Blanket
Do's and Fitting
Faux Pas
Republished with permission
from Horse Sport
One of the main purposes of putting a blanket
on your horse is for protection from the elements. A correctly fitted
blanket can improve circulation, maintain body temperature and aid
in keeping the horse cleaner for the rider. Years ago, rugs were often
changed many times a day, after and before workouts, for turnout,
during the day in the stable and even a different one for overnight.
These days, most equestrians are looking for the one rug which suits
all needs. That can be almost impossible to find. In fact, it is probably
better in most
situations to let them go “au naturel” rather than be uncomfortable.
It seems most riders go to great lengths to ensure that their horse
has a properly fitted and adjusted saddle - and the horse generally
only wears that for about an hour a day - while in the winter, many
horses wear a stable and/or turnout blanket for more than 20 hours
per day. Equine veterinarian Alan Young asks, “which is likely
to cause the most trouble?” He claims an ill-fitting blanket
can be the cause of many problems such as limitation in performance,
sore backs, crooked movement, rubbing and even panic or trauma in
severe cases.
He feels that “blanket fitting is mostly common sense,”
but people are just not aware of its relative importance to their
horse’s well-being. Young believes that when caring for your
horse, “blankets are one area that you can’t back off -
they have to have quality, they have to have fit.” For example,
if each day you enter the barn and your horse’s blanket has fallen
to one side, then you have a problem. The effects of this situation
will begin to accumulate and eventually the horse can develop muscle
tightness.
Young believes that North America is behind when it comes to realizing
the importance of proper blanket fitting. Most blanket problems are
due to “bad design, fitting and ignorance,” Young states.
For years, the Europeans have been using non-slip blankets which do
not require leg straps to remain in place on the horses back.
Over the years, there have been new technological innovations in insulation,
moisture proofing and durability which do lead to a better overall
blanket but these don’t necessarily improve the fit of blankets.
Design is where the problem lies. Young believes that any equine athlete,
“should have a big wither and shoulder”, therefore any advancements
that ensure the blanket falls correctly over the neck, shoulders and
hind end and doesn’t cause any rubbing or restriction in the
horse’s natural movement are the most beneficial. If the blanket
does not fit correctly around the neck it will slide back and pull
on the shoulders or it could also cut into the withers, causing the
horse great discomfort while saddled and in general.
When looking for a blanket for his own horses, Young likes one that
is “self-righting.” If it moves while the horse is in motion,
it will fall back into its correct position when the horse stands
in place. Young also recommends a lightweight blanket. The weight
of a heavy old-style blanket places a lot of extra pressure on the
horse’s withers which can cause soreness.
Even though blanket fitting has not been researched in depth, Young
feels, “that the door is wide open with the use of thermography”
- a heat camera that can help determine sore areas on a horse due
to saddle or blanket pressure. As with saddle fitting, Young advises
“if [the product] is what you want, get it modified to fit your
horse.” There are professionals in the field that will come to
your farm and make the necessary alterations so the blanket correctly
fits your horse and his frame. It is a small price to pay for a safe,
happy and comfortable equine partner.
Six Steps for Better Blanketing
1. Correctly measure your horse to ensure you purchase the proper
size. This is done by measuring (in inches) from the middle of the
chest, along the side of the horse to their tail (see pictures above).
The number should always be rounded up to the nearest even number
(ie. 78, 80, 82)
2. Make sure that there is enough room in the neck so that when the
horse lies down, grazes or plays in the paddock that the blanket does
not slide back and pull on the shoulders and the withers. If this
occurs, the horse could get rubs and loose hair on his shoulders and
also develop very sensitive withers which could seriously affect his
work attitude.
3. For horses with high withers, it may be necessary to place extra
padding under the blanket or use a roller and padding above the blanket
itself.
4. If the shoulders do become rubbed, purchasing ