How many blankets does one horse need?

[PaulaO]

Specifically my horse, Miss A., the TB who doesn't grow much of a winter coat. She's now in a sheet and the blanket that I ordered last month from Schneider's is back ordered until December 21. Of course I decided that since it's getting cold (like a high of 20) next week, she needs a blanket NOW so I ordered from SmartPak. Do I cancel the Schneider's or is it best to have an emergency back-up blanket?

[capstone]

Need? Not sure. Mine has lots of blankets and sheets for both the purpose of layering as well as for backup.

Keep in mind we live in Texas. He has:

2 cotton sheets
1 stable sheet
1 turnout sheet
1 Medium weight stable blanket
2 fleece liners

Also fly sheet, wicking sheet, etc.

[piedmontfields]

Paula, I do not intend to be an enabler here, but I think it depends on the horse and the environment. I like having back-ups to the blanket or sheet that is used the most. I live in the mid-South, so winter is not that bad. However, our worst weather is usually something like 37 F and raining---very chilly and unpleasant. I have a delicate mare who doesn't grow much coat--and is cold sensitive (PSSM)--so she has a wardrobe. Luckily, she is very good about wearing clothes and I've found brands that fit her well.

If it's low 50s- 60 F: She wears a waterproof sheet. Seriously, this mare is cold and loses weight even in this temperature range. She is a true Florida girl.
upper 30s-50 F: mid-weight waterproof blanket
Highs of 35 or lower: heavyweight waterproof blanket with neck cover.

The few times we've had highs of only 20 F, we've doubled up her blankets! Believe me , I know this is ridiculous if your horse does well in the cold. But mine really doesn't.

I do have back-ups of the waterproof sheet and the mid-weight, as they get used the most and sometimes waterproofing suddenly fails and you need another option! I also like to be able to switch sheets while doing a quick wash mid-season. If I did more showing, I would have more stable sheets (did you notice I said "more"?!). I also have several coolers (for summer and winter) and also love using quarter sheets while riding in winter (She really is good about wearing clothes!).

[Sunshine2Me]

I'm with Piedmont on this. I have two of each weight, so if one gets destroyed, or wet, or muddy, I have something else to put on him.

[Josette]

I'm afraid to count how many blankets and sheets I own.

We do get some very cold winters here with snow and ice. I have at least 2-3 of each as a back up if an item is torn or needs cleaning. Waterproof sheets in milder cool weather - good for breezy weather but where a blanket is too much. I have both medium and heavy weight blankets also water proof. Another option is to use a medium blanket and you can make it warmer by adding another layer underneath - like a Baker or Rambo Fleece. I check blankets daily to see if wet, twisted, leg strap issues. I'm a long time fan of WeatherBeeta blankets because I prefer elastic leg straps. I will not purchase a blanket with non-stretch attached leg straps. I want a strap that will release/break if necessary.

A horse with minimal or thin winter coat IMO needs a blanket in extreme weather. Otherwise, they are burning calories trying to stay warm and may loose weight. Likewise, how sad to see a horse shivering if a blanket could make them comfortable. However, there are some breeds who are HAIRY like polar bears and like naked to minimal coverage. It really depends on the horse and if you clip too. A clipped horse MUST be blanked IMO.

[boots-aregard]

The other thing it depends on is, is there a tack store nearby that keeps stock on hand?

If so, you don't need to buy a spare in order to cover an emergency -- the spares are right there at the tack store (though you will pay more than mail order. But if you don't need it, you don't pay anything.)

If you don't know how your horse is about blankets, I'd "wait and see". Some horses chew them up with such regularity that one gives up blanketing entirely.

(FWIW, I used to put a western saddle blanket, crosswise, wrapped around my horses' barrel and held with a surcingle under their blankets on very cold days.)

[AmityBee]

Well, I have a few. Mostly horseware turnout sheets. Lightweight to heavy weight, everything. I haven't used a stable blanket in ages, since my pony basically lives outside.

What I actually use is just a lightweight Rambo turnout sheet plus a medium weight liner if needed. The liners are easy to wash and dry fast. I like the solution.

[Racetrackreject]

As many as I can buy on sale seems to be my answer...... >.> #imighthaveaproblem

[PaulaO]

Sadly, there is no convenient tack shop near me. By the time I get the time to drive to one, it could be days so I might as well order from SmartPak. I needed validation to keep the second blanket when it arrives. Thanks!

[Ryeissa]

.

