It’s that time of year again! Summer coats are being blown, fall fuzzies are among us, and in some parts of the country, the weather’s getting gloomier, cooler, and wetter.

Some of us might have growing or aging horses that need a new blanket or are looking for a cute new print (guilty) without breaking the bank. Here in the Southeast, I need sheets and blankets that are waterproof and last more than a season before failing.

While my horses don’t tend to tear up blankets like some other horses (some days I feel like this is part of the gelding games), durability and quality is one of my top priorities when purchasing a blanket or sheet. I need the hardware to last and be easy to use, and I need it to keep the horses dry.

Do I Have to Blanket?

Blanketing styles and routines vary widely across the U.S., even regionally. I live in the coastal Southeast, and that means we might not get a lot of snow, but we do get rain with temperature drops at night, which can make for a very cold horse very quickly.

Many of us in the Southeast don’t have barns in places we board, so turnout can vary, too in inclement weather compared to other parts of the country. I pasture board year round with access to run-in shelters, so most of the blankets discussed will have the consideration of 24/7 pasture turnout in mind.

There are horses here that never wear a blanket, and some that have 5 different weights; that decision is really based on the comfort level of the horse and owner. If you’re wondering what goes into the decision of “to blanket or not to blanket” check out the post “Does my Horse Need a Blanket?“.

Blanket Basics

Some important things to remember when picking a blanket weight and style are:

• Does my horse lose weight easily in the fall or winter?
• Will I keep my horse clipped this fall or winter?
• Am I planning on showing my horse in the fall or winter months?
• Is my horse growing an adequate winter coat?
• Is my horse a naturally easy or hard keeper?
• Is my horse acclimated to my climate for the winter season?

If your horse has a less than ideal winter coat (or will stay clipped), has trouble keeping weight on year round (or is older), or tends to lose a lot of weight during the winter, heavier weight blankets may be the best to help keep weight on through the cold spells without worrying about overheating on the slightly warmer days.

If your horse is an easy keeper, is well acclimated to the typical winters in your climate and grows a great big fluffy winter coat, you may be able to get away with a no-fill sheet during the cold rainy days easily without worrying about dropping weight or significant shivering.

Contrary to both of these trains of thought, if you’re planning on keeping your horse on a show schedule, and it’s not the typical style to have your horse clipped for your events (usually Western discipline), you might have a completely different schedule to keep your horse’s coat as short, tidy, and fuzzy-less as possible.

Top Five

These top five blankets aren’t the only good options out there, but, they are what’s great on the market right now. I considered price, features, quality of material, and most importantly, fun factor.

Star Point Horsemanship

Start Point Horsemanship, part of Star Point Company, features no-fill, light weight (100g) and medium weight (200-220g) sheets and blankets. They have a range of mini and pony sizes, but also have horse sizes up to 82″.

Their price range is on the more reasonable side compared to most of the market, and includes quality hardware and material. But let me tell you about the prints. If you want something fun, this is where it’s at.

I received the cheetah print sheet as a gift for my mare to wear this year and it screams 90s Lisa Frank aesthetic, and it has my inner child screaming. Other prints include unicorns, daisies, dinosaurs, even one with heavy equipment like tractors.

Features

• 1200D waterproof material; there was a listing or two made of 600D
• Detachable neckpiece with overlapped top and velcro closure
• Front clasp closure with velcro reinforcement and buckle adjustment
• Low cross adjustable belly straps
• Shoulder gussets and tail flap
• Incredibly fun patterns and colors
• Fleece wither pad
• No-fill to medium (220g) fill.

Some limitations to this brand are that they max out at 82″, can run a little small, and don’t have more than a mid-weight fill. For someone like me that rides short stocky quarter horses and rarely sees sub-zero temperatures, it suits my needs here in the Southeast, but might not for others.

WeatherBeeta ComFiTech Essential

WeatherBeeta hasn’t done me wrong yet, and the company has done a great job coming out with cute prints the past year. Notably, I love their three-year warranty; I haven’t had to cash it in yet, but these blankets last around my 24/7 turnout boarding barn. I’m a super big fan of the sloth print that my friend has; it fits her mare’s personality to a “T”.

I have the ComFiTech Essential with a standard neck, but there are options for neck attachments as well. The only feature I wish was different is the buckle chest closure; I prefer a clasp closure for time efficiency sake. Other than that it’s held up well the past two years and is great at creating a good fit in the shoulders.

