What are the types of blankets for horses and why are they needed
Horse care includes not only equipping the stables with everything you need, but also creating comfortable conditions for walking the animals. An important part of this is taken over by the blanket for the horse.
Varieties of blankets for horses
The blanket is a cloth cape used to warm horses on cool winter days. Its need is associated with a decrease in the amount of subcutaneous fat in horses, which protects animals in cool weather. Such things are especially needed for sports and working horses that spend a lot of time on the street.
Purpose of the blanket
Horse blankets provide warmth and comfort when walking in windy, rainy and cool weather. Like any other animal, horses sweat during heavy physical exertion. And such a simple physiological process increases the risk of symptoms of colds. Heat-loving animals, which are often exploited in the cold without specific protective equipment, may even suffer from diseases of the respiratory system.
The warmth necessary for the racers is especially important for animals whose immunity is still weak and unstable. The blanket, like a blanket, wraps up their body, eliminates the risk of hypothermia and illness. You can buy such a thing necessary for a horse in a specialized store or sew it yourself. Today there are many models in different sizes.
Blankets provide warmth and comfort to the horse
It's easy to find the right option for your horse. In addition, such things can provide not only the necessary comfort and warmth, but also a certain charm in appearance. Today on the market, among such products, you can find blankets of different colors. Separate capes are made for autumn, rain. Some are intended for winter use.
You can make a blanket yourself. There are various instructions and patterns on the Internet that will help you sew such a thing for your pet. In addition, this activity has one important advantage. A blanket made by one's own efforts will cost the horse owner less than a ready-made model of such a thing.
Varieties of blankets
Numerous types of blankets that can be found in stores allow a horse breeder to find the very thing that is convenient for the animal and protects its body from hypothermia. So, when choosing, the fabric is important for sewing such a blanket. It is made from regular nylon, wool and linen.
By design, there are several types of blankets for horses:
- to absorb sweat;
- winter;
- for the stable.
Winter blankets are designed to keep horses warm during long walks in the fresh air. If the horse is exposed to physical activity, capes are used that absorb sweat.
It is important to choose the right fabrics that can qualitatively absorb excess moisture from the horse's body (only wool is used). Sweat-absorbent capes can also be used as a lining under a warm winter garment.
Purpose of winter blankets
The modern market for blankets is diverse. Today, every horse owner can purchase for his pet even a summer version of such clothing that protects against flies. Rainy weather suggests its own options. There are blankets that cover the horse's head. In such capes, slits are usually made for the eyes and ears, or a special mesh is used.
The most popular types of blankets
One of the most demanded horse blankets among horse breeders is its Levadian look. Such blankets protect animals from the cold while walking. The most significant features of such things are:
- sewing from synthetic fabrics with a water-repellent coating;
- Levadic capes, due to their texture, save heat, but do not overheat the animals themselves;
- the presence of chest and leg belts, as well as carabiners that allow the cape to fit snugly to the horse's body.
The models "Vag" and "Gladiator" are especially popular. They should be chosen for animals that need to cover their necks. They do an excellent job of keeping them warm and dry.
There are also unusual sports blankets that can be used during training and competition. For races, lightweight models with a waterproof pad are suitable for horses. A half-piece can also be used, the size of which is several times smaller than that of a regular cape. For urban conditions, there are also varieties of blankets. The most popular are rain (tarpaulin) and fluorescent. A horse will need such a thing in the evening and at night in order to better visibility to oncoming drivers of vehicles on the road.
Blanket as protection against dust and dirt
Stable blankets protect animals from dust and dirt in stalls. They can also be used for walking. The most common types of such capes are:
- daytime;
- jute;
- subpopons;
- capes;
- coolers.
Day blankets are made of wool. But due to the inconvenience of washing and drying such things, many horse breeders purchase synthetic models with a lining. Such things can be used for walking in spring and autumn. Jute blankets are used at night. Additional comfort for sleeping is provided by the soft padding. These types of capes are rarely used during the day because of their heavy weight.
The capes are light and warm. They are made only from cotton and lightweight wool. Some models of these blankets are summer and are suitable for use both in the stable and outdoors.
If your horse is sweating a lot, a cooler is the best option. The peculiarity of such things is that they quickly absorb sweat and bring it out.
Do-it-yourself blanket
Before you sew a blanket for a horse with your own hands, you should take measurements. In addition, without proper experience in sewing, the procedure is complicated by the need to prepare patterns.
Preparatory stage
A pattern is a model of a future blanket with the definition of all sizes. The most important are:
- body length;
- length from tail to mid-chest;
- the length of the entire canvas;
- front length.
Do-it-yourself blanket
If, for some reason, it is difficult to determine the exact dimensions, you should take the standard parameters that are used for horses: length - 240 cm, width - 200 cm, diameter of the throat - 60 cm.If the horse is miniature, it is better not to use standard sizes.
An equally important question is what material is better to use. For winter walking, fleece or woolen clothing is the best option: it will warm both the foal and the adult horse. For other purposes, any fabric will do, from synthetics to cotton.
Sewing
It is best to ask farmers and breeders about how to make a blanket for a horse. Some horse owners post videos with step-by-step instructions and reveal the features of the sewing itself.One thing remains unchanged: this is the need to purchase not only fabric, but also additional paraphernalia for the future blanket. You should purchase:
- carbine;
- belts;
- gum;
- rings.
With the help of belts, rings and a carabiner, a reliable encircling strap is created, allowing the blanket to fit snugly to the horse's body even during movement. In addition, if the horse is very active, several of these belts may be needed.
High-quality sewing of blankets for a racehorse requires certain skills and knowledge. In addition, it is important here to choose the right materials from which the blanket will be made.
Do it yourself a blanket for a horse:
- The cut-to-shape fabric blank is folded in half, after which the neck is marked and cut.
- From the inside, at a distance of 130-140 cm from the edge, a drawstring is sewn, an elastic band is later inserted into it.
- The drawstring is hemmed, and a carabiner and a ring are installed at the edges of the product.
- Two more carabiners are installed on the neck, which, with the help of an elastic band, pull the blanket to the animal's neck.
In order to sew a comfortable high-quality blanket for a horse, it is better to make it with a margin. Most often, 20 cm is enough to do this. It is not worth worrying about the finished thing dangling on the horse's body. The sewn-on elastic bands will create all the conditions for the fabric to fit tightly, but without discomfort, to the horse's body.
Of particular importance is the care of such horse capes. They should be washed regularly, but only with detergents. After each use, the blanket should be well cleaned of dust and debris, and also dried. The quality of horse care is just as important for the health of pets as the cape itself.