Blankets and Keeping Horses Warm in Winter

Many horses need no blanket at all, and some need several through the winter. This guide helps you decide, measure for the right size and weight, and check that the fit is safe.

Do you need a blanket?

A horse with a full winter coat, good body condition, shelter from wind and rain, and plenty of hay stays warm in most weather. Horses make heat as they digest fiber, and a fluffy coat traps warm air. Blankets that squash the coat reduce this insulation, so an unneeded blanket can do more harm than good. A horse is more likely to need a blanket if it is clipped, old or thin, a young animal, a poor-doer, not acclimatized to the cold, without shelter, or in wet and windy weather. The Blanket Finder asks about your horse and conditions and recommends no blanket, a sheet or a turnout of a suitable weight.

Blanket weights

Blanket warmth is described by the grams of fill, although brands differ.

Type	Typical fill	Typical use
Sheet	0 g	Wind and rain protection, or keeping dust off in cool weather
Lightweight	About 100 g	Mild cold, horses with some coat
Midweight	About 200 to 250 g	Cold weather, lightly clipped or older horses
Heavyweight	About 300 g and up	Very cold weather, fully clipped horses

Temperature guides are only approximate. Brands, humidity, wind, coat thickness and the individual horse make a difference. Check the horse's warmth by feeling behind the shoulder under the blanket: it should be warm and dry, not cold, clammy or sweaty.

Measuring for the right size

Blanket size is a single measurement in inches: start at the center of the chest, run the tape around the widest part of the shoulder and along the side of the body, and finish at the center of the tail. Have the horse stand square, and use a soft tape or a piece of string. Sizes usually run in two-inch steps, such as 72, 74 and 76. If you are between sizes, brand sizing charts help you choose. The Blanket Size Calculator converts your measurement into the nearest size. Use the Hands to Inches Converter if you only know the horse's height in hands.

Checking fit

The blanket should sit evenly, with the withers free and no pressure points at the shoulder.
You should be able to slide a hand flat under the front and along the back.
The shoulder gussets should give room for the horse to move and graze.
Leg straps should be crossed through each other and loose enough to move a hand's width, and the belly straps should be snug but not tight.
Look for rubbed hair at the shoulder, the withers and the hip, which show a poor fit.

Check the horse every day

Take the blanket off at least once a day to check for rubs, weight changes and sweating, and adjust to the weather. A horse can overheat in a warm winter afternoon under a heavy rug, and a wet blanket that stays on a horse is worse than none. Change the blanket as the temperature shifts, or keep a few weights in rotation.

Other ways to help a horse in winter

Provide extra hay: digestion generates heat, and more forage is the best fuel. See Feeding Horses.
Give a windbreak or three-sided shelter.
Keep water from freezing, since horses drink less cold water and are more prone to impaction colic.
Watch body condition by hand, since a thick coat hides weight loss. See Body Condition Scoring.

Clipping

Horses in regular hard work grow a long coat that sweats and takes hours to dry. Clipping helps them cool down and dry quickly, but a clipped horse then depends on blankets. Plan the blanket wardrobe before you clip.

Common mistakes

Blanketing a healthy, well-coated horse by default.
Using a blanket that is too small, which rubs at the shoulders.
Leaving a blanket on a horse in rising temperatures.
Skipping daily checks for rubs and wet spots.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure a horse for a blanket?

Measure from the center of the chest, around the widest part of the shoulder and along the side to the center of the tail. Use a soft tape or string, and round up to your brand's next size.

When does a horse need a blanket?

Clipped, old, thin or young horses, horses without shelter, and horses in cold, wet and windy conditions are the most likely to need one. A healthy horse with a full coat, shelter and plenty of hay often needs none.

What does blanket fill weight mean?

It is the grams of insulation. A sheet has none, lightweight blankets have around 100 grams, midweight around 200 to 250 and heavyweight about 300 or more, but the figures differ between brands.

Tools used in this guide

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Figures in this guide are general guidance for planning. Every horse is different, so work with your veterinarian, farrier or trainer on health, hoof and training decisions, and read our disclaimer.