[VBOpie]

Regardless of the location of the nearest tack store (Murphy's Law: they're always closed when you need them), I agree with what everyone says about having two of each - sheet, medium weight, and heavy weight. That way, you have a spare. What has Miss A had in the past?

[silk]

FWIW, I don't cover. We live in a mild climate - several heavy frosts each winter, but never snow. I used to own at least one winter weight cover (with changeable, layer-able liners) per horse, a waterproof (sheet, no fill, cotton or jute liner), and a summer (cotton). When I decided to stop covering my horses, I kept covers "just in case" but after two years I sold them. I can go buy one if/when I need it, and anything I kept would be mouse food by now (6+ years since I used more than a fleece or cooler).

It *is* refreshing seeing comments that show you don't over-blanket your horses. Here, in my climate, where horses can perfectly well live out and thrive without blankets, some people will use covers with up to 500 grams of fill. At least two, if not three winter blankets or combos (with neck rugs) ... Madness!

[StraightForward]

Mine each have a rain sheet, a Thinsulate, and two medium weights. My rationale is that the rain sheet is usually used for keeping horse clean, so it's more a convenience and doesn't need a backup. If it's a bad winter I'll rotate out the medium weight for a fresh one when it gets nasty, and wait for warm weather to wash them. Obie used to be a blanket destruction specialist, so I'd just buy another medium whenever I found them on sale.

[Josette]

Thinsulate blankets are my favorite. I bought them years ago when Millers Tack Store was still around. I think the name was Everest Thinsulate blanket.

[Fatcat]

For my mare I have 2 turnout sheets (most commonly used here in Oregon), one hood, one 100g turnout blanket, and one 200g turnout blanket. 3 fleece coolers of various styles, two quarter sheets.

The pony has two t/o sheets, two 200g t/o blankets, one 100g t/o blanket, one fleece cooler, one quarter sheet.

Both my girls are cold muscled equines, so I need to keep their rumps and backs warm when working and warming up, hence all the 1/4 sheets.

I probably could use another 100g t/o for my mare, thanks... Now I'm off to shop.

[Kelo]

Man I have multiple heavy ones, and when it gets cold the wussy horse has been known to wear several heavy blankets at once, while his buddy is "naked." To each his own!

[SnowHorse]

I think I have a total of three - one real blanket and two thin sheets. The blanket could fit probably all horses but Hank (the draft), the sheets are smaller and most likely just fit two of the five horses.

So basically, I have a few, but they get used next to never.

[Snork]

I generally only have one horse and have been lucky to have had consecutive horses that all wore the same size blankets since I came back to riding after my kids. The blankets I bought for my mare were inherited by the lusitano and are now being used by the shareboard horse.
So, for one horse, in the same climate as yours, on the waterproof shelf I have one heavy Rambo Wug, two medium weight Wugs (one Rambo one Rhino) and two sheets with no fill, one hug one Wug. In addition, I have a back on track mesh, back on track fleece, a wool cooler and a "horse comforter" which is a liner to be put under another blanket or sheet for more warmth, none of whom are waterproof or to be used in turnout.

I rarely use the heavy weight blanket but I do use it. The medium is the most in use, and I regularly rotate them to make sure he always has one clean one in case of emergency like deciding to roll in a barely frosted over mud trench. The only reason I have two waterproof sheets is because one is a Hug that I bought because trainer recommended it as be all end all. I quickly found I hate it so ended up buying a Rambo that I like. Despite my genera reluctance to have more blankets than necessary I do find that I use the second sheet a fair bit after all. I still hate it though .... hmmm, maybe I need another Rambo

[Chisamba]

I recommend a back up. Once you blanket, or clip and have inhibited heavy coat, its problematic if your blanket tears, or becomes soaked on a cold day, so abwarm dry backup is useful.

I have turnout sheets and liners, which are most versatile, and a midweight and a heavy. However, mosltly 300 fill, i dont think I have a 500 fill.

[redsoxluvr]

It does get cold here, down into the 20's but it rarely stays that cold for more than a couple of hours.
My horses live in mare motels, so basically an open air barn. Neither one of them grow much hair.
If I body clipped, I would blanket lightly. Otherwise, they get to go nekkid. It doesn't snow here, and it rarely rains.

One of my horses is the world's most destructive tosser on four legs. He destroyed a brand new blanket in a matter of hours the one time I tried to blanket him.

Needless to say, no blankets for us.

