Tack of the Day
Shires Equestrian · For the Horse

Shires Horse Blankets

Shires horse blankets run from no-fill Lite turnouts to 300 g winter weights, sizes 33 to 87 inches. Shires Tempest Original is the 600-denier everyday turnout; Shires Highlander Plus is 1200 denier with deep shoulder gussets.

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Updated October 2026 · By the Tack of the Day Product Team

Bay horse cantering in a field in a navy Shires Highlander Plus Lite turnout blanket
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Buying tipShires blankets suit riders who want one brand for every layer, from a no-fill turnout to a 300 g winter blanket and the cooler after a ride. Pick the line by your horse's build first, then the weight by your weather.

Rider to rider

What riders say about Shires horse blankets

Riders tell us two things about Shires blankets: they last for winters, and they fit horses that are hard to fit at the shoulder and withers.

Shires Highlander turnouts

★★★★★

Absolutely fantastic rug as always. I have four Shires rugs, three have been through three winters, without being washed or reproofed. And still have held up to this crazy wet winter. I bought a new one as they were starting to smell 🤣 Will be buying more for spring and summer. Thank you.
Verified buyer

Shires Highlander Plus turnouts

★★★★★

The Highlander Plus range fits my narrow, high withered TB perfectly. They don't slip or move and he gets 0 rub marks. He's got one in every thickness and they're all brilliant.
Verified buyer

Shires turnout blankets

As the weather has gotten cold up north I've been grateful for a waterproof yet breathable blanket from Shires. The young horses have also been testing the durability, and so far this blanket has passed the test!
Rider review · 2025

Shires horse blankets

I really rate Shires rugs. None of mine to date have rubbed and I have two big cob girls.
Rider review · 2020

Rider reviews are quoted word for word from public rider discussions and checked against the original posts; verified-buyer quotes come from Shires product reviews collected through its review platform. Obvious misspellings are fixed.

By weight

Shires blankets by weight: Lite, medium and heavy

Shires grades its blankets by fill, from Lite (no fill) to 300 g, and describes each weight by conditions rather than an exact temperature. A clipped, older or thin-skinned horse usually needs the next weight up.

Lite and 50 g: rain sheets for mild, wet days

Shires Lite turnouts have no fill, just the waterproof outer and a lining, for mild, wet weather when it is not overly cold. The 50 g weight adds a thin layer that Shires says buffers condensation between the outer and the lining on damp spring and fall days.

100 g and 200 g: cool nights and colder seasons

100 g is the weight for cool nights and for hardy horses in colder weather; 200 g is Shires's medium winter weight. A Shires WarmaRug liner (100 g or 200 g) clips into any turnout carrying the WarmaRug logo, so one outer can cover more of the year.

300 g: the heaviest Shires turnouts for cold winters

300 g is the heaviest weight in the Shires Highlander Plus and Stormcheeta lines, for cold winter turnout and clipped horses. For colder days still, riders layer a WarmaRug liner under a 200 g turnout instead of buying a heavier blanket.

Turnouts

Shires turnout blankets: Tempest and Highlander lines

Shires Tempest Original and Shires Highlander Plus are the two Shires turnout lines riders compare most. Both use ShireTex, a waterproof, breathable outer with taped seams, and both come in Lite (no fill), 50 g, 100 g, 200 g and 300 g, so the choice between them is about the cut and the outer, not the warmth.

What mattersShires Tempest OriginalShires Highlander Plus
Outer600 denier ripstop1200 denier ripstop
ShoulderCut deep, no gussets listedDeep shoulder gussets
Chest and legsBuckle chest straps, cross surcinglesClip chest straps, cross surcingles, leg strap loops
NeckStandard neck, combo, or turnout and neck setStandard neck with neck cover D-rings, combo, or set
Sizes we carry48 to 87 in (4'0" to 7'3")48 to 87 in on Lite and 100 g; 60 to 87 in on 200 g and 300 g
Riders choose it forCobs, ponies and young horsesBig shoulders and high withers

Specs from Shires product pages, checked October 2026; size runs from our product data. Shires Tempest vs Highlander, side by side ›

Shires Stormcheeta: the 1680-denier turnout set

Shires Stormcheeta is the toughest outer in the Shires range: 1680 denier ShireTex, fully lined, with a detachable neck cover, adjustable chest straps, cross surcingles and integrated leg straps. It comes as a set in 200 g and 300 g.

