Not to sound like a cult-classic television show, but winter is coming.
It’s time to start getting everything ready for the colder temperatures, and for most of the country, that means horse blankets are being pulled out of storage. Hopefully, your horse blankets are coming out of storage clean; if not, you have a lot more preparation work on your hands…
Whether or not you conducted a comprehensive blanket "health" check in the spring, it’s still important to perform a fall pre-season blanket inspection to ensure your horse’s comfort and readiness for the colder months ahead. Run through this quick checklist from Tough1 to see if your blanket is ready for winter. (Or, if you need to add one to your next shopping list.)
Tough1's Five-Step Blanket Checklist:
- Inspect the hardware: Is anything missing, broken, bent or rusted? If there are snaps, do they still snap? What condition are the belly straps? Also, we recommend looking at any elastic on your blanket (commonly used for the leg straps)—has the elastic lost its stretchiness?
- Check the stitching: Is the stitching on the straps holding when you give them a good tug? How is the condition of the front straps? Belly straps? Are there any spots that look worn, have loose threads or are completely compromised?
- Look for tears: Are there any small tears in the inner lining or outer shell that you didn't get around to fixing last year? Have rodents found their way to the blanket storage bin and started to nibble holes? Some small tears can be easily patched or sewn, but larger tears/holes might constitute something bigger.
- Check the fleece: Can it still provide adequate protection and comfort on the withers, or is it matted and rough?
- Check the fit: Does your blanket still fit your horse/pony comfortably? Do the straps still allow for adequate size adjustments, or are you "on the last hole"? (Let's not sing "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" this winter!)
Hardware
Most blanket manufacturers offer replacement blanket hardware for purchase (either directly from them or through a dealer) if there has been any damage or loss. Before you order, check for any measurements that might be needed, then order extras to have some spares on hand for the season and next year.
Stitching
There are some companies that offer horse blanket repair. These places have the heavy-duty sewing machines required to make it through the many layers of fabric and can often do a decent job, if the repair isn’t too major.
Tears
Smaller tears can be mended using patching kits from the blanket manufacturer. These patches are typically glued on and are meant for temporary use, but sometimes they can hold up for a long time. If your blanket has a rather large tear, though, it may be too compromised to maintain its waterproof abilities even if repaired.
While you're inspecting the inside lining, it's a good time to check for mold or mildew and the overall cleanliness of the blanket. It's best to start the season fresh!
Fleece
The purpose of the fleece padding on the withers of your horse's blanket is to provide protection and comfort from rubbing. With proper washing, these stay soft and may only need to be gently cleaned with a stiff-bristled brush to rejuvenate the fluff.
Fit
Your horse's body condition changes throughout the year, so just because a blanket fit them comfortably last year doesn't necessarily mean that same blanket fits correctly this year. In order to ensure a proper fit for the blanket, you should be able to comfortably slip your hand between the horse's withers and blanket--make sure the front edge of the blanket sits about three inches in front of the withers (unless you have a style that leaves the withers uncovered). The same practice can be used to check the horse's shoulder and hip.
The horse's shoulder should be able to move freely without a lot of rubbing, and the back end of the blanket should cover the horse's rump up to the tailbone. If your blanket has a tail cover, this should adequately cover the top of your horse's tailbone.
The fit of the neck of the blanket is important to check as well. The lower edge of the neck opening of the blanket should naturally rest where the horse's neck merges into his chest--your horse should be able to bend his neck down to comfortably graze without any pinching or restriction.
Tough1's patented Snuggit offers a more custom fit for your horse, pony or Mini, allowing you to open the gusset more if your horse has a deeper chest, or close it more for a tighter fit. This will help provide longer use of our turnout blankets, especially if your horse's weight fluctuates throughout the season.
Time to Buy
So, did your blanket pass the checklist? If you’ve run into issues that aren’t an easy fix, it's probably time to shop for a new blanket. Tips for buying a new blanket will be covered in a later blog post, so check back to learn more about what to consider during the shopping process.
PART TWO: Blanketing 101: What Does That Mean?
