What a Saddle Blanket Actually Does

Early morning, and the horse is already watching you sideways. You swing the blanket over his back, smooth it flat with your palm and feel the warmth come up through the wool. It looks like decoration. It isn't.

The job of a saddle blanket

A saddle blanket sits between the horse and the saddle. It has a few jobs, and all of them matter:

• Cushion. It softens the contact between the saddle and the horse's back.
• Moisture. It absorbs sweat during a ride and helps move it away from the skin.
• Protection. It keeps the underside of the saddle cleaner and reduces rubbing.
• Grip. A good blanket helps keep the saddle from shifting.

Some riders use a blanket on its own under a well-fitted saddle. Others layer a woven blanket over a pad. Either way, a blanket supports a good fit. It cannot fix a bad one. If your saddle does not fit your horse, talk to a saddle fitter before you start adding layers.

Wool vs. blend

This is the first real choice.

Wool is the traditional material. It breathes, absorbs moisture and holds its loft. Wool blankets tend to be thicker and heavier, and they feel substantial in the hand. The Broken Arrow Saddle Blanket and the Cowtown Chestnut Saddle Blanket are both wool, with the kind of woven pattern you picture when you think of a Western tack room.

Blends, such as acrylic blends, are generally lighter, dry faster and are easier to wash. They often come in bold colors and suit riders who want something low maintenance. The Trail Boss Royal Blue Saddle Blanket is an acrylic blend.

A simple way to decide:

• Long days, hard riding, cold mornings: wool.
• Shorter rides, frequent washing, color that pops: a blend.

Sizing basics

Saddle blankets are listed by width and length in inches. In our ranch collection you will see sizes like 36 x 34 and 38 x 34, plus smaller barrel sizes. Some general guidance:

• Size to the saddle. The blanket should extend a little past the saddle skirts all the way around, so no edge of the saddle sits directly on the horse.
• Longer skirts want a longer blanket. Listings marked oversized, like the Oversized San Juan Black Saddle Blanket, are meant for that.
• Barrel saddles are shorter. A barrel-sized blanket like the San Juan Cream Barrel Saddle Blanket keeps extra fabric from bunching.
• Check the listed dimensions on each product and compare them to your saddle before you buy.

Putting it on right

1. Start with a clean, dry back and a clean blanket. Grit under a blanket rubs.
2. Set the blanket a little forward over the withers, then slide it back into place so the hair lies flat.
3. Check that it hangs evenly on both sides.
4. Once the saddle is on, lift the blanket up into the gullet before you cinch, so it does not press down on the withers.
5. Check again after the first few minutes of riding. Blankets settle.

Care

A blanket that is cared for lasts for years. One that gets thrown in a corner wet will not.

• After each ride, hang it sweat side up to air dry. Do not fold it while it is wet.
• Once it is dry, brush off dried sweat and hair with a stiff brush.
• Wash only as directed. Hot water and agitation can shrink and felt wool. Many wool blankets do well with cool water, a gentle wool wash and air drying. Blends are usually more forgiving. Check the maker's care notes on each product.
• Store it dry, out of direct sun, somewhere mice and moths cannot reach.
• Look it over for thin spots, loose threads and burrs before every ride.

Choosing a pattern

Function first, then fun. Once you know the material and size, the pattern is yours to pick. Earth tones hide dust and sweat marks. Bright colors and bold geometrics stand out in the arena and in photographs. Solids look clean under any saddle and match any tack.

Beyond the barn

Not every saddle blanket ends up on a horse. A good wool blanket also looks right over the back of a leather chair, at the foot of a bed or folded on a bench by the door. We will not tell.

Browse every pattern and size in our ranch and tack collection.

The horse notices the blanket long before anybody else does. Choose for the horse.