Buying a blanket collection--how many? what weights? Help!

[JenEM]

It may depend on where in MD you are, but I’ve boarded in both central MD and currently AA county. Mine is a TB who generally gets fully clipped, or a hunter clip, for the winter. Even then, it is rare that she needs a heavy–maybe a week or so each winter. If you’re not planning on clipping fully, I wouldn’t bother with a heavy.

What I would start with is a no-fill sheet with an extended neck, and a medium weight with a detachable neck cover/hood that you can put on or take off depending on temps and weather conditions. See how the horse does with that, and you can add to the wardrobe if you need to, and what clipping you end up doing on the horse depending on its work load.

[HoundsRun]

Second the comment posted earlier about Saxons: they are like miniskirts for my big TB! My favorites are Rambo Wugs and Baker blankets. I would also suggest at least 2 sheets: this is what my horse wears most throughout the Winter so it gets dirtiest. I can launder it with a backup. It is also what he wears on those freezing rain days, so I like to have a second, dry sheet available so he doesn’t stand in a wet blanket during the day.

[mmeqcenter]

Definitely don’t skip the medium. You’ll use it more than your heavy most likely.
In Ohio I usually had:
No fill sheet
Medium weight
Heavy weight
Fleece Liner
Medium weight Hood

Mix and match as needed. I have my own formula based on temp, sun, wind speed, precipitation, etc., but all horses are different. Only used the hood a handful of times, but appreciated having it when it was needed. I would definitely go with just turnouts. They can wear a turn out inside no problem, but not vice versa.
In Florida I’ve even used my medium a few times (<30F overnight). I still have all my blankets just in case (hoarder).

The last round I got my two thoroughbreds are Weatherbeeta Genero’s, and I reeeeeeeeeally like them. My mare is not kind to blankets and hers lasted about 1.5 winters in Ohio with no wear+tear and so far one winter in Florida.

[sophie]

I’m probably in the minority here - I am of the opinion that horses are cold weather animals and fare much better than we do in cold temps as long as they are dry and have plenty of forage available.

I live in coastal Maine, and for my Tb, who grows a decent Tb coat in winter, and is stabled at night, I only have 2 blankets.

1. One unlined rain sheet (Rhino) - I was just given another rain sheet that could come handy in case hers gets soaked, but the Rhino’s a great quality sheet and so far it has kept her perfectly dry even in lengthy downpours.

2. one medium weight turnout (Amigo).

She wears the unlined rain sheet when it’s rainy and 60F or less, or it’s snowing but not too cold (28 - 30 ish) or it’s VERY windy and raw.

She wears the Med weight when it’s really cold / windy outside (25ish or less) or we’re having a blizzard, and she wears it inside when the temperature in the barn drops under 20F.
Last year I think she wore the hood a few times outside, when we had very cold and windy weather.

I don’t have a cooler for her. I cool her down under saddle until she’s cold to the touch and pretty dry, and I rub her well afterwards, if necessary, I use the hair dryer.

[clanter]

@Simkie

Oh, and with all the money in the world, this is what I’d do:
l:

we just moved south as whatever blankets you have you never have enough or the one you didn’t buy is the one you would have used the most

but since those days are behind us our two trunks loads of blankets just set waiting and hoping for a chance to be used once again… yeah like that’s going to happen

[ArabDiva]

whatever brand you buy, make sure the leg straps are removable/replaceable and not sewn-in. Some of the cheaper blankets have the straps sewn on. This results in a trashed blanket sooner rather than later, because they have no give. Make sure you have elastic leg straps too. (can buy these as replacements if they don’t come on the blanket)

[Irish_Ei_s]

On Long Island NY I used unfilled TO Medium weight TO and had a Heavy with detatchable neck.
Dovers blankets fit my BIG meaty boy and used the Medium 90% of the time. Better quality than the Weatherbeeta’s that also fit him

Of course, the Rambo’s I already owned didn’t fit his massively rotund self, but the prices I sold them for paid for the Dover’s Northwinds.

Being a size 86 seriously limited my choices, too.

