Blanketing 101: It’s time to think about keeping your horse comfortable and protected as the autumn days start to cool. Choosing the right turnout blanket can make all the difference in maintaining your horse's well-being as the seasons change. But with so many options available, how do you select the right one? We break down the essentials for choosing the perfect turnout blanket this autumn.
- Whatever the Weather
Autumn weather is unpredictable, ranging from mild days to chilly, wet nights. A waterproof, breathable turnout blanket is essential to keep your horse dry without overheating. Look for blankets made from durable, waterproof materials like a ripstop polyester or nylon that offers strength in how it is constructed. Ripstop is designed to slow down any small nicks from growing, prevent them from becoming big tears. The Aloga 0g Turnout is constructed of 600d Polyester ripstop offering lightweight breathable durability that protects your horse from rain while allowing moisture to escape.
- Consider Coat and Activity Level
Whether your horse grow a thick winter coat, or whether you plan to clip will impact choice of blanket. Horses with full winter coats may only need a lightweight blanket in the early autumn to protect them from rain showers. Clipped horses or those prone to the cold may require a heavier blanket sooner. Also, consider how active your horse is—if they move a lot, a lighter, more breathable option may be better to prevent they sweating up or overheating.
- The Right Weight
Turnout blankets come in different weights, typically categorized as lightweight, medium, and heavyweight. A lightweight blanket (up to 150g fill) is perfect for early autumn when the temperature starts to drop. For colder nights or more sensitive horses, a medium-weight blanket (150-250g) offers extra warmth without over-insulating. Heavyweights (300g or more) are ideal for colder winter temperatures or post-clipping, however horses that are older or struggle with condition might need them earlier in the season.
The Aloga Turnout is designed with liner loops making it a highly flexible blanket. As temperatures drop you can adapt the weight of your turnout by sampling adding it an Aloga Liner using the liner loop attachments.
Choosing the right turnout blanket for autumn is about balancing warmth, durability, and fit for your horse’s specific needs. We as horse owners need to contuinously monitor weather changes, our horse’s activity level, their coat and environment to be able to find a blanket that keeps them comfortable and happy as autumn settles. Investing in a flexible, buildable turnout blanket now will help you adapt the blanket whatever autumn brings.