How to Care for and Clean your Horse's Turnout Blanket

As horse owners, we understand how important it is to make sur eyour horse's blanket is clean and maintained to uphold its integrity and to keep your horse protected. 

At WeatherBeeta, we are so proud of the quality of our turnout blankets that each one comes with its own 3-year warranty as standard - but there is still essential maintenance that horse owners can carry out to make sure that your horse blankets are long-term investment pieces that shield  our horses against the elements over the colder months of the year. 

Discover our top tips on how to care for and clean your horses turnout blankets below: 

Firstly, and probably the most importantly, it’s essential to look out regularly for any holes or pulls in the outer material of your horse's turnout blanket. If you have a blanket-friendly horse, then this is of course less likely to happen – but for those of you with blanket-wreckers, its probably wise to choose a blanket with a tough exterior which will stand the test of time. The WeatherBeeta Ultra Tough features the ultimate strength 1680 denier ballistic nylon outer shell with Teflon coating that is both waterproof & breathable for the blanket-destroyers out there!

Be sure to regularly check the blanket straps, fixtures and susgingles too - it is vital that these are intact to keep your horses legs safe and tangle free. 

In this instance, less is more. Yes, it is lovely to have a blanket that looks pristine and mud free, but equestrians know that the shiny new appearance of a turnout blanket will more than likely last five minutes. To remove excess dirt from the blanket, allow it to dry and brush down with a bristle brush, this way the waterproof outer of your blanket will remain intact and more importantly keep your horse dry during the rainy weather. Should you want to wash your blanket, always ensure that your are using a proper horse blanket wash or seek the help of a professional to do the dirty work for you!

When it comes to blanket maintenance, it is not all just about the exterior. Your horses coat will mean that over time there is a natural build up of grease and dirt on the inner material. Be sure to give this a whip with a damp cloth as this can cause irritation to your horse over time and can increase the chance of your horse rubbing its mane and/or tail. 

WeatherBeeta turnout blankets are guaranteed for three years when it comes to hardware, waterproofness, and breathability as standard. Of course, all blankets will eventually require a reproof to ensure that your horse is kept warm and dry. We would always recommend that you seek the assistance of a professional who can clean and reproof your blanket properly and correctl for you. 

First, make sure your horse's blanket is dry before folding and storing, this way you won't come back to a moldy blanket for the next season. Every WeatherBeeta turnout blanket is provided with its own zip storage bag which ensures a tidy and neat space for your blanket to be kept. What's more, if you need another, WeatherBeeta blanket bags are also available to purchase online. 

Following the above steps can help to ensure that your horse's blanket is fit for long-term use and ultimately protecting your horse's health. The WeatherBeeta Turnout Blanket Range offers a variety of styles, outer fabric and weights to suit every horse's needs.