Schneider vs. Weatherbeeta blanket fit

[Eddy's Mom]

Hey all, just wondering if anyone has any experience with both Schneider and Weatherbeeta blanket fit. I am getting a new guy and he is currently wearing a 74" Schneiders blanket. I need to get him a new turnout, and am going to go with a Weatherbeeta Taka. I just don't know if I need to get a 72" or a 75". I know they run large but don't want to get too big or too small.

Anyone have both they can compare?? Thanks so much!!!

[Equino]

My mare has a 78" Schneider's stable blanket and a 78" Weatherbeeta. I think the Schneider's fits a bit snugger. If I were in your shoes, I'd go for the 75", you can always send it back. I'd rather my T/O's be a bit bigger than too small so I can layer over stable blankets as needed. Obviously if there are too big that they can't be worn alone, then that is pointless and need to be returned.

[Eddy's Mom]

Thanks Equino. Anyone else?

[slp2]

I own one of each--but unfortunately they are on two different horses (who are different sizes) so it's hard to compare directly. Here's what I can say. The Schneider's "v-fit" style did not work well on my youngster (3 yo tb/trak cross). It rubbed the hair off her shoulders and always seemed to get "hooked" behind her withers. However, the "Euro fit" blanket style fits her well, stays in place and is very true to size. My other mare (Tb who normally wears a size 80) has a weatherbeeta sheet that is a 78 and it fits her fine (so it seems like they are cut a bit large). Hope that helps.

[ryansgirl]

I'd go w/ the 75" blanket - rather have it a bit too large then too small/tight. I have a couple of Schneider turn-out sheets (and hate them - I really hate the way they fit and they didn't hold up very well and my two are very easy on blankets) - they seem to run true to size while the Weatherbeeta runs a bit large if it is the freestyle system (the ones without the freestyle system fit true to size from what I've found). I am a faithful Weatherbeeta buyer and never have had a problem w/ any their blankets and I have lots :)!!

[retrofit]

I have Schneiders & Weatherbeeta, but on different horses. I agree with the others, go with the 75" unless your horse is already swimming on the Schneiders 74".

[ntoeventing]

Schneiders blankets do fit smaller than Weatherbeeta, for sure. So, I would definitely go with the bigger one.

One other thing to think about is the conformation of your horse. For instance, my TB is 16 hands but has large shoulders. He normally wears a 78 in the Weatherbeeta, so when I ordered the Schneider's blanket for him, I ordered the 78. When it came, I had to exchange it. I ordered the next size up (81), and it was even a little too small. I wish I had bought two sizes bigger (83). That sounds really large to me given that I know what he looks like, but really, the 83 probably would have fit him perfectly given the size of his shoulders.

I am a huge advocate of the Weatherbeeta. If you can find the right size, the rest of the blanket fits so great! They hold up so well under all types of weather and abuse. Rambo's are nice, but they do not accomodate the large shoulders my horse has.

Good luck!

[betsyk]

I definitely agree with those who say you're almost comparing apples to oranges here. The Schneiders Euro-fit is more like the Weatherbeeta fit, though still a little smaller through the shoulders. My narrow chested horses walked right out of the weatherbeetas (until I paid to have darts put in the necks, effectively turning them into a Schneiders StormShield). If the Schneiders blanket really fits your new horse, and if it's one of the adjustable shoulder, contoured models, it's a pretty good bet the Weatherbeeta won't fit right. Unless you put it over the Schneiders.