Stable blankets - why does one use them?

[Texarkana]

[QUOTE=Doctracy;8302176]
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.[/QUOTE]

I had a rather similar experience the only time I spent working with QHs. Nylon sheet as a base layer nearly all year round and stable blankets of varying weights layered on top. The horses even had different layers of hoods.

[Mosey_2003]

I’ve always assumed they’re for keeping the horse clean and keeping the hair coat short. I’m in stock breed country, so it’s either they grow a full coat and live out, or they stay in with stable blankets and lights to stay slick.

And they look pretty :lol:

[Huntin_Pony]

I don’t like to launder my turnouts because it eventually erodes the waterproofing, so keeping them manure and urine-free is part of my reason for changing to stable blankets at night. The stable blankets can be laundered as needed.

[Abbie.S]

I use them for layering (cold NE winters, you know), but the big bonus is that they are super easy to wash. No worries about messing with the waterproofing. Way easier to clean multiple times a season than a waterproofed turnout.

[FLeventer]

I used to use them under a sheet for turnout. It was cheaper than buying three Rambo blankets. I still do it that way, but now I have so many waterproof blankets that I don’t really bother anymore with stable blankets.

[Minerva]

I use them because it has decided to stop raining in California. :lol: My horse has a stall with a run attached but since there’s no such thing as unexpected precipitation here they work fine. If the forecast claims that it will rain I just switch to something waterproof. 70% of the time we never see the forecast rain anyway.

[Kolsch]

[QUOTE=Abbie.S;8302751]
I use them for layering (cold NE winters, you know), but the big bonus is that they are super easy to wash. No worries about messing with the waterproofing. Way easier to clean multiple times a season than a waterproofed turnout.[/QUOTE]

This is why I use stable blankets as well.

[tpup]

[QUOTE=Abbie.S;8302751]
I use them for layering (cold NE winters, you know), but the big bonus is that they are super easy to wash. No worries about messing with the waterproofing. Way easier to clean multiple times a season than a waterproofed turnout.[/QUOTE]

Never thought about this. This is reason enough for me! Time to shop :)! And the most fun will be getting a cute one for my 10 hand Shetland. :winkgrin: Thanks all!

[LauraKY]

[QUOTE=Huntin’ Pony;8302690]
I don’t like to launder my turnouts because it eventually erodes the waterproofing, so keeping them manure and urine-free is part of my reason for changing to stable blankets at night. The stable blankets can be laundered as needed.[/QUOTE]

Me too. I also use liners for the same reason.

Also, I like changing blankets at least every day so I can keep an eye on the condition of the horses. That way there aren’t any surprises when it warms up. Wet blankets I leave on in the stall though…at least until they’re moderately dry. When it’s really damp, they don’t dry overnight if I just hang them to dry. The heat of the horse dries them pretty quickly.