[RoughOut]

I’m a blanket minimalist too even though my mare is 66" so her blankets come in all the fun colors!

I have a Smith brothers brand ( same as Dover Rider’s brand) no fill waterproof sheet.

and a Horze 200g Medium weight turnout.

I live up on a hill and get serious wind I don’t think she needs more than the medium weight when it’s 0, gusting.

she also has a long mane so I choose not to use a neck cover.

I just bought her last year. Shes a mustang with a short dense winter coat so I went with those two blankets to start with. And so far I think that’s all she’ll need. If it was really nasty maybe I would throw the sheet over the medium weight but hay and a wind break sure do help!

[Natalie]

Thanks again everyone! Based on all the comments here (as well as talking to some local horse people too) it seems that I definitely don’t need a heavy weight–I was told by someone that “in MD, midweight is heavy” haha. I think I’ll start with a sheet for now, which will likely tide me over into November at least, then shell out for a midweight and possibly a 100g liner to make the sheet an “in between” blanket and the midweight a “super heavy” if we get bit with a blizzard or some prolonged cold, wet weather (either is a distinct possibility here).

I’m considering this sheet: https://www.smartpakequine.com/%2Fpt…ist--add--na

The reviews are great, it looks nice, and the price point is great. It doesn’t have the extended neck, however.

Here’s the other contender: http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/amigo-bravo-12-wug-light-weight-turnout-203907

Like the extended neck, though it’s apparently NOT compatible with the Horseware liner system, which is…annoying.

Which leads to the question–has anyone used the Horseware blanket liners with non-“compatible” blankets? In the reviews I’ve read quite a few people popping in and saying they’ve used them under various blankets with no trouble…anyone here have experience with that?

[QuiteFrankly]

Hi, I live in an area with similar weather and a similar type of horse (petite, thin-coated paint.) I’d say a good sheet, a good cooler, and then a cheap 200-250gm stable blanket and a cheap 400gm blanket would be the best thing for your horse and your wallet If you plan on clipping, I’d add a medium weight TO as well. I absolutely have had the 400gm on my horse under a sheet while he was unclipped, but not enough to warrant buying a TO or even a Rambo liner. SStack has some really affordable stable blankets that layer well, and are cheaper than the Rambo brand liners, and durability doesn’t really matter since they’re protected. I like the dover northwind turnouts. DO NOT BE CHEAP on the sheet. I was, and I have spent so much in waterproofing and repairs that I would have saved SO much just buying the more expensive TO.

[Simkie]

This is a bit spendy (maybe too much?) but it’s deeply discounted, the neck is removable, and it works with the Rambo liners.

http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/rambo-supreme-turnout-light-weight-closeout-color-1840212

This would really be a nice piece to start your collection. You could do this winter with liners and decide what other turnouts you need by the spring sales.

[Natalie]

Thanks everyone! Simkie–I looked at that blanket but it doesn’t come in the size I need (75).

[MuddyHalter]

When I lived in the Mid-Atlantic region, my most-used turnouts were 100-grams. Numerous manufacturers offer them, and they are just so useful for the ever-changing weather. I didn’t read all the responses, so I’m not sure if anyone mentioned this, but when I had an Appendix QH, I found he ran much warmer than a TB or WB. When the rest of my crew was in heavies, he was in a medium. As I understand it, this is not unusual with QHs. Enjoy your new horse!

[sammy14]

Lots of good info here already, my 2c is that extended necks can be VERY hard on manes. I no longer use them and find taking a neck rug off in the day and back on at night is often enough to deal with temperature changes for a lot of the time. Secondly a high denier outer is one of the most important things for rug longevity. I use Horseware because they fit and they last and are very versatile with liners, and they don’t rub. I have a late 2yo who is wearing a slightly too big rug I already had, and the design is so good that it stays perfectly in place, impressive!
Congrats on the new horse!

[joiedevie99]

I found that the Wugs (mid neck style) either work amazingly well on a particular horse, or don’t fit at all. My two current horses can’t wear them, but they were literally the only thing that my old TB could wear. The current two have regular neck blankets, with detachable full necks on their heavies.