Hi, I have a paint who is not overweight, but so many of the blankets he has inherited are like belly shirts on the poor guy. It isn’t usually a giant deal, but now that it’s -30 I’m thinking more about what to get him that would give his clipped sides more coverage than they just barely are, in this cold weather.
Schneiders are ALL like belly shirts (I have 3 different styles including the highest end one), Amigos are much better, but are still much shorter on him than what it shows in the ad photos. I’m thinking that my only option will be actual Rambos, but the prices are ridiculous. Are there any options you guys have found for “taller” blankets?
I also have a very stocky horse and last year purchased a Noble Equestrian 4 in 1 system. I covers more of my horses side than anything I have tried. They are currently on sale at Dover Saddlery for $75.00
My boy has always fit well in the Amigo range. I finally branched out and tried the LeMieux Arika turnout sheet. It definitely has a longer drop, but fits everywhere else. I thought it was a good price since it included a hood.
Pretty much all new blankets, especially the Horsewear style ones, have absurdly long drops these days. Even most of the Schneiders styles, sadly, now have drops that are wildly too long for the actual size of the blankets. Are the ones your guy “inherited” older blankets?
I don’t know why blanket manufacturers decided that all blankets, whether size 68 or size 88, should have a drop length appropriate for a 16+ hand horse, but I find this new phenomenon incredibly frustrating as an owner of Arabians. As do most of the QH owners I know. I have one friend who had an older gelding go down to roll and then find himself unable to get up last winter because the drop on his blanket was so long that he was stepping on it with his front feet while trying to rise. She had to run out and cut the blanket off so that he could get up without injuring himself.
I had an Avalanche wardrobe for my 16 hand Paint gelding. They had an ample drop and other features such as a high neckline above the withers that did not rub. The chest had two sets of adjustable t-buckles so you could fit the front including shoulders and neck. My horse had a problem with wet shoulders with other brands because the neck opening was to large for him. There also is a huge tail cover.
When I put him down I gave his wardrobe - a total of 7 blankets and sheets for pasture board - to an 18-year old fellow boarder who I have known since she was 12. She has an Appy mare who wears the same size, so I gave them all to her rather than try to sell them. We had both moved to a smaller barn that has unlimited blanket changes and runouts that are open 1005. You can leave what they need on the stall front. What a difference. They were always dry and warm.
I have ponies and actually really like the longer drop on some of the newer style of blankets! I have a 66" for a small large and a 72" for my big large , both Amigo’s with the 3 belly straps. The blanket under the belly actually touches and overlaps a small amount, but with the 3 belly straps and the ring and snap for a chest closure (the older style without the ring, never lasts with my ponies. They somehow magically rip both of the front straps off and slide out of their blankets. So I need to have the ring closure or the 4 velcro cross strap closures), it keeps it in place really well. I do make sure the belly straps are fairly snug. I would like to think they stay nice and warm in the belly area now
The older style Amigos/Horsewear with the 2 belly straps have a shorter drop and don’t even come close to touching under the belly.
If your guy is truly round, even the Rambo’s may not be long enough. I have a mare who has a wide barrel and right now needs to lose some weight. She is also short backed for her height and therefore wears a 75 in Horseware brands even though she is 16.3. In her Rambo’s , I can just barely fasten the middle surcingle and there’s definitely no excess drop. In fact, they are pretty close to mini skirts. Her sheet is better than her 100g or medium. She also has an Amigo 100g wug, which seems to be a touch longer on her.
My other mare also wears a 75 and has an older Rambo medium. Next time I put them in that weight, I am planning on swapping the old for the newer one and seeing if the older one may have a longer drop and longer middle surcingle.
I am going to have to disagree with this. Young horse recently sized up and I bought a handful of blankets to try. Thankfully he’s sized up into my old horse’s wardrobe now!
Anyway, many of the new Horseware blankets do not have enough drop for him. New Amigo is out, but my older Amigo Bravo is somewhat ok. Rhino was a mini skirt. Rambo works alright at the moment, but ultimately he may suit their Optimo line better.
I won’t go with Schneider’s due to waterproofing issues, but their drops don’t seem to be absurd based off of a boarder I saw in a new one.
Where are the long blankets? I need them. Why do I have the opposite experience
I have an almost 3 year old PRE. He’s not super thick, but isn’t the narrow baby he was last year.
I honestly hate blanketing, it’s too stressful but when it’s wind, wet, and cold, as in negatives, I do like to blanket him.
My horses are 13.2 and 14 hands. The shorter one wears a 68, and the taller one wears a 72. They are both so wide that they require full QH bars with a u-shaped gullet in their western saddles. Their new Schneiders sheets from this year fall to their knees. Any Horsewear style blanket I’ve EVER used or seen on a horse under 16 hands rubs hair off the front legs BELOW the knees. I’m not sure how much more generous a drop can get than that. As I said earlier, the drops have gotten so long on some styles that they are dangerous in certain situations.
I am over here wanting to find that drop but struggling! Go figure. I have a collection of Horseware that spans from 10 years old to new and none of them go to or went below the knee on any of my horses. They’re PRE’s so not narrow, but they weren’t super tanks either. I just bought a new Amigo that I sent back because it was too short, and did the same with a Rhino a few years back. So it’s interesting that we have opposite experiences.
Last horse wore a 75 and was below 16hh. Quite frankly, I have no idea how tall my soon-to-be 3 year old is, but he’s just outgrown his 72’s.
I hate that blankets seem so inconsistent with fit and waterproofing.
Oh!!! I didn’t know this was a thing!! I will look into this, thank you!
It would be good to find something that can work with all of my Rambo liners and other than the drop issue, i LOVE my amigo
