This guide will help you decide if your horse needs a blanket and defines common terms associated with horse blankets so you can figure out what kind of blanket your horse needs. From blanket size to fill weight to denier, turnout sheet to stable blanket, we help untangle the terminology you need to understand to buy the best blanket for your horse.
Does my horse need a blanket?
Not every horse needs a blanket. Some are just fine with the blanket their mama gave them. Horses do need blankets, though, when the temperature drops and they don't have access to shelter, when their body condition doesn't keep up with their calorie intake or when they've been clipped for performance.
Here's what Kentucky Equine Research Staff at Equinews had to share, and what Nettie R. Liburt, MS, Animal Science Doctoral Student and Carey Williams, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Equine Management at Rutgers learned in a study about horse blanketing:
- Blanketing decisions should be based on the individual horse, including age, coat length, body condition, shelter access and tolerance to cold.
- Clipped horses generally require blanketing as temperatures drop, since their natural insulation has been reduced.
- Horses traveling from warmer areas to colder areas, whether for performance, recreation or sale, benefit from a blanket if they haven't had a reason to grow their own.
- Senior horses, thin-skinned horses, and those that struggle to maintain weight are more apt to need blankets than healthy adult horses.
- Horses without access to shelter may benefit from blanketing, as staying dry improves their ability to withstand cold, rain, sleet and wet snow.
- Cold weather increases calorie needs; blanketed horses have slightly lower calorie requirements, which can help horses with high metabolism or senior horses maintain body condition in cold weather.
- A dry coat with snow resting on top usually indicates adequate insulation, while shivering, wet coats, or melting snow signal heat loss.
- Horses prone to moisture-related skin conditions, such as rain rot, may benefit from blanketing to limit prolonged wet exposure.
- Proper blanket fit and appropriate weight are essential to prevent rubbing on withers, shoulders, and hips, especially on thinner horses.
- Blankets should be checked and adjusted regularly as weather changes to avoid overheating or sweating.
- Blanketing requires consistent management, including routine removal to monitor body condition, skin health, and overall comfort.
What are the different types of horse blankets?
First, let's not confuse horse blankets and saddle blankets. If you're looking for saddle blankets, we can help you out, here.
Horse blankets typically fall into five categories, with neck covers and hoods available for additional coverage:
Sheets
Sheets are lightweight coverings with little or no insulation (fill) that offer minimal warmth but help protect a horse’s coat from dirt, dust and sun fading. They’re breathable and can be used alone in mild conditions or layered under heavier blankets.
Stable sheets provide light warmth while helping keep your horse’s coat clean, dust-free and shiny. Because they aren’t waterproof, they’re best suited for use in the barn or other protected areas.
Turnout sheets are waterproof, adding protection from rain and wind without the extra insulation of a heavier blanket. They’re a good choice when your horse needs weather protection without added warmth.
Fly sheets are designed to be lightweight and to provide protection from flies and sometimes UV light, without chemicals. Most are for indoor or outdoor use.
Stable blankets
Stable blankets are warm, insulated blankets intended for horses inside a stall, barn, or trailer. They provide added warmth (with fill) but are generally not waterproof, so they’re not meant for turnout. They help keep horses comfortable in cold, sheltered conditions or during transport.
Turnout blankets
Turnout blankets combine insulation with waterproof and windproof outer fabrics so horses can stay warm and dry outdoors. They’re designed for pasture or paddock use in cold, wet, or windy weather and come in various weights for different climates.
Coolers or cooling blankets
Coolers are specialized blankets or sheets made from wicking fabrics (like fleece or wool) that draw moisture away from the horse’s coat, helping them dry slowly and preventing chills after exercise, bathing or transport. They keep the horse warm and dry during the cool-down process.
Stretchy/fitted/Lycra® sheets
These are close-fitting sheets made from stretch fabrics such as Lycra or spandex. They conform to the horse’s body for a snug fit, helping protect the coat, reduce rubbing, and support grooming or show prep. Lycra/stretch sheets can also serve as moisture-wicking liners or lightweight coverage under blankets.
Neck covers and hoods
These are sometimes used interchangeably, but for our purposes a hood covers part of the head and a neck cover covers just...well, the neck. Neck covers can extend cold weather coverage and help keep the horse's neck clean and dry.
What weight of blanket does my horse need?
Horse blanket weight is measured in grams of polyester fill. Unlined blankets don't have any fill, so they're usually considered sheets, used primarily to (try to) keep horses clean and/or dry.
At Weaver Equine this is how we categorize blanket fill weights:
- Sheet or Lightweight Horse Blanket: 0-100 grams of fill
- Medium Weight Horse Blanket: 150-250 grams of fill
- Heavy Weight or Winter Horse Blanket: 250+ grams of fill
- Extra Heavy Weight Winter Horse Blanket: 400+ grams of fill
This horse blanket weight and temperature chart gives some rough guidance for choosing what weight of blanket your horse may need, based on weather conditions and coat. Please keep in mind that all horses are different and may have different requirements. This isn't a rule, more a guideline.
What does denier mean?
From Wikipedia, "Denier, a unit of measure for the linear mass density of fibers, is the mass in grams per 9,000 metres of the fiber. The denier is based on a natural reference: a single strand of silk is approximately one denier; a 9,000-metre strand of silk weighs about one gram." Denier is the weight, in grams, of 9,000 meters of fiber.
Simple, right?
According to Canvas Etc, "Denier is a measure of the thickness of a fiber in fabric. High denier fabrics are used for heavy duty applications, such as outdoor gear or industrial workwear. Weight numbers can vary anywhere from 3 to 1000+." When comparing similar materials and construction, a higher denier generally indicates a tougher fabric.
So, in general, the higher the denier, the tougher the blanket.
What size blanket does my horse need?
Horse blankets are measured in inches, usually sized in 3-inch increments. The measurement is taken from the center of the chest to the middle of the tail. This blog gives details about how to measure a horse for a blanket, or this graphic sums it up.
If your horse is between measurements (70 inches, for example) we recommend sizing up (to 72 in that case).
Originally published Nov. 18, 2021