Does anyone have a recommendation of a real riding blanket? I’m not looking for a quarter sheet with a giant hole for the saddle - but rather something with a small hole that could be fastened around my waist while I walk to keep me and the horse warm, then taken off easily to ride. Thanks!
I have a genuine wool riding blanket from Saratoga and love it.
Mine is in black with silver roping and wrap. Love it. Bought it 20 years ago and it still looks new.
I wrap mine around my waist to cover my legs.
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You might consider a riding skirt as well. A friend at the barn made mine for me but you can find them on etsy etc as well. Mine has a water-resistant outer with fleece lining and my friend included a zipper so I can zip in a wool lining as well if I really wanted the extra warmth. I didn’t do a great job arranging it on my horse for this photo but you can get really decent coverage with the fullness of the skirt.
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2nd the recommendation for a riding skirt. I made mine out of a heavy tech fleece and it’s lasted ~7 years. If I were to make it again, I would use a fleece-lined softshell type fabric to use in drizzle/snow and maybe reduce the static. It’s just a circle or 1.5-circle wrap skirt, really. I just made the waistband velcro to allow for different layers underneath and created a “bustle” function with snaps. I also put snapped elastic loops in the front corners so my legs could go through and keep it from flapping too much but would release if I got it caught. I use it at colder horse shows to walk around or when watching lessons/clinics. I’ve been told it’s quite classy looking, even if I feel slightly ridiculous (ridiculously warm that is 
)
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You could make money producing and marketing them. There were some gals in Alaska who made phenomenal ones, I bought one at Equine Affaire years ago – nothing warmer, as the horse is keeping you warm from underneath. It burned along with everything else in a barn fire and by then they were out of business. I ordered one from Ukraine last year but haven’t really used it yet. It isn’t as well made as the Alaska one though.
People in the colder parts of the US, and Canada, would certainly buy them. Gets cold enough and you really don’t care how you look as long as you’re warm.
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Another thing to add about the riding skirt… I wear it when I’m grooming/tacking up as well. On the really cold days I get to the barn, put the skirt on over top of my other winter layers, prep, groom, tack, change into riding boots/take off any extra layers, hand-walk, mount up, walk to warm up, sometimes even trot to warm up a bit with the skirt on… then remove the skirt and toss it onto the half-wall to ride. When done and cooling out the horse I put the skirt back on and usually plop a cooler on the horse to take care of post-ride sweat. I basically wear the skirt until I’m ready to leave (and some very cold nights I have worn it home too).
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Well I will third the riding skirt! Got one last year and love it. I don’t care how ridiculous I look with my skirt + winter breeches + sweatshirt + parka (I don’t tolerate cold well lol) I LOVE that thing. Keeps me super toasty and works so much better than my exercise rug ever has (always fighting with it to keep it from pulling back towards the horses tail if I “wear” it). The horses seem indifferent to skirt vs rug FWIW. This is the skirt I have and love. My only complaint is that I didn’t get the cool reflective grey one. https://www.etsy.com/listing/668938645/equestrian-riding-skirt-for-women-winter?click_key=d6e99edfe3f9e001ea4ba1755bb483205270f5aa%3A668938645&click_sum=7fa78b77&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=riding+skirt&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&sts=1&referrer_page_guid=f704e939686.8da0c7eac561e6a09e49.00
If your concern is more about keeping the horse warm, Mattes has some good exercise rugs that do not cover the rider but can cover a good portion of the horse and attach securely to keep from flapping around or sliding off to one side (as my Horseware does).
This riding rug looks nice. https://shop.mattes-equestrian.com/exercise-sheets/exercise-sheets-without-mer-system/excercise-rug-with-rider-cutout.html
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I find that two layers really do the trick. Quarter sheet (back on track has a nice thick one that is fairly water proof). I place this up higher than normal, with the bottom of the keyhole up on top of the saddle and thus under my butt cheeks.
Then for really cold or very snowy weather, a second thick wool or fleece cooler over top. This is the magic key - this cooler is pulled up snug against my back and then wrapped/layered under my thighs. That keeps my legs warm, with all the heat in, to keep toasty.
I’m in Canada, so on really cold days horse gets a hood to keep neck warm. I’ve been known to layer base layer + fleece + down vest + giant parka to stay warm. Most of the layers get peeled off as we get working, then slowly replaced for the walk home. Final game changing suggestion? Helmet types matter. I’m a huge fan of the Uvex helmets the dial fit allows you to layer a thin merino cap or fleece ear muffs underneath, without sacrificing proper fit.
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I remember the Alaskan company! I didn’t realize they went out of business.
I occasionally make them for friends on commission; I just have so little free time between being on a board plus riding plus my real job, I don’t have time for my own sewing projects (there’s a quilt that’s been sitting on a frame for the last decade that I slowly chip away at, a suit muslin that I want to revisit from pre-covid, a baby quilt for a shower in 3 weeks that is not even pieced completely, a clergy stole for a 2024 spring commissioning…) Maybe one day
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Does the riding skirt get flappy behind or get blown up with wind?
I have a nice quarter sheet but really like the riding skirt. But my horse isn’t a fan of flappy things behind him, yes I could work on it but not when it’s 20 degrees out.
Thanks all! I have the same question. The cold horse in question is a bit reactive.
Mine does not flap at ALL. It is quite substantial and heavy when compared to my fleece coolers or my winter quarter sheet. Add to that it’s literally affixed to me so there isn’t as much potential for the wind to “grab” under it.
Hmm I would say it flaps much less than my quarter sheet does, maybe not even really flapping at all? But does make a little rustling noise as the outer nylon moves around (similar to a turnout blanket).
I second Saratoga Horseworks. They were the only people I could find to offer a quarter sheet in wool- which I much prefer to avoid static- and they’re great to work with. Size up one from your horse’s usual as they run small. If you intend to spend most of your time with it over your legs, maybe size up two.
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That’s where my current quarter sheet is from and it’s great but not quite warm enough for my horse when we are just walking and crappy weather. He gets cold really quickly then tight through his back. He’s from TX and grows nothing of a coat.
I have a thermatex quarter sheet that’s nice, I use that for the pony. Debating between ordering another one or getting the riding skirt.
