Coziest cooler, if that makes sense?

[Xanthoria]

My young mare is a champ to bathe. Stands in the wash rack with no fuss, and we have hot water which helps. However after a wash leading her back to the barn, even with a fleece cooler on, is An Event. She will be slinging her head around, doing handstands and waving her hooves in the air left and right like a teenager on spring break after a few shots of Jagermeister.

Obviously the chilly air is as unacceptable to her as the rearing is to me. I have a single thickness cooler that goes up to her ears. I need something warmer. Short of busting out a stable blanket with a belly band, any suggestions?

Has anyone used this contraption? https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/wiksmart-cooler-13205

[Scribbler]

Can you also give her a towel rub in the wash rack?

In my experience fleece is great on a warm horse but for warming up a cold wet horse, nothing beats wool.

[Renn_aissance]

The “coziest” fleece I’ve ever touched- soft, thick, plush, wicking, dried horse and kept horse warm- was the Eskadron Dralon fleece. I don’t know if their high-neck fleeces are made of the same material but I think it’s worth asking. The high neck model is this one.

That Wiksmart thing is fascinating but it looks like a bear to get on and off!

[blue_heron]

Hear me out: two coolers?

I’d stack fleece on top of wool.

[Xanthoria]

Yeah towelling and stacking - that might be the key.

The Eskie Dralon is super plush! Any thoughts on the Rambo Dry Rug tho? COTH comments make it sound amazing.

[Renn_aissance]

Also good. It’s my second choice. The Eskadron is better- softer.

[Simkie]

I have the Rambo newmarket fleece blanket and it’s SUPER plush. Like, keep on my bed to snuggle with plush. Maybe something like that on top of your cooler?

[XXS]

Thermatex rug!

[DiamondJubilee]

I love my Rambo newmarket fleece as well! So much, we bought the blanket for us humans to use

[joiedevie99]

My go-to Fall to Spring is a Thermatex rug. It fits well, and keeps them warm. If the horse is soaked, I will put an irish knit underneath.

When that isn’t enough, I use a Draper Therapies cooler over top. It covers the neck, and feels like a sweatshirt.

[Shagyas_Rock]

I second the Rambo fleece cooler - it’s quite thick and wicks nicely. The Schneider’s Ashby Thermal rug might be good too - it has a little insulation between the wicking layers- this provides extra warmth too.

The trouble with wool - despite its virtues - is that it’s a beast to care for. And once wool gets wet it takes FOREVER AND EVER to try. You can wash it in Woolite on the gentle cycle but it might be next week before you can use it again

[Xanthoria]

Yes for sure trying to avoid wool. Even the Thermatex rugs have a wool lining - do they dry quickly?

Another thing I’d like is something horse could wear in a stall (and potentially roll in) without ripping or becoming a shavings magnet. I feel like that rules out fleece, and wool too.

Maybe it’s as simple as getting a stable rug and putting that over the current fleece I own to make it warmer after baths.

[Shagyas_Rock]

If you’re looking for something that wicks and can stand up to turn out, you want the Schniedier’s Tekno-Fleece - they make a turnout and a stable blanket. The stable blanket isn’t waterproof but it’s 1200 denier so on a nice day it could probably survive a few hours in the paddock. It provides just enough warmth when your horse has the chillys but a regular blanket would be too much. You can put it on a damp horse and it will wick - maybe not quite as great as a fleece cooler but reasonably well.
I have not owned a Thermatex (but have heard good things) but the Ashby Thermal Rug, I think is designed in a similar way.

[Scribbler]

I would add that gently longeing a wet horse in a fleece makes them dry faster too.

[Xanthoria]

I would agree, except that Mare of Fire does not lunge gently, esp when wet - more like bucking carousel of doom into orbit

[Simkie]

@Xanthoria

more like bucking carousel of doom into orbit

What a fabulous visual!

You might try just tossing a 100 gram or medium winter blanket on top? It’s something you’re likely to already have, and will keep her warm without collecting crap or shredding. The newer fabrics are SO breathable–I’ve never had a problem putting a blanket on a wet horse that’s been caught in a surprise downpour!

[Scribbler]

I think they want to run and buck to warm up. It’s why they are spicier on winter mornings. They can do this on a field or open range. It’s a natural reaction not misbehavior per se. If it doesn’t matter she stays clean you could let her loose to roll and rip. Of course that won’t work if she needs to stay clean!!

[Xanthoria]

yes sadly no open range, and in order to get her to the turnout area I must “fly the meat kite” as my husband says. Yes I do correct her but she’s 4 and it’s all frisky business!

[Postandrails]

I would just use an existing blanket over the top until you know that some extra warmth will actually change anything, LOL.

[Feathered_Feet]

When I was young, learning horsemanship from the Brits I was taught to put a layer of straw (or hay) under the blanket to provide some airflow while still keeping them blanketed. If I had to layer multiple for the night on a wet horse I would definitely do this to allow them to dry before the night chill sets in. As the time passes and it gets cooler, the straw/hay falls out such that by morning the blanket is snug as usual.

(Although as someone mentioned above, modern fabrics are pretty breathable, so this may not generally be necessary.)