Tips To Fold a Horse Blanket
Posted: Monday, July 11, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Ever place your horse blanket on Mr. Horse’s back and then discover it’s inside out? Have you put the blanket on backwards, with the front facing the horse’s back end? Oh well, it’s easy enough to turn it around.
Have other funny moments while dressing Mr. Horse, and see him watching you as you fumble around with the unwieldy horse blanket? Maybe you were hurrying and slapped the horse blanket on his back, but he wasn’t paying attention – and he spooks? Go on, we’ve all done it and feel just a little – well you know . . .
Think compact! Merely fold the blanket into a neat package. The next time you put his clothes on again, reach for that neatly folded package, place it on his back, and unfold it into place. Simple? You bet!
Here is the efficient way to get it done. (I’ve included pictures of a horse blanket that has been worn and is going to the blanket cleaning service. The last picture is new of Little Patrick.)
Step 1 – Place the horse blanket flat and unbuckled on the floor, right side up, or fold/remove an unbuckled blanket off Mr. Horse. Stretch out the leg straps, surcingle and chest straps away from the blanket.
Step 2 – Grab each leg strap, the tail piece (if it’s a turnout) and tuck them in. Fold the tail end of the horse blanket up one third or up to somewhere near the center.
Step 3 – Grab the front of the blanket and fold back to the first fold. Keep everything smooth including any shoulder gussets.
Step 4 – Fold up one of the sides to meet the approximate center of the horse blanket. Insert surcingles just like you did the leg straps.
Step 5 – Fold up the other side as in Step 4.
Step 6 – Fold in half.
Once you become used to this simple routine, you’ll swiftly package up the blanket as it comes off the horse. It won’t be falling off a peg or blanket bar; better yet, it’ll be ready to go back on after Mr. Horse has been exercised.
Folding horse blankets this way prepares them for the off season and for storage. Tuck cedar in with the blankets and they’ll be ready when you need them again.
If you are preparing for a show, this is a compact and neat way to carry and pack them into your show trunk for transport.
I’ll make a confession about dressing Patrick. I prefer to blanket him in closed front horse sheets and blankets which means they go on and off over his head. He’s a Saddlebred and is pleased with himself when he stands tall and regal, just as I’m trying to get the blanket on him. Dressing him has become greatly simplified with a neatly folded package. I fold everything the same way and reverse the folds to get him dressed.
Try it and see if it isn’t a lot easier and quicker.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)nice
Hi Heidi.
I've actually put the saddle pad on upside down, placed the saddle on it and then had to take it all off. I use a saddle pad that has webbing strips that you put the girth leathers through to help keep it all in place.
The owner of the horse I ride doesn't really use warmers or coolers so I've never had to deal with one of those huge blankets.
Loved your illustrations. I've used that Paint program. You need a really steady hand with the mouse!
Hugs,
DianneI'm with you. I've put clothes, pads, even a halter on the horse inside out or backwards. Makes me feel a tad duh duh duh because the horse knows I've done it wrong. It's like he says, Here she's not paying attention again. We have to use coolers in Connecticut all the time because when temps are cold, it's safer to keep chills off. I wouldn't chance getting a horse chilled ever. Remember Black Beauty? My horses are mostly stabled so they are relatively inactive in winter. They do were clothing. In fact, my boys wear clothes year around - besides with my website, I have to sport my animals as "clothes horses." Ha ha haWe had to put a head to tail fitted something or other on one of the paints that developed sun sensitivity. Lord, but that was awful. It was like the nastiest sunburn you can imagine and then his skin and hair started coming off in great big patches. First we tried sunscreen but that only seemed to make it worse. There's an Appaloosa that should probably be wearing a fly sheet full time because he's had one skin cancer removed already. And I have to put sport boots on the front legs of the horse I ride because he's starting clipping himself. So we do dress our horses in Arizona too. :)
Oh and the horse I ride, he always gives me this look when I take the saddle right back off. :) Oh well. I've always known they were smarter than me. :)The pictures - I don't have the steadiest of hands - you could tell? I've taken some photos today of a blanket that is going to the cleaning service. Will substitute them if they turn out OK.
As a complete and total novice, I must say that this is far more complicated than I would have guessed. I have been on a horse 3 times, and each time, others handled everything. I am commenting to thank you for drawing me into the subject and elevating my appreciation for God's loveliest creature.Oh wow, Christofer. You are a dear SearchWarp friend! Anyone who refers to my most favorite animal as God's loveliest creature is head and shoulders above anyone. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. It's actually not complicated = just a few steps making the whole process really simple. Can tell you one thing, though, if you put it backwards on the horse, then you open it backwards even though it was an easy on process. So I really do need to add that.
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