As blanketing season hits full swing, you may be like most people and get a little overwhelmed by all the options you have when choosing blankets. Early this year, we gave you a bit of an overview of all the numbers. Now we are going to dive deeper into the mystery of Denier.
What do the numbers mean?
The actual blanket fill determines the warmth of the blanket. These numbers usually range from 100-450 and are measured in grams. The denier number usually ranges form 600-1680, and are a measurement of the yarn thickness used in the weave of the blanket. Rather than telling us how much warmth the blanket provides, it tells us the durability of the outer material of the blanket.
Why does it matter?
Considering which durability is appropriate for your horse depends on the horse’s lifestyle and personality.
- How long are they turned out?
- What is the environment they are turned out in (rocky, grass, sandy)?
- Are they playful or instigators?
- Are their pasture mates playful or instigators?
By balancing the lifestyle factors, you will be able to conclude which blanket will provide the perfect protection and breathability for the most cost efficient solution
600D
The 600D blankets, like the Amgio Hero provide breathable, weather resistant option for horses who are easy on blankets. “Easy on blankets” could be ones who are not going to be rolling in rough conditions, not going to catch a tree branch or a playful bite. They are cost effective, especially when considering the economic lines, such as the Saxon brand.
1200D
1200D blankets, like the Tuffrider Bonum, are the perfect balance for a horse that requires medium durability in their blankets. A bit of a rough environment, an occasional rough housing with friends, or one who likes to make half-hearted attempts at undressing, would be a perfect candidate for a denier of 1200.
1680D
The 1680 Denier blankets are the heavy weight of the durability class. They are perfect for the extreme pasture athlete, providing the most environmental protection, and resisting bites and tears. Blankets like the Tough-1 Extreme keep horses from coming in with tattered clothing after a wild night out.
Matching Denier with Fill
Once you determine your denier need, you can then decide which fills your horse needs in his wardrobe. You can use the blog found here: //blog.choicebrandsunlimited.com/deciphering-the-blanket-code/ for more information on which weights you might consider.
And from there, you get to move onto deciding the fun things – color and pattern! I suggest embarrassing those rowdy horses as much as possible!