Shop Shires Stormcheeta ›

Shires Highlander Plus turnouts

★★★★★

Usually a devout Horseware customer, I decided to give Shires a go due to the high denier and lower price – with hay prices sky rocketing it's a no brainer! With the awful weather we've had in the past few weeks this rug has been fantastic. No leaks, dries quickly and fits my chunky BWB beautifully, sitting high enough on his shoulders not to rub. Very impressed, will definitely buy again!
Verified buyer

Shires Highlander combo turnouts

I bought a Shires Highlander combo last year in 100g because the 100g Rambo I splashed out on rubbed my horse's wither (as do all detachable neck rugs) and I love it!
Rider review · 2024

Shires blankets for minis, foals, goats and calves

Shires cuts turnouts for the shapes other brands skip. Shires Highlander Mini turnouts are made for minis and foals in sizes from 33 inches, Shires Tempest Goat Rugs come in 100 g and 200 g, and the Shires Tempest Original Calf Coat has a 600 denier waterproof outer.

Wet weather

Best Shires turnouts for wet weather and tough horses

For a wet climate or a horse that is hard on its clothes, choose by denier: Shires Tempest Original is 600 denier, Shires Highlander Plus 1200 denier and Shires Stormcheeta 1680 denier. Every one is waterproof and breathable with taped seams; a higher denier is a heavier, more tear-resistant weave, not a drier one.

Denier, in plain numbers

Denier is the weight of the yarn in the outer fabric. 600 denier is a light, flexible ripstop that riders report staying dry in heavy rain; 1200 and 1680 denier are thicker weaves for horses that rub, roll and play rough in the field. For a rain sheet, a Lite (no fill) turnout from either line does the job.

Look elsewhere in the range if your horse shreds every blanket: start with Shires Highlander Plus or Shires Stormcheeta rather than Tempest Original, and keep the Tempest for the easy keeper who stands quietly in the rain.

Shires no-fill turnouts

My no fill turnouts are all Shires: waterproof, long-lasting, and they now have a liner system too.
Rider review · 2017

Shires 100 g turnouts

I used to swear by Weatherbeetas, although I'd always be wary with a 0g fill as they'd never be anything more than showerproof. I had a great Shires 100g which served the purpose in heavier rain.
Rider review · 2017

In the barn

Shires stable blankets and sheets vs turnout blankets

A Shires stable blanket is for the barn: it is warm and breathable but not waterproof, so it never goes out in the rain. A Shires turnout is the waterproof layer for the field. Many horses wear both, a stable blanket overnight and a turnout by day.

Shires Tempest Plus stable blankets have a 1200 denier outer, SupaFleece trims and WarmaRug compatibility, in Lite, 100 g and 200 g. The Shires Tempest Original Stable Sheet is a breathable polyester summer sheet that keeps a coat clean and shiny before a show and layers under a heavier blanket. The Shires Deluxe Quilted Rug, with a faux-fur lining and debris-resistant outer, is made for show preparation and travel.

Shires Tempest Plus 100 Stable Rug

★★★★★

Very nice 100g stable rug. Neck is cut generously above the front do-up straps so snug but will not restrict if my horse is eating off the floor. Nice fabric with a finish that will not absorb stains easily. Patterned fabric helps distinguish rug from others when several weights in use!
Verified buyer

Shires Tempest Plus 200 Stable Rug

★★★★★

The Tempest Plus is first class and lovely fit for my mare who is 26. It's great around the chest so keeping her warm. Would recommend this rug
Verified buyer

Coolers

Shires coolers and fleece: when a horse needs one

A horse needs a cooler after exercise, bathing or a trailer ride, when a damp coat would otherwise chill, and that includes winter, when a sweaty horse cools fastest. A Shires cooler wicks moisture away from the coat so the horse dries without getting cold.

The Shires Tempest Original Ultra Dry Cooler uses deep-pile fleece that lifts away from the coat for the sweatiest horses. The Shires Tempest Fleece Rug is a polar fleece cooler for travel and after a bath, and the Shires Deluxe Fleece Rug adds a SupaFleece neck trim for shows. For summer, the Shires Deluxe Air Motion Cooler is a lightweight 3D mesh that cools without chilling; for cooler weather, the Shires Deluxe Tech Cooler is a soft quilt. For evening rides, the Shires Equi-Flector Mesh Exercise Sheet is blaze orange with reflective strips and packs small.

Sizing

Shires horse blanket sizing: inches, feet and neck covers

Shires horse blankets come in sizes from 33 to 87 inches in 3-inch steps. Measure from the center of the chest, along the side, to the point of the buttock; that number in inches is your Shires size. Shires also labels each size in feet and inches, so a 72 in blanket is a 6'0".

