From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A horse blanket or rug is a blanket or
animal coat intended for keeping a horse warm or
otherwise protected from wind or other elements. They
are tailored to fit around a horse's body from chest to
rump, with straps crossing underneath the belly to
secure the blanket yet allowing the horse to move about
freely. Most have one or two straps that buckle in
front, but a few designs have a closed front and must be
slipped over a horse's head. Some designs also have
small straps that loop lightly around the horse's hind
legs to prevent the blanket from slipping sideways.[1]
Protection from the elements
Standard horse blankets are commonly kept on a horse
when it is loose in a stall or pasture as well as when
traveling. Different weights are manufactured for
different weather conditions, and some are
water-resistant or even waterproof. Modern materials
similar to those used in human outdoor wear are commonly
used in blanket manufacture.
Blankets are sometimes used to keep the horse's hair
short. If horses are blanketed at the beginning of the
autumn, especially if kept in a lighted area for 16
hours a day, they will not grow a winter coat. Blankets
also protect horses that are kept with a short, clipped
hair coat for show purposes. When a horse is given a
full body clip, or even a partial "trace clip," it needs
to have a blanket kept on at all times if the weather is
cool because the horse no longer has the natural
insulation of a longer hair coat. If a blanket is put on
a horse at the beginning of the winter in order to
suppress the growth of a winter coat, or if the horse is
kept clipped in cold weather, the blanket it cannot be
taken off until warmer weather arrives in the spring. If
a horse is subjected to cold weather without either a
blanket or a natural hair coat to keep it warm, it may
become ill, vulnerable to sicknesses such as influenza.
Although heavy blankets for warmth make up the bulk
of the horse blanket market, lightweight blanket may be
used in the summer to help the animal ward off flies and
to prevent the hair coat from bleaching out. Such
blankets are usually called a "sheet" or a "fly sheet."
They are usually made of some type of nylon or strong
synthetic fiber, but with the capacity to "breathe" so
that the animal remains cool. Most have a smooth nylon
lining in front to prevent hair from wearing off on the
shoulders. They are becoming increasingly popular,
particularly with the rise of insect borne diseases such
as West Nile Virus.
Any blanket may be supplemented with a neck cover or
a full hood. Neck covers are often attached directly to
the blanket. Hoods are a separate piece of horse
"clothing," which cover the neck and come down the head
to just above the muzzle of the horse, with holes cut
for the eyes and ears. Summer weight hoods and neck
covers help keep away insects and are also frequently
used to keep a horse clean prior to a horse show. Winter
weight hoods are used for warmth.[1]
Other
designs
A cooler or a mantle, is a large,
nearly square blanket with ties that is draped over a
horse that is hot and sweaty from an intense workout, or
one that has just been bathed and is wet all over. It is
commonly made of wool or synthetic fleece, though a few
designs are made of woven cotton. It is worn as the
horse is being walked to cool down and allows enough air
circulation for the horse to dry, but slows the rate of
drying to prevent the horse from becoming hypothermic.
It is designed so it can be tied shut in front, most
designs have a small browband which can be used to keep
it positioned well up on the neck, and it may have a
loose cord that goes beneath the tail to prevent the
wind from blowing it off from the rear, but usually it
has no other straps or attachments. It is intended to be
used on a horse while the animal is being led or held by
a person and not left on an unattended horse. In windy
weather, a loose surcingle may be added to prevent the
cooler from blowing completely off.[1]
A traditionally-shaped blanket of loosely crocheted
cotton, called an anti-sweat sheet, is used to
absorb moisture.[2]
Often used alone to wick moisture from the surface of
the horse, if placed under a cooler, it is removed when
it becomes wet.
A barrier blanket is sometimes used in
Australian Thoroughbred racing. This blanket weighs
about 40 kilograms and is placed over the horse prior to
entering the starting stalls. It is then tied to the
back of the stalls after the horse has been loaded and
remains in the barrier as the horse jumps. Quite a few
horses respond positively to it and are more easily
loaded and are calmer in the stalls.[3]
Notes
References
- Price, Steven D. (ed.) The Whole Horse
Catalog: Revised and Updated New York:Fireside
1998
ISBN 0-684-83995-4
External links
