Stable blankets - why does one use them?

[tpup]

Kind of a dumb question, or not. I’ve boarded for years and now have my horses at home. Between Nov. and March they are in at night. I just got the Schneiders and Dover catalogs and was perusing all of the nice, quilted stable blankets. Am I correct that they are to be used inside only, and one would remove the outdoor blanket, put on the stable blanket, and then switch again in the morning? I’m trying to understand “why” as it’s more work…I suppose if horses come in with soaked or snow-covered blankets, one would hang those to dry and then use the stable blankets?

Would love opinions on “Y or N” and your why’s. The places I boarded did not use them that I know of.

And my real motivation? Someone talk me into buying one because I really “need” one!! :yes:

[kalidascope]

You are correct in how they are used.

I don’t know about the States, but I know here (and I have heard in the UK) that some people leave their paddock rugs on when they bring them in. If the temperature is appropriate there’s no problem. And if the rugs are wet they dry MUCH quicker on the horse than hung up to ‘dry’ in cold damp air.

You can leave a horse in with it’s ‘outdoor’ clothes on, but you can’t turn a horse out with it’s ‘indoor’ clothes on (if you want them to last).

[Mukluk]

My take on it was those blankets were for indoor only. Since mine go in and out, when they are blanketed I just use something suitable for outside. I wouldn’t want to be changing blankets more than I have to. But then I haven’t had blankets on mine in over 3 years since it’s easier for me to not have to worry about blankets-our winters are fairly mild.

[GoodTimes]

They’re typically more breathable and look nicer then a muddy rainsheet. You’re right that they can be used inside instead of the horses “outside” blanket, but they can also be used as a base layer.
For example, at most A barns that I’ve worked or boarded at will put a sheet or a baker on clipped horses once the temperature gets below 10C and then they will layer the appropriate outdoor blankets over top throughout the fall/winter.

[Simkie]

I think the whole stable rug thing came from outdoor clothes that really weren’t waterproof, or didn’t breath well at all, or were just really flippin HEAVY. The horse would either come in with a sopping wet blanket, or would sweat in the stall, or the heavy outdoor blanket would make them sore.

So we had stable blankets as “indoor clothes” to let the other blanket dry, keep the horse dry, and not make the horse sore.

Now that we have all these awesome technical fabrics, I don’t know how useful they really are?

[CHT]

I think their other bonus, is that the stable blankets are more breathable, and easier to wash than your typical outdoor turnout. I think (around here) it is more common to just layer over the stable blanket though, rather than take the stable blanket off.

[NurseHorsey]

I only have one stable blanket for JJ - I bought it because it was on super closeout and it was right when I got him.

I’ve used it for two main purposes: trailering and stabling during winter.

I trailer out to lessons, so in the winter it’s nice to have a snug fitting blanket that I’m not worried about snagging on anything and also not worried about it being too warmth for him. Really came in handy this past winter because it was so bitterly cold!

At my barn, there’s a lot of low-lying land, so if it snows, thaws, and refreezes (which happened a lot as well), there’s usually too much ice to turnout. This can mean that it can 2-3 days before it’s safe to turnout again. I like using his stable blanket instead of his turnouts because it keeps his turnouts from getting marinated in pee, since he lays down in the same spot in his stall.

Also, did I mention that they make nearly every horse look like a gorgeous show horse? I just think they’re fancy and who doesn’t like fancy things? Here’s my lovely boy in his blankie: https://instagram.com/p/hETf67Gg0p/ (85% sure the picture will show)

[tpup]

Thanks all! Nursehorsey, he is very handsome in his blankie See, now I need one LOL!

[stryder]

My mare has two stable blankets. One barn changed her out when she came in from turnout, then changed again in the morning. Now she has 24/7 outside access, so wears waterproof turnouts all the time once it starts to rain.

I think she warms up faster when she’s come in chilled and wet, mostly due to the failure of a supposedly waterproof turnout.

I’ve also used them as an additional layer under a lightly filled turnout sheet. We rarely get real cold weather, but when we do, she’ll wear a stable blanket under her mid-weight turnout.

[pony_baloney]

Now that my horse is older and doesn’t tolerate the cold as he once did, I find it useful as a layer underneath his waterproof sheets. He can wear the blanket inside, and have the sheet thrown on when going out. The past few years all I use is the blanket, a very thin waterproof sheet and a heavier 1600D no-fill sheet.

I also like the fact that I can use lightweight t/o sheets, which seem to be easier to put on/remove, rather than a medium or heavyweight t/o when it’s wet or covered in mud.

And he looks cute in his jammies at night.