Features

• 1200D waterproof material with Guard Tec coating.
• Optional neck attachments
• Velcro and buckle chest closure
• Low cross adjustable belly straps
• Shoulder gussets and tail flap with twin leg straps
• Fleece wither pad
• No-fill to Heavy (360g) fill

I love the fact WeatherBeeta three-year warranty, and so far my personal WeatherBeeta Essential has held up without a doubt over the past two years. They’re in the lower-middle range of price points, but though different sites it’s usually easy to find some sort of discount.

Rambo® Duo Systems

Rambo® is a bit of a legendary brand in the equine world, both in durability and in the hefty price tag. I’ve heard claims these blankets can last upwards of ten years, which makes the price a little more digestible.

The Duo System is a versatile concept. It consists of an outer shell and inner lining and can vary in weight. The outer shell is generally light weight fill, about 50-100g or so, and the liners can be interchanged to make this blanket mid-weight or heavy, perfect for 24/7 turnout. Liners can vary from additional 100g, 200g, or 300g.

Features

• 1000D waterproof, ballistic nylon outer material
• Shine-enhancing, antistatic, and anti-bacterial inner lining
• Removable neck cover
• V front closure with shoulder arches
• Rambo® Safety Surcingle System
• PVC covered tail cord
• Hi-Vis reflective strips
• Light (100g) to Heavy (300g) weight interchangeability

I will say Rambo® is on the expensive end of the spectrum. Due Force blankets can easily run up to $500, and other Rambo® models can run even higher. However, the quality and durability is hard to beat, and you can find some years-long guarantees depending on who you buy from.

Shires Tempest Original

Tempest Original sheets and blankets are a UK based brand that I have personal experience with. They have bright, fun prints within a lower mid-range price point that doesn’t break the bank. My mare has had a no-fill sheet she’s worn, but halfway through her second year of wearing it I had the misfortune of discovering the waterproofing failed.

I’m willing to re-waterproof a sheet or two, so this part doesn’t really bother me. For what I paid for it I didn’t really expect it to outlast a Rambo® or anything of the sort. But, if you’re one that doesn’t want to deal with waterproofing each year, maybe look into another brand.

Features

• 600D ShireTex, ripstop, waterproof outer material
• Optional neck cover with some models
• Reinforced buckle front closure
• Adjustable twin belly straps
• no-fill to Heavy (300g) weight options

This is a fun, economical option for a basic waterproof sheet that might need a little maintenance. Shires Tempest has other more rugged options available as well, but I’ve found the most sales for the Original line. They even have mini and foal-sizes.

StormShield® Turnout Blankets

StormShield® is a blanket brand with an interesting style. Designed to be wind-proof and water-proof, it features basic colors, a snug fit-neck and a belly band system instead of the typical surcingle straps. There are high-neck and neck attachment options, or a standard neck fit.

StormShield® boasts their material is five times as waterproof as the competition, and the reviews support it. There’s also an option for a one, three, or five year warranty.

Features

• 1680D Water and wind-proof outer material that stays breathable
• Contoured neck with fleece wither pad
• Shoulder gussets
• Front clasp closure
• Belly band with adjustable straps
• Extra wide tail flap
• Twin leg straps

The contoured neck is one feature that catches my eye. I find in some horses that finding a good blanket fit through the shoulders can be tough. The contoured design definitely helps keep the blanket above the withers and keeps the shoulders protected from precipitation seeping in around the shoulders.

A Note on Blanket Styles and Weights

Blanket styles can vary, and conformation is some consideration as to what style you want. Some have buckles versus clasps in the front, others have high-necks, neck attachments, whole face coverings, or belly bands. Weights can vary from no-fill water proof sheets to super heavy duty 500g fill.

Right now, I’m not showing, so I typically have a waterproof no-fill sheet, and a 200-250g fill waterproof blanket for the winter season, and this has covered the temperature ranges we regularly see here in the South. If I was showing, I would have an additional heavy duty fill blanket, and start blanketing at a different temperature range altogether to keep the coat as short and “summery” as possible.

Happy Spooky Season!

Be on the lookout for some good blanket deals this month. End of summer blowouts might seem like they’ve passed, but there’s still plenty to dig up. As for me, I have some blanket washing I’m way behind on!