Turnout blankets are used to protect the horse from the rain and mud. They are also used to help keep the horse dry. However, they don't provide much of a thermal insulation and are in general to hot for summer time and too cold for the winter temperatures. There are many different types of turnout blankets. The most common type is the "duckbill" turnout blanket. This type has two separate flaps that fold over each other to form a duck bill shape. These types of blankets are generally the least expensive. They are usually made either from nylon or polyester.