Horse blankets for a horse: functions and varieties

Body cloth is an important part of horse equipment and is present in the arsenal of most experienced owners. It protects animals from aggressive environmental influences and allows them to always be in the ranks.

A horse blanket is a horse's clothing made in the form of a cape on the body of the animal. The product absolutely does not hinder movements and leaves the horse's legs free. Domestic horses, which, unlike their wild counterparts, are regularly washed and combed, especially need additional protection. Because of this, there is a gradual decrease in the layer of sebum, as a result of which the horses become more vulnerable to weather phenomena: they quickly become cold in the cold and often begin to hurt.

Besides the practical function, blanket can be used as a decorative accessory and serve exclusively for beauty. Such models can be seen on circus horses, as well as in parks and squares where animals are used as an attraction for riding children. Another important function of blankets is to protect the case of the mount from pressure on the saddle and to prevent abrasion of the skin under it.

The material for making wraps is wool, fleece, cotton and composite fabrics, and the choice of a particular one is dictated by the conditions of the animal, its breed and purpose of use.

In its cut, the blanket resembles an ordinary bedspread and, depending on the model, is additionally equipped with belts, ties and fasteners.

Classification of blankets is carried out according to several criteria, the main of which is the seasonality of clothing. According to this criterion, three types of wraps are distinguished: winter, summer and off-season.

In the cold season, animals kept in harsh climatic zones must have warm clothes. It should warm the horses in the stable and protect them from the cold wind during walks, work or training. The horse blankets that cover the horse indoors are called stalls. They, in turn, are divided into sleeping and drying rooms.

• Drying stall designed to normalize the body temperature of the animal after walking, training or working in the fresh air. To sew it, use waffle cotton fabric or the finest wool. The cloak is dressed on the horse immediately upon arrival at the stable and remains on it until the body dries completely. The size of the drying blankets should be large and not limit the amplitude of the horse's movement. The cape is attached to the body of the animal by means of belts located on its inside.
• After the horse dries the horse, the woolen drying cloak is removed and thrown on the pet sleeping blanket. Fleece or jute clothing acts as a blanket and protects the horse from hypothermia in a poorly heated stable room. The length of the sleeping blankets is slightly less than that of the drying, which allows the horse not to get confused in the fabric when laying to sleep. To fix the product on the case, external belts are used, which fasten in front, under the tail and under the belly of the pet.

To find a pet on the street, levad blankets are used. Such clothes are usually very light, but at the same time very warm, so woolen fabrics are often used for sewing them. Synthetic waterproof and windproof materials are also allowed, but they must be “breathable” and not impede normal air exchange. Otherwise, a greenhouse effect will occur: the animal will begin to sweat heavily and may catch a cold.

In cutting, the levadic models are quite similar to the stall ones and differ from them only in the free edge hanging in front, which is necessary for the convenience of horse movement.

models also come in several varieties and are divided into three categories.

• Light capes Designed to protect horses from sand, dirt and dust. It is much easier to wash a thin cloak than to wash and comb a pet. In addition, such clothes help to level the difference between the temperature in the stable and on the street and prevent the animal from overcooling when it is driven to the pasture in the morning cold hours.
• Mosquito blanket It is intended to protect the pet from blood-sucking insects, midges and flies. For the manufacture of such models, an air-permeable fabric is used, which ensures full air exchange and prevents sweating of the horse. Often a mesh web acts as such a material, which does not give insects the opportunity to bite an animal or lay eggs, but at the same time it does not interfere with ventilation and does not cause overheating.
• Paddle models They are elegant blankets and put on celebrations and equestrian competitions.For sewing holiday wraps, light flowing fabrics such as silk and nylon are used, while for sports and training, they often take thin wool or cotton. Such products, along with their decorative function, protect the mount from pollution and hypothermia.

must also be present in the "wardrobe" of the horse. It reliably protects the pet's body from rain and temperature extremes typical for autumn and spring. Such models are usually two-layer, where the bottom is made of cotton fabric or fine wool, and the top is made of water-repellent material, which is used as a regular canvas or synthetic fabric.

In addition to seasonal patterns, there are saddle covers used to protect the skin of an animal during long horse transitions or training. An important condition for the use of such wraps is to carefully smooth the folds under the saddle and to prevent the fabric from slipping and knocking down. Otherwise, the horse’s body may be harmed even more than when using a saddle without a protective backing.

Before proceeding with the selection of horse blankets, it is necessary to determine for what purposes the model is acquired, and also take into account the individual characteristics of each particular animal. So, if the pet is sweating a lot, then, in addition to the main set, it is advisable to purchase a cooling cape for him. If the horse is planned to be transported often, then in this case one cannot do without transport blankets. The product is made of thick soft material and in some cases has soft side inserts. This helps to mitigate shock during transportation and eliminates animal injuries.

When choosing clothes for a horse, you should pay attention to the quality of tailoring. Otherwise, from active contact with sweat and dirt, as well as from frequent washing, the cloak will quickly spread and become unusable. therefore First of all, you need to determine the composition of the fabric and, ideally, purchase natural ones.

You should also pay attention to the clasps and carabiners of the model. They should be lightweight, open and close well and free from jamming. Then you need to inspect the lines: they must be absolutely even and double, the presence of protruding threads and raw edges is unacceptable. In order to determine the size of the model, it is advisable to try it on a horse, as factory products are sewn according to standard patterns and cannot take into account the structural features of the body of each animal.

In order for horse clothes to last as long as possible and always remain clean and tidy, a number of simple recommendations must be followed.

• Any cloak needs regular shaking, ventilation and drying.
• Wash blankets should be hypoallergenic powders that do not have a tart chemical odor.
• Jute models are recommended to be cleaned with a hard brush.
• It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the edges of blankets and, if necessary, to repair them immediately.
• When washing in a washing machine, the water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees.
• Manual cleaning of the cape is best done on special devices (goats) or on the fence.First you need to hang the cloak on the support and remove the main dirt with a rough brush. Then in warm water you need to dilute laundry soap or laundry detergent and clean the product with a hard sponge. Then blanket is required to rinse well from the hose and dry in partial shade in a natural way.

On the need to use horse blankets, see below.