[khall]

I have a blanket issue! All of my horses (now just 4, lost my mare Anna end of Oct) have multiple blankets. The ones I most use are the rain sheets and light weight 80 g techno fleece ones. It just does not get that cold here and I have big muscled up horses that don't get cold. Anna was the only horse I owned that I have seen get cold here when not wet. They all will shiver if it is raining and cold, that is why I use the rain sheets.

I also own several wicking coolers of various designs and a couple of neck covers that are rarely used.

[Hayburner]

While my horses are rarely out in the weather - they still have more blankets that I care to count, like Khall, I have a "blanket issue". Last year I even bought two thin stable sheets from Schneiders -WHY? Because they were on sale! LOL....This year, I bought I nice cooler by Centaur it's the turbo-dry and even though my horse isn't wet - I like to put it on her after our ride to keep her warm until I put her regular turnout blanket on. I got it at netequestrian for $25.00 rather than the suggested price of $50.00..LOVE SALES !!

I'm lucky, both my horses were the same size blankets. My old guy who I've owned for almost 17 years still has the same Millers Everest blanket I bought a good 10 years old. While he's a big time roller - he doesn't trash his blankets....I've since switched over to Rambo's, but now and then he still gets the Millers put on. It is still waterproof and breathable....and it still looks new! LOL. They don't get washed often, if they are muddy I wait till it's dry and take the broom over them.

They both have turnouts in no fill, 100, 200 and 400 grams and now a stable sheet. I think I use the no fill and the 100 grams the most. Love my 100 gram Rambo's....

[PaulaO]

My SmartPak medium blanket is on its way. It will be here before next week, when I see a HIGH of 8 is predicted. I sincerely doubt the horses will go out if it's 8, although Miss A. does not allow her stall to be cleaned if she is in it, so she gets chucked out for a bit. If need be, I can layer her sheet on top of the bankie.

I foresee a blanket collection in my garage....

[Quelah]

They need one of everything and a duplicate of each in case a garment is needed but being washed, a of you tell my husband that's not true I'll stab you with a spoon.

[exploding pony]

Some things in life should not be counted .... cotton sheet, rain sheet, light weight blanket, heavy weight blanket, stable blanket, turnout, cooler, back on track, fly sheet, UV sheet ... spares of most of the above for when they are in the wash, out for repair, nicer versions for shows and clinics...

So I would say like ... maybe twenty?

[Josette]

Some things in life should not be counted ....
So I would say like ... maybe twenty?

Thank you! Now I don't feel so guilty with my collection.

[Sunshine2Me]

They need one of everything and a duplicate of each in case a garment is needed but being washed, a of you tell my husband that's not true I'll stab you with a spoon.

At one point my DDs and I had all chestnut horses. My DH is not a horse person, so he wasn't really sure how many horses we had! Chestnuts by design!

[PaulaO]

Just got a text that the Schneider's blanket has shipped. Soon Miss A. will have a blanket wardrobe!

[Sunshine2Me]

Just got a text that the Schneider's blanket has shipped. Soon Miss A. will have a blanket wardrobe!

Just FYI, I ordered from Schneider's earlier this month, and the blanket arrived 2 days BEFORE scheduled!!

[PaulaO]

Unfortunately the color I wanted was back ordered. The only in stocks colors were hot pink and hot orange. Not on my chestnut! LOL Her Schneider's is hunter green and the SmartPak is blue with silver piping.

[exploding pony]

I was thinking of this thread yesterday morning. The wonderpony has a stall paddock and the workers generally close him in the stall portion when it is raining.

They forgot the other night and wonderpony demonstrated his preference to stand outside in the pouring rain.

His blanket was dry inside but wet outside.

I hung it up to dry, grabbed his back-up and said to myself "see, I really need all those blankets"

[fergusnc]

Or, one might have three turnouts of varying weights plus one stable blanket plus one extra medium weight for Horse #1 and may be unable to bring oneself to use any of them after 17 years of incident-free blanketing and 1 recent almost-disaster upon finding said horse buckled to the "horse safe" fencing. Add this to three turnouts of varying weights for Pony, none of which have ever been worn longer than for fitting due to same phobia after incident with Horse #1. Sigh.

And it was 20 degrees when I fed this morning. While feeling like a horrible mother, I have been glad to see the fur get thicker and fluffier, and neither horse behaving differently on these unseasonably cold mornings. I have been locking them up in stalls if there is any chance of cold rain...my compromise as I go against my habits of the last 17 years (with the accompanying stress and doubt).

