15]

I inherited a Bucas Power blankets, loved the fit for my pony so bought a sheet. I’ve had issues of a lot of blankets sliding down & back, making him sore across the shoulder & withers.
In the past I rarely blanketed except in the depths of winter, but this past winter was ridiculous with weather swings (in Massachusetts.)
I felt like I was switching between weighted and sheet every few days, throwing the hood on occasionally. Raw rainy days, blizzard, hurricane winds, sunny temp spikes the Bucas held up well and pony was comfortable!

[Shagyas_Rock]

I have the Atlantic Bucas turnout for my Arab x WB mare and have been extremely pleased with the fit, durability and warmth…it’s the 200 gram and I have found it to be very breathable…if the temps rise from 25 to 40 for example. She doesn’t sweat in it. It is the most intelligently designed blanket I have seen. I particularly love the magnet under the chest closures (instead of velcro) and the shoulder darts

[HunterJumperGin]

I live in Georgia where there are WILD temp fluctuations and often entire days of pouring rain in 40 degree temps during the winter. I used the no fill (but fleece lined) Smartex turnout. My horse is ALWAYS dry underneath even on the driving rain days. There have been times when the sun came out and it jumped back up to 60 and he was barely sweating on his chest when I finally could get out and pull. I am completely sold. As long as you pay attention to the range given with each blanket, I feel like you will love them.