How long should a turnout blanket last?

Reason: how long a blanket lasts depends on the shell, the care, the horse and the pasture he lives in. What the makers do publish is what they will stand behind, and we pass it along as they state it.

WeatherBeeta's care blog says each of its turnout blankets comes with a 3-year warranty as standard, covering hardware, waterproofness and breathability. Our Horseware blanket guide describes Horseware's terms this way: a 2-year warranty on Amigo, a 3-year guarantee on select Rhino turnouts and hoods, and a 10-year guarantee on select Rambo turnouts and hoods bought on or after January 1, 2024, covering waterproofing, breathability and hardware. The guide adds that Horseware says to register your purchase to ensure eligibility, and that the guarantee does not cover damage from outside force such as a fence or a kick, or normal wear and tear.

That last part matters. A warranty tells you what the maker will fix or replace if a covered part fails. It doesn't promise how many winters your blanket will see on your horse. The same guide says several customers report their Amigos lasting three years and more, which is a customer report, not a guarantee.

Here's the list, with what each source says.

Horse & Hound explains that rugs have an outer coating you can reapply and a waterproof membrane bonded inside that you cannot, and that the factory-applied water repellency will wear off over time. It adds that mold eats away at the membrane over time and that UV eventually affects the lining. Our horse blanket guide says waterproofing wears off with use and washing.

On the fabric, University of Maine Cooperative Extension says denier indicates the strength and thickness of the weave and that a 1200D blanket will be stronger and likely will last longer than a 600D one; grams, it says, measure insulation, not durability. Horse & Hound adds that denier relates to how strong the fabric is, not how waterproof.

The detail is on our washing and reproofing page; the short version, from the sources we read:

WeatherBeeta says to clean a blanket from time to time and certainly after each season, to use a mild soap or blanket wash and avoid detergents and fabric conditioners, which can compromise the coating, and to line dry and not tumble dry. Horse & Hound says professional rug cleaners recommend re-waterproofing once a year, and that hot or warm water can damage the waterproofing on a synthetic rug. Wash temperature is where sources differ, so follow the label on your blanket.

Dressage Today's reader Q&A has a professional blanket cleaner, Yvonne Mulgrew of Equine TLC Blanket Cleaning, saying that clients often have turnouts in good physical condition that have lost their water repellency, and that retreating one is generally the cheaper route compared with replacing it. She also says a quality annual waterproof treatment should last a year. That is one cleaner's experience, but it matches Horse & Hound's once-a-year advice.

At the end of the season, our horse blanket guide says to wash and dry it thoroughly before storing, because a damp or dirty blanket guarantees mold and odor, and to store it in a breathable bag in a cool, dry place.

The sources lay out the pieces.

Small tears and loose hardware are worth fixing early. Our horse blanket guide says small repairs done early prevent big replacements later, and WeatherBeeta says to inspect the outer regularly for holes or pulls. Check your guarantee first: our Horseware blanket guide says that for a small tear under warranty you should contact Horseware first, because repairs by anyone other than Horseware can void it, and that reproofing in the first three years can void it too. Out of warranty, it describes a clear repair adhesive for small tears in the outer.

Reproofing helps a tired coating but not a failed membrane. Horse & Hound says you cannot reapply the inner membrane. A blanket that still leaks after a clean and reproof, whose fill has gone to clumps and cold spots, or whose straps and hardware keep failing is a candidate for replacement. And sometimes the horse changes: our horse blanket guide says a blanket that fit two years ago may not fit the same horse today, so measure at the start of the season. See our too big or too small page for fit.

Here is one rider's report on a long-lived blanket:

University of Maine Extension says a 1200D blanket will be stronger and likely will last longer than a 600D one. Our Horseware blanket guide says that what changes from Amigo to Rhino to Rambo is how tough the outer fabric is and how long Horseware guarantees it. It describes Amigo as polyester, Rhino as 1000D polypropylene over a separate waterproof Barrier Layer, and Rambo as ballistic nylon.

The guide also explains ripstop: a grid of thicker reinforcing threads woven into the fabric, so a small tear is less likely to run. It says Horseware states that the ripstop polypropylene on the Rhino HexStop Plus is 30% stronger than its standard polypropylene. That is the maker's claim, as the guide reports it.

Remember the other half of the equation: the pasture. Fences, rolling and herd mates are outside force, and as we saw, a guarantee doesn't cover them.

WeatherBeeta says to make sure the blanket is dry before folding and storing it, and that each of its blankets comes with a zip storage bag. Horse & Hound says to allow damp or sweaty rugs to dry, because mold eats away at the membrane over time, to let a rug cool to room temperature before storing, and to keep it out of direct sunlight, because UV eventually affects the lining. Our horse blanket guide says to avoid sealed plastic and to check for pest damage at the start of next season.

During the season, WeatherBeeta suggests wiping the lining with a damp cloth to remove grease and dirt, and checking the outer, straps, fixtures and surcingles regularly. It's the same inspection as the season-start checklist, done a little at a time.

They come from our horse blanket guide:

• Measure your horse: a blanket that fit two years ago may not fit the same horse today.
• Inspect all hardware: buckles, clips and leg strap rings for rust or cracking.
• Test the waterproofing: pour a small amount of water on the shell. It should bead and roll off.
• Check the fill for cold spots or clumping.
• Have a spare ready for wash day or a mid-winter repair.