Feet and inches are not inches

A 66 in blanket is a 5'6"; a 6'6" blanket is 78 inches. Riders with broad-chested or big-shouldered horses tell us they size by the shoulder first: try Shires Highlander before going up a size in Tempest.

Shires blanket size chart: inches, feet and inches, neck cover
Size (in)Shires labelNeck cover
33 in2'9"—
36 in3'0"—
39 in3'3"—
42 in3'6"—
45 in3'9"—
48 in4'0"—
51 in4'3"—
54 in4'6"Small
57 in4'9"Small
60 in5'0"Small
63 in5'3"Medium
66 in5'6"Medium
69 in5'9"Medium
72 in6'0"Large
75 in6'3"Large
78 in6'6"Large
81 in6'9"X-Large
84 in7'0"X-Large
87 in7'3"X-Large

Sizes 33 to 45 in are Shires miniature sizes. Neck covers per Shires's published chart; each line's size run differs, so check the product page.

Full Shires blanket size guide, by line ›

Shires horse blankets

Shires all the way. Last forever and sizes are accurate and fit well.
Rider review · 2017

Shires horse blankets

I wouldn't go past Shires rugs! They are fab, my mare is also veeeerry large chested and necked and they fit perfectly!
Rider review · 2012

Who it's for

Who Shires horse blankets are for

Shires horse blankets are best for riders who want one brand for every layer, and especially for owners of broad-shouldered horses, cobs, ponies and young horses still filling out.

  • Owners of big-shouldered or high-withered horses choose Shires Highlander Plus, with deep shoulder gussets. Shop ›
  • Cob, pony and young-horse owners start with Shires Tempest Original, sized from 48 inches. Shop ›
  • Barns with wet fields and rough players go for 1200 denier Highlander Plus or 1680 denier Stormcheeta. Shop ›
  • Riders prepping for shows reach for the Tempest Original Stable Sheet, Deluxe Quilted Rug and Deluxe coolers. Shop ›
  • Mini, goat and calf owners find Shires Highlander Mini turnouts, Tempest Goat Rugs and calf coats. Shop ›
  • Riders who layer pair one turnout with a 100 g or 200 g Shires WarmaRug liner. Shop ›

Shires was one of our first brands at Tack of the Day, and we carry every Shires brand and line made available in the US.

Look elsewhere if your horse needs more than 87 inches (7'3"), the largest Shires size, or a single turnout heavier than 300 g.

Questions riders ask

Shires horse blanket FAQ

What is the best Shires turnout for wet weather or a horse that is hard on blankets?

Riders reach for Shires Highlander Plus, with a 1200 denier outer, or Shires Stormcheeta, with a 1680 denier outer, for horses that are rough on their clothes. All Shires turnouts are waterproof and breathable with taped seams; the higher denier adds tear resistance.

What weight Shires blanket does my horse need?

Lite (no fill) and 50 g are for mild, wet days; 100 g is for cool nights and hardy horses in colder weather; 200 g is the medium winter weight; 300 g is the heaviest. A clipped, older or thin-skinned horse usually needs the next weight up.

What is the difference between a Shires stable blanket and a turnout blanket?

A Shires turnout is waterproof and made for the field. A Shires stable blanket is warm and breathable but not waterproof, so it is only for the barn. Many horses wear a stable blanket overnight and a turnout by day.

When does a horse need a cooler?

After exercise, bathing or a trailer ride, whenever the coat is damp. A cooler such as the Shires Tempest Original Ultra Dry Cooler wicks moisture away so the horse dries without chilling, which matters most in winter.

What does denier mean on a Shires turnout?

Denier is the weight of the yarn in the outer. Shires Tempest Original is 600 denier, Highlander Plus 1200 denier and Stormcheeta 1680 denier. A higher denier is a heavier, more tear-resistant weave; it does not make the blanket more waterproof.

How do I measure my horse for a Shires blanket?

Measure from the center of the chest, along the side, to the point of the buttock. That number in inches is the Shires size. A size written with an apostrophe is in feet: 6'6" is 78 inches, not 66.

Who are Shires horse blankets for?

Shires horse blankets are best for riders who want one brand for every layer, especially owners of broad-shouldered horses (Highlander Plus), cobs, ponies and young horses (Tempest Original), and minis, goats and calves.

Do Shires turnouts come with a neck cover?

It depends on the style. Standard-neck turnouts take a separate Shires neck cover in Small to X-Large, combos have the neck attached, and turnout and neck sets such as Stormcheeta include both.