Any reccomendations? -blanketing

[sugarsgirl]

I have to buy a winter blanket for Chrissy this year. She has a horibble winter coat, and I'm going to be showing a lot next year, starting earlier in the year, so to keep her coat nice, I'm going to blanket her this winter. Does anyone have any brands that they reccomend or any to stay away from?

[JackieB]

Weatherbeeta makes outstanding blankets. I think the one I have is called the Taka. They aren't too terribly expensive and the quality is excellent. You should only need medium weight. The weather where you live is almost exactly like where I live. A horse generates a lot of heat under a blanket and I can't imagine Buster ever needing more than a medium weight and he's outside 100% of the time.

[MileHighOlli]

I heart WeatherBeeta! They come in a variety of weights and styles and last forever. Plus they are easy to get parts for, like extra buckles and leg straps.

[cloedoll]

Ditto to JackieB and MileHighOlli - Weatherbeeta is pretty kick butt.

[Dakota Sunrise]

I love Saxon blankets. They aren't *too* expensive (I got mine for like $65 on sale), hold up really well, and really are waterproof. Beauty and Dakota each have one. Their's are 1200 denier, mid weight turnout blankets.:) They have matching ones, lol.:p (I didn't do that on purpose though, lol.:o)

[fire1]

I just bought a really nice weatherbeeta, orion, with a detatchable hood on horse.com for an unheard of price. 116. That is really cheep, fire just got it today adn he is tylin in his new clothes! Fits really good, nicly made and he is turned out all winter and is partially body clipped. Reason for hood.

[WashingtonBay]

I have always been happy with Weatherbeetas. They hold up well and are completely waterproof. A few of mine are going on 5 years old now and my horses wear them pretty much 24/7 from November-March. They get used hard.

[Equine_Woman]

Yep!! I own two Weatherbettas and one Saxon. The weatherbeetas beat the Saxon hands down. .but that could be because the Saxon is on the youngster of the bunch!! She might be harder on it!

[Blue]

Remember, blankets don't keep their coats short! You can only do that by altering light!!!

I use Weatherbeeta's...of course I can't compare them to anything because I've had my only Weatherbeeta for over 4 years! So it's def held up! lol.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Yep!! I own two Weatherbettas and one Saxon. The weatherbeetas beat the Saxon hands down


Hehe, where is Vicklynn? I swear I'm not the only one here who loves Saxon blankets!:D

[sugarsgirl]

Remember, blankets don't keep their coats short! You can only do that by altering light!!!



Altering light? whats that?
I don't expect the blanket to keep her coat short, all I want it to do is prevent her from getting a really thick coat.

[grandmadeb]

We have a mid weight Weatherbetta, a heavyweight Everest and a super heavyweight no name. He wears them all at one time or another during the winter, depending on the temperature. We also keep the winter blanket covered with a lightweight sheet. It protects from damage and MUD and is a lot easier to wash.

[WashingtonBay]

Altering light? whats that?
I don't expect the blanket to keep her coat short, all I want it to do is prevent her from getting a really thick coat.

What she means is, horses are triggered to grow winter coats based on shorter days in the fall and winter, not because they feel cold. So blanketing doesn't help prevent a winter coat, keeping them under lights in the evening does. At show barns they'll bring the horses in and leave the bright lights on till 10 pm or so to 'trick' the horses' bodies into thinking the days are still long.

I think they do seem like they get less coat under the blanket, but it's really just that it's laying flatter and smoother and they stay cleaner. A few hours out without the blanket on a brisk day and they puff up just like everyone else.

[lisakaye]

I am starting to blanket both horses. Easter all the time with a light one and Brutus only at night or on cold days. I prefer Weaterbeeta or Saxon. They hold up better

[sugarsgirl]

Thanks for the recomendations everyone. I'm going to look into weatherbeta since thats the brand that everone's seeming to like the best.

WB- Thanks for the explanation. I acutaly had no idea that that was the way that it works. Thanks!

[Blue]

Yup, sorry I didn't explain it! Thanks WB! Alot of people think they should blanket their horses all the time and their coats won't grow, but that's NOT true! Like WB said their coats just flatten down and LOOK like they're shorter, but in reality they aren't. There's one girl at my barn who keeps her horse in and blankets her. They're ALREADY putting sheets on the poor horse! OMG. I wanted to go in there and rip it off. :whack:

[lisakaye]

I only blanket Brutus cause he had been body clipped by the NYPD and as such his hair is now starting to grow in. He shivers when it gets below 40. He is a little thin so I rather be safe than sorry. Easter is outdoor board so we blanket at night and take it off when the day is over 50 degrees. I prefer her to stay clean so I can ride all year long. SHe loved the mudd.....and it is a very light sheet. almost like a rain sheet I suppose so it really should only be keeping her clean for me.

[vicklynn]

Hehe, where is Vicklynn? I swear I'm not the only one here who loves Saxon blankets!:D

LOL.. Im here.
I have a Saxon blanket. It is a med weight 1200 denier blanket. If I ever have to buy again, the Saxon would be my choice. For me, I would not pay more for a blanket that is as good as the other. I only buy the 1200 as my boy is young and loves to lay and roll and tear things up.

[jerseypacer]

I have a couple Rambo blankets that are pretty nice. And my tack store has a really inexpensive brand called Warlock that has held up pretty well for me and comes in different weights. Schneiders makes some really nice blankets as well.