Winter Blanket Care: Keep Your Turnout Waterproof All Season

Turnouts take a beating. Rolling, fence posts, pasture buddies with opinions, and months of mud and wet. The good news is that most of what wears a blanket out is preventable, and none of it takes much time.

The weekly once-over

When you take a blanket off, give it a quick look before you hang it up:

• Straps and buckles. Leg straps, surcingles and front closures do the most work. Check for fraying, stretched elastic and clips that don't snap shut.
• Small tears. A little rip in the outer shell lets water in and grows fast. Patch it while it's small; a repair kit or a quick trip to a blanket repair service costs far less than a new turnout.
• Rubs. Check your horse's shoulders, withers and chest for rubbed hair. Rubs usually mean the fit is off or the blanket has shifted, so it's worth catching early.

Let it dry properly

A wet blanket hung in a heap stays damp, smells, and breaks down faster. Hang turnouts over a rack or a stall door with the lining facing out so air can move through the fill. If you can, keep a backup so one blanket can dry while the other is on the horse.

Washing without wrecking the waterproofing

• Brush first. Let mud dry, then brush it off. A lot of the dirt comes off before any water is involved.
• Use a blanket wash or a mild, non-detergent soap. Regular laundry detergent and fabric softener can strip the waterproof coating.
• Cold or lukewarm water, gentle cycle, or a hose and soft brush outside. Hot water and the dryer are hard on the waterproof membrane, so always air dry.
• Follow the label. Every brand's care instructions are a little different, and they're the best guide for your specific blanket.

Wash only when you need to. If you use a liner, it catches most of the sweat and hair, so you can wash the liner more often and the turnout less.

Re-proof when water stops beading

When water soaks into the outer shell instead of beading off, it's time to re-proof. A spray-on or wash-in waterproofer made for horse blankets restores the coating. Apply it to a clean, dry blanket and let it cure before it goes back on the horse.

End-of-season storage

When spring comes, wash and fully dry each blanket, make any repairs, and store it in a breathable bag or a sealed bin away from mice. Label it with the weight and size, and next fall's version of you will be very grateful.

When it's time to replace

If the lining has torn through, the fill has flattened, or it leaks even after re-proofing, it's done its job. Our turnout collection and guide What Weight Turnout Does My Horse Need? will help you pick the replacement, and our team is always happy to help with sizing. Just get in touch.

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