Waterproof Turnout Blankets That Stay Dry

Every turnout blanket says waterproof on the label. Riders who have pulled a damp blanket off a horse after a wet night know they don't all mean it equally. Whether a turnout stays dry comes down to the outer fabric, the seams, the fit at the shoulders and how the blanket has been washed. This page groups turnouts that hold up, from a 0g sheet to a 400g heavyweight.

What Riders Are Actually Asking

What makes a turnout truly waterproof?

A breathable waterproof coating on a tough outer shell, taped or well sealed seams and a cut that sheds water away from the spine. The coating does most of the work, which is why washing matters as much as the brand.

What does denier mean?

Denier is the thickness of the yarn in the outer shell. 600D suits a quiet horse in a small paddock. 1200D, like the Shires Highlander Plus Lite and the Weaver Leather Premium 300g, stands up to fences, hedges and horses that play rough.

What weight of blanket at what temperature?

As a rough guide, a 0g to 50g sheet covers wet days above about 50°F, a 200g medium covers about 30°F to 50°F, and 300g to 400g covers colder nights. A clipped horse needs one step warmer, and a horse with a full winter coat may need less.

My turnout used to be waterproof. What happened?

Usually the coating wore down or was washed off. Wash turnouts with a blanket wash rather than household detergent, and reproof them with a blanket waterproofing spray once a season.

Is a neck cover worth it?

For horses turned out in driving rain or snow, yes. A neck cover keeps water from running down inside the front of the blanket. The Back On Track Obsidian comes with one.

How to Choose the Right Waterproof Turnout

• Pick the weight for your weather: 0g and 50g sheets for wet mild days, 200g medium for most of the winter, 300g to 400g for cold nights or clipped horses.
• Pick the denier for your horse: 1200D or higher for rough players and hedges, 600D for quiet horses.
• Check the fit at the shoulder: A blanket that slips back lets water in at the withers and rubs the shoulders.
• Plan on reproofing: Even the best coating needs refreshing after a season of washing.

What This Page Is Not For

This page is for outdoor turnouts. Stable blankets and stable sheets aren't waterproof and shouldn't go in the field, and coolers are for drying a horse after work.

Brands Riders Trust

Shires, Weaver Leather, Toklat (Bucas) and Back On Track cover every weight and denier here, with two of each so you can compare a budget turnout with a premium one rather than browse a single brand's range.

Family run since 1994, Hooves & Paws backs every turnout with a 365-day guarantee.

Further Reading

• The Essential Guide to a Winter Horse Blanket
• Horse Blankets and Sheets for Every Season