[stryder]

[QUOTE=pony baloney;8301833]

And he looks cute in his jammies at night.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree. One my mare’s is a closed front. She’s so cute when she sticks her head through and snuggles into the stable blanket.

[NurseHorsey]

[QUOTE=tpup;8301785]
Thanks all! Nursehorsey, he is very handsome in his blankie See, now I need one LOL![/QUOTE]

If I had more $$ to spend on (more) frivalous accessories for him, I know I’d have a collection of stable blankets in a rainbow of colors.

I’ll pass your compliments along to him - it’ll make him flounce around in his paddock like a high show pony even more than he does now :winkgrin:

[Daisyesq]

[QUOTE=NurseHorsey;8301893]
If I had more $$ to spend on (more) frivalous accessories for him, I know I’d have a collection of stable blankets in a rainbow of colors.

I’ll pass your compliments along to him - it’ll make him flounce around in his paddock like a high show pony even more than he does now :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

Which frivolous accessories would you buy?? do some shopping for us. drool…

[IPEsq]

I grew up in a place that got warm enough in the day they hardly needed outdoor clothes (maybe 1 rug), but could use various layers for being in the barn at night (barn was pretty open all the time). So we mostly had stable clothes. In fact, we had 2 sets–one for home and one for going to shows.

[Mango20]

[QUOTE=Simkie;8301760]
I think the whole stable rug thing came from outdoor clothes that really weren’t waterproof, or didn’t breath well at all, or were just really flippin HEAVY. The horse would either come in with a sopping wet blanket, or would sweat in the stall, or the heavy outdoor blanket would make them sore.

So we had stable blankets as “indoor clothes” to let the other blanket dry, keep the horse dry, and not make the horse sore.

Now that we have all these awesome technical fabrics, I don’t know how useful they really are?[/QUOTE]

^^This
I think they’re a holdover from the olden days of New Zealand rugs and blankets that weren’t really waterproof. They might have a new market today of horses who aren’t turned out - the stable blankets usually cost less, so why pay for waterproof if you don’t need it?

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=Simkie;8301760]
I think the whole stable rug thing came from outdoor clothes that really weren’t waterproof, or didn’t breath well at all, or were just really flippin HEAVY. The horse would either come in with a sopping wet blanket, or would sweat in the stall, or the heavy outdoor blanket would make them sore.

So we had stable blankets as “indoor clothes” to let the other blanket dry, keep the horse dry, and not make the horse sore.

Now that we have all these awesome technical fabrics, I don’t know how useful they really are?[/QUOTE]

Completely agree. Back in the “olden days” the only turnout rugs were heavy wool-lined canvas that just generally sucked.

[fordtraktor]

Also, they are marketed heavily toward quarter horse and breed people, many of whom just don’t turn horses out. At all. They don’t need turnout blankets.

(And before the QH people jump on me, I know some of you turn out! But a lot don’t. I know SEVERAL barns in this town that just don’t turn out their AQHA show horses, ever. They don’t even have a paddock on the place as far as I can see. After all, what use would that be?

[Doctracy]

The QH show barns that I worked for didn’t turn out, or, if they did it was for very short periods in a round pen in sunny,nice weather.
The stable blankets are easier to put on and off due to the lighter weight and can be easily layered for the same reason. Typically, stock horse show people use lights and blankets to keep a summer coat year round, rather than clipping. This entails a rather complicated layering or blanket changing system at times. Easier to throw on an extra stable blanket for each of 20 horses and pull it off in the morning than to need to do a full change of blankets to the entire barn. Plus, they are generally much cheaper,although less durable,too.

[triple]

I use them in the winter when he’s clipped. For a couple of reasons I suppose; wear and tear on the outdoor rug (which they get enough of…) and also (probably from a very human perspective!) just so he isn’t standing in the same rug all the time; I feel if he wears his heavy inside it won’t be of as much benefit to him outside! Also the neck pieces on my heavy turnouts can rub his mane area a bit so prefer to have him in the stable rug over night to give it a bit of a break.

[mfglickman]

[QUOTE=CHT;8301762]
I think their other bonus, is that the stable blankets are more breathable, and easier to wash than your typical outdoor turnout. I think (around here) it is more common to just layer over the stable blanket though, rather than take the stable blanket off.[/QUOTE]

This is what I do in New England - i have light and medium stable blankets and layer them under a turnout sheet or medium turnout depending on weather (horse has outside access 24/7). If I need to close horses in at night, the turnout can come off and they have just the quilted stable blankets on - and they can go in my own washer/dryer so much easier for me than having to keep extra turnouts in case one is being cleaned.