There are many types of horse blankets available on the market, namely day sheets, fleece sheets, medium duvets, heavy duvets, coolers, sweat sheets, fly sheets, neck rugs, exercise sheets, rain sheets and turnout rugs. Horse blankets can also be used to keep a horse’s coat short. If horses are blanketed in early autumn before it gets too cold, they will not grow as thick of a winter coat as they would without the blanket.
When a horse has a full-body clip, as many competition and working horses have in winter, he needs a blanket kept on at all times if the weather is cold, as a fully clipped horse no longer has the natural insulation of an unclipped horse.
A horse can wear a day sheet or stable sheet when in the stable, paddock or when travelling in cooler weather. Day sheets are ideal as show rugs or to keep a well-groomed horse dust free. They offer little warmth, but they are suitable to take the nip off during cooler autumn evenings.
Fleece sheets are super dual-purpose rugs. They are ideal for when your horse needs a lightweight blanket in winter or as a show rug on cooler days. Fleece sheets can also be used as an extra layer underneath a medium or light duvet or turnout rug during winter.
Medium-fill duvets are useful in early winter for your horse to wear at night in the stable. Unclipped horses can also wear medium duvets throughout the winter, provided it does not get cold enough for them to need a heavy duvet.
Heavy-fill duvets are used as stable rugs in winter for your horse to wear at night. Usually they are thick enough to keep your horse warm and comfortable even in the coldest of winter nights. If your horse is clipped and needs extra protection, a fleece sheet or day sheet can be worn underneath.
Neck rugs offer additional warmth to your horse during the winter months. Most medium-fill and heavy-fill stable rugs come with clips attached on the inside of the shoulder and wither of the blanket, so that you can attach a neck rug onto it. If the neck rug cannot be fixed to the rug, make sure it’s not too big, as it could end up slipping down the horse’s neck overnight and he’ll look like he’s wearing a scarf in the morning.
The full article appears in the Winter Guide issue of HQ (Jun 123) > Shop now
What the FEI's 2027 rule means for riders From 1 January 2027, according to Horse…
The stretch circle comes to the Grand Prix: what the new FEI tests change From…
A legacy that reaches South Africa One of the most influential sporthorse sires of the…
Chilli Morning III, one of three clones of top eventer Chilli Morning, has won the…
What to expect from the Youth Olympic Showjumping When the Youth Olympic Games open in…
Sons of Callaho’s Lissabon won both the Derby and the year-long Ultimate 4x4 Series, and…