Horse Blanket Bingo: 10 Readers’ Recommendations

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:20:00 +0000

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By Chelsea E. Toy

If you live in a climate or have a horse pursuit (showing, for example) that calls for blanketing, you've probably learned that finding the ideal blanket for your unique circumstances can be an unending challenge. Despite your best efforts, your horses might keep coming up with new and inventive ways to rip, shred or soak those expensive items of clothing.

That's why, when you do finally find a blanket you love, bingo! You want to tell the world about it.

Here, we share the great finds of 10 satisfied blanket owners. These stable and turnout blankets have held up to real-world use, and our Horse & Rider readers will detail for you the features they love most.

Best of all, we'll tell you where you can get your hands on these blankets. Whether you need something to keep your stalled horses cozy throughout the winter, or a rough-and-tough waterproof turnout for outdoor use (or something in between), these recommendations will get you pointed in the right direction.

(And for help with blanket lingo like denier, gussets, ripstop and the like, see "Horse Blanket Know-How.")

ABOVE:
1. Blanket: Medium-Weight Waterproof Turnout Blanket by Tough-1
Why this reader loves it: "Weather can be up and down where we live in Colorado. This blanket isn't so heavy that it sweats my mare to death when the temperature spikes up in the middle of the day, yet it's heavy enough to keep her warm at night and dry in the rain or snow. It doesn't rub, and it gives her enough room through the shoulders and hips to play around outside, too. To be honest, though, my favorite feature is the awesome pattern it comes in--I love zebra print! It's really in right now, so my mare is stylish and warm." --Koree Walker, Colorado
Specifics: 600-denier lining with 300-gram polyester fill and coat-polishing liner. Stainless-steel snaps, plus shoulder gussets for freedom of movement. Tail cover discourages rubbing.
Cost: $99
Where to get it: jtidist.com
Photo by Jennifer Paulson

Horse Blanket Hood-Fitting Do’s and Don’ts

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:37:00 +0000

A poorly fitting hood can mean rubs, sores, or worse for your horse, despite your good intentions. Luckily, hood expert Glenn Drake, president of Big D® Blankets, and sleazy expert Valerie Couch, designer for Sleazy Sleepwear ®, have some tips about which horses need hoods, how to pick one out and how to fit it on your horse.

Hoods
Why a hood? Show horses can begin wearing hoods when night temperatures begin to drop in late-August or early-September, but the average companion horse does not need to wear a hood, unless living outside in a very cold climate. Horses that are used for working and showing throughout the winter can benefit from a hood that keeps their hair short, which will cut down on a horse's drying time after a workout.

How should it fit? Many hoods are sized by a corresponding blanket size. Over 90 percent of the time, the size of a horse's blanket will match up with the needed hood size. A hood should extend 5 or 6 inches over a horse's blanket, so that when a horse drops his neck to eat, there will still be overlap. The throatlatch of the hood should fit snuggly to prevent the hood from pushing forward over the horse's ears.

Sleazies
Why a sleazy? Stretch fabric hoods, often referred to as sleazies, are mainly used for show horses. They save time and money, keeping a horse's mane in place and his hair coat tight and clean. Sleazies can also prevent blanket rubs. Sleazies can be used year-round. Their material is made from the same material as swimwear, so it lets heat escape.

How should it fit? A sleazy should fit snugly, like swimwear over a horse's head and neck, but not too tight to create a rub. Many sleazies are sized based on your horse's weight, so use a weight tape to determine your horse's weight, then match up his weight with the corresponding size. When trying the sleazy on, first make sure your horse's eyes are in the middle of the eye holes. If the eyes are too far to one direction, the sleazy could rub your horse's eye when he moves or stretches. Then, make sure his ears are also in the middle of the ear holes. If they aren't, the sleazy could rub his ears and cause a lot of discomfort. After all four holes are in place, adjust the noseband to keep the sleazy situated.

See the September 2010 issue of Horse & Rider to learn about readers' favorite blankets in "Blanket Bingo."

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Horse Blanket Bingo: 10 Readers’ Recommendations

Horse Blanket Hood-Fitting Do’s and Don’ts