Winter Horse Blankets

Winter Horse Blankets

Nowadays horses are highly domesticated; they have adapted themselves to live in an environment surrounded by humans. The owners provide them with extra care and protection from danger, hunger and weather. So whenever winter season arrives, equine owners pull out their winter horse blankets to protect their horses from cold and give them warmer environment. This website deals with important facts about winter horse blanket, its’ features and price and where you can buy it.

Winter horse blankets are very useful to equine owners, although not all horses need this kind of protection. By nature the horses are adapted to survive different weather conditions. That is why there are rare cases wherein some horses might actually feel colder when blanketed. Especially, if the material used in making blankets are not that good. That is very important when choosing winter horse blankets: When obtaining a winter horse blanket one must consider different factors like material, style and fit of the blanket, condition of the horse, cage and weather

What You Need to Know About Winter Horse Blankets

There are two major types of winter horse blankets: the stable blanket and turnout rugs. Stable blankets are designed to give maximum warmth and comfort. These are pretty thick and are used mostly when the horse is stable inside or outside, thus the name. On the other hand, turnout rugs are more durable and are designed for maneuverability. These are best for horses that are active and more athletic. Horse blankets can be made from different materials.

Unlike older versions, modern horse blankets can be made from synthetic materials like nylon or natural fibers like wool or combination of both. Most blankets have different layers: outer shells, inner shells and the insulation in between. The inner layer is smooth and soft against horse’s skin and hair. This layer gives extra warmth and at the same time can keep the horse’s hair clean, soft and beautiful. The insulating part, on the other hand keeps the warmth in while keeping cold temperature outside; this part must be light enough to prevent the horses’ coat from being flattened. The outer shell provides resistant and additional insulation, usually made of nylon fiber, making the blanket waterproof or water resistant.

There are three types of horse blanket; waterproof, water resistant and breathable. Waterproof and water resistant are two totally different words when it comes to horse blankets, although it may sound as if that means the same thing. Water resistant horse blankets can resist water and prevent it from entering the blanket but the inner part can absorb moisture and sweat. On the other hand waterproof horse blankets can prevent outside water from coming in and at the same time the inside part is made not to absorb or hold moisture and sweat. Breathable blankets on the other hand, let the air circulate to avoid moisture build up between the horse skin and the blanket while keeping the cold out and the warmth in.

Choosing the Proper Winter Horse Blankets

Although the fiber and the type of the winter horse blanket are both very important, they could be quite worthless if the size of the blanket will not fit your horse properly. Tight fitting blankets can cause irritation and abrasion while loose fitting blankets can cause leg tangling and accidents and additionally it can’t serve its purpose of keeping your horse warm. So before buying winter horse blankets cautiously get your horse’s measurements. With your measuring tape and a friend, measure your horse’s chest, hips, flank, shoulder and barrel. You may get odd measurements but the best solution is to get the next even size. The next thing to do is to look for the nearest store where you can find the perfect winter horse blanket for your equine. You can find it in different niche stores online or within your community; other leading retailers also carries these products. Prices can go as low as $30 to as high as $250, depending on the manufacturer and materials.

But owner’s responsibilities don’t stop in buying the perfect blanket. Make sure that you monitor your horses when you put on their blankets. Since temperature might change once in a while so as your horses body temperature; so watch out for sweats and irritation for it may lead to bigger problems. Also, if you have multiple horses, remember not to let them share blankets. And lastly, make it a habit to wash and clean those blankets, to protect your horses not just from cold but from other hazards.

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