While both Exercise Rugs and Riding Blankets are intended to serve the same purpose of keeping your horses back and hind quarters warm during cold weather rides, they are very different in how they are designed. An Exercise Rug fits under saddle just like a saddle pad.  It is best suited if you know you will not need to remove it after your horse is warmed up. A Riding Blanket has a hole in it where your saddle sits and a velcro closure near the pommel. You saddle your horse normally and place the riding blanket between the flaps of the saddle, attaching the velcro in front of the saddle. This allows the rider to remove the garment once the horse is warmed up without having to dismount or loosen the girth; just open the velcro take your weight off the flaps of the saddle and slide the Riding blanket out from under the top flap. Once you finish your ride you can place the Riding Blanket over your horse's hind quarters and around your waist while you cool him down, protecting his warm muscles from cooling down too quickly.