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Barnyard Buddies:  Do you blanket your horse? How to repair?  |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 24 2011 : 04:38:30 AM
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I blanket. I started blanketing when the temps got below 50. However, my horse has ripped a whole strap off his blanket, along with the hook. How do I repair this? I'm not sure where to get the eye hook thing OR the strap-can I sew it with my regular Brother sewing machine? I'm assuming I'll need a different needle...
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2011 : 08:08:34 AM
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There was just an article in Horse Illustrated about blanketing. The gist is that you only have to do it if your horse is body clipped for showing or cushings no matter how in-climate the weather may seem. Nature has equipped horses with the only "blanket" they need.
What they DO need is hay, hay and more hay! Their stomach breaking down forage and grasses act as an internal furnace! As long as they have hay in their systems and a barn to get out of the wind and wet, they'll be snug as a bug.
To fix the blanket you'll need a seriously heavy duty needle, possibly an industrial sewing machine, I don't know how sturdy your sewing machine is. The only home sewing machines I know to have stern stuff is a late 90s Necci or Bernina, or the 70's kenmores (I've done leather and nylon horse tack on all of those models.) Get yourself a set of "denim needles" to try it and don't force your machine to do anything it doesn't want to do.
If you can't fix it I'm sure you could walk into a tack shop and have them zip it up.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
Edited by - Dusky Beauty on Oct 24 2011 08:16:04 AM |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2011 : 08:27:30 AM
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There are a few reasons why I would blanket.
One would be if it was winter and I had ridden my horse to the point of working up a sweat. After I was done riding, I would put a blanket on until the horse dried off and temperature was back to normal.
I would blanket if it was really wet and cold and my horse didn't have shelter, but the blanket would need to be somewhat waterproof.
I would blanket if the horse didn't have a proper winter coat for some reason.
I would blanket if I was transporting the horse in an open air trailer during the winter.
I would blanket if my horse was ill.
If you blanket your horse and then it warms up and the horse gets sweaty under the blanket, then you have other issues.
Generally, if your horse is healthy and gets to live outside and grow a nice fuzzy coat, then that is all he or she needs! 
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2011 : 10:42:20 AM
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I agree with one exception, you need to be aware of the weather conditions in your area. We blanket according to the weather. Last winter in NM we had two weeks of -20 degree temps, and that was NOT wind chill!! In addition, we had 30 - 40 mph winds during that time, our horses all had run -in shelters, but we blanketed! We blanket if the temps drop below 20 degrees, and there is either substantial wind, or precipitation. Horses are susceptible to wind chill.
If you are going to blanket, make sure that if the weather warms up, ie.: sunny and in the 30's, that you remove the blanket and allow their fur to re-fluff (takes a couple days).
The very best thing though, is if they have shelter they can access to get out of precip and wind...feed more hay when the weather turns nasty. Hay is the fuel that keeps their bodies warm.
As for repairing the strap, it is possible to sew it on most machines if you use a heavy duty needle and thread. Word of caution, I have busted more than one needle trying to repair straps. I have since located a lovely lady who specializes in blanket repair and has a heavy duty sewing machine.
Margaret
“Kind hearts are the gardens, kind thoughts are the roots, kind words are the flowers, kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds, fill it with sunshine, kind words and kind deeds.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1808-1882)
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2011 : 1:41:35 PM
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if your horse shelters are the coragated (sp?)metal type, stack straw bales on the outside of them from ground to top, cover with dark colored tarps, they make great insulation, and when spring comes you have straw for use in the garden, coops, stalls etc...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2011 : 09:22:58 AM
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I blanket my old mare, she doesnt grow a normal coat. she has no gaurd hairs and all the snow melts into her fur. but only when i know the snow is here and when she is dry it comes off.
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2011 : 09:25:23 AM
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I have repaired several blankeys since having horses. I have a Bernina. If I can get the torn part into the neck of the machine I will attempt to sew it. Sometimes with very thick stuff, like more than one layer of nylon webbing, I just turn the flywheel by hand and it works. Sometimes I handsew. Dental floss works well as does thick thread. As far as where to get the nylon webbing, some sewing stores have it by the yard. I know Joanne's does.
Our Farmer's Co-op sells the repair hardware that you are looking for. Check at your feed store.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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sondrak
Farmgirl in Training
33 Posts
Sondra
Colorado Springs
CO
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - Oct 27 2011 : 7:24:35 PM
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It really depends on what you are doing with your horse, the weather, and the condition of your horse. Healthy horses that are not being shown, that are not being kept under lights to prevent the winter coat from growing, or being clipped generally don't need to be blanketed.
I have a black stallion, a former show horse, that I keep blanketed or in a sheet year round. He was 14 when I bought him and he has never NOT worn a blanket or a sheet.
He recently destroyed several sheets when I moved him into a different barn, so if you need a replacement hook, send me your email and I'll be glad to "recyle" one of mine.
I have two other horses that are currently in a pasture and are not blanketed. The older of the two was shivering when it snowed yesterday, so I'm in process of trying to find her a blanket in her size for future storms. The younger mare was just fine as were most of the other horses on the farm.
Take care, Sondra
You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the girl.
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Barnyard Buddies: Do you blanket your horse? How to repair? |
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Do you blanket your horse? How to repair?