[Backyarder3]

I think at least two turnouts of what ever weights you use would be handy....I always find my mare's shoulders are wet inside the turnout...neck and mane get wet and it runs under the blanket...so when it is wet everyday or cold..it would be nice to have a dry one for the next turnout...it's hard to dry them in an unheated barn. I also used a thin stable blanket under a rainsheet for milder cold days, and a medium weigh stable sheet for inside at night when its really cold.

[goneriding]

7

2 turnout sheets
2 midweight turnouts
1 heavyweight turnout
1 fleece cooler
1 stable sheet

In rainy PNW

[PaulaO]

My Schneider's blanket turned up this morning, so now Miss A. has 2 midweights and one sheet. She is now sporting her Smartpak Ultimate in blue with royal blue and silver piping. Very stylish.

[Kyra's Mom]

Never too many?

I did not like the way Ms. Kyra's medium wt blanket fit. It put a lot of pressure on her withers so I found Net Equestrian and got a screaming deal on a discontinued color Shire's blanket. She looks like a jewel--it is ruby red. She is white so she looks so good.
Of course that was new out of the package. The first time she rolls in the mud in her pen the jewel will fade but it fits her better. It is supposed to be in the single digits by the weekend so I suppose I will pull out her heavy weight. All for a year when I wasn't going to bother with blankets. Haha. Straightforward is riding her some besides my occassional rides and it just takes too long to cool her out without a clip and then the mud. So blankets it is.

Let's see...my tally
3 fly sheets
1 rain sheet
1 light weight (100gm fill)
2 medium wt (200-220gm fill)
1 heavy weight. I am not sure what weight it is but yeah...heavy.
I think I have one more medium weight but I need to sell it as it runs small and doesn't cover up her butt. She has spread a bit with age. It used to fit. She really popped withers at about 8 y.o.

Susan

[heddylamar]

For one horse, nearly always a MD resident, I have:
1 cooler (with belly band and tail strap)
1 rain sheet
1 heavy/mid weight turnout
1 super heavy turnout

If both of the heavy are wet (never in past 6 yrs), she can wear the sheet and cooler, or just the cooler if she's inside.

The recently departed oldster, from her time in NH, VA, MD, and NC, had:
1 lightweight turnout (much heavier than a sheet)
1 fleece liner (has a belly band and can attach leg straps)
1 heavy quilted liner
1 super heavy turnout
1 barn sheet (NC/VA)
1 barn quilted blanket (NC/VA)
1 cooler (VA; old fashioned wool kind with ties; i.e. not a blanket sub)

The baby (haha, she's a beast of a 3yo) only has a rain sheet, and that's due to the kindness of my mother (her present keeper). BUT she's still living in western TN (temperate climate), has more than sufficient run-ins (4 that are double stall width + 14'+ depth in 1 pasture), and is only beginning to be under saddle, so no fuzz problems.

[Hayburner]

All this talk about blankets and hearing our temps are going to drop to single digits, I ordered another heavy weight from net equestrian.
They didn't have any Rambo's left in the size I needed, but I found a nice Amigo that will fit either of my horses.

I'm turning into a blanket wh$$re

A friend just asked me yesterday, how do I keep track of all of them

[LindaJ]

I have 4 main blankets: 1 fleece, 1 turnout sheet, 1 med, and 1 heavy.
2 old back ups : a turnout sheet that has a broken plastic snap that I use as a temp if the main one needs washed and 1 old heavy weight that has shrunk slightly (used as the same as the old turnout)

[Minz]

I am a blanket fiend, especially with all of the fun colours and patterns available now. However, this year I am trying to cut back. I sold most of my older blankets that are boring colours at the local tack swap. My mare takes care of her clothes, so usually I get bored with the colour/style long before she wears anything out.
Winter Wardrobe
3 rain sheets, light, medium and heavy. This also allows for cleaning during muddy season
2 midweight liners so that when one needs cleaning there is a back up. These are layered with the rain sheets depending on the temperature.
1 heavy winter turnout, roomy enough to fit a liner during the polar vortex. Lol.
I like layering because I can adjust for the weather. Also, I noticed that the more I change around her base layer, the blankets don't rub the hair off her shoulders. Bonus!!
I am still working on downsizing her summer wardrobe, but the main blanket she wears then is a fly sheet. She has fly allergies, so the fly sheet helps to prevent the hives.

[Imperini]

Having spent the better part of Tuesday night attempting to sew a medium weight blanket back together for the cold this next couple of days I think I may consider having a spare

I'd like light, medium, and heavy blankets with a spare medium weight. Right now I have a light and medium, as well as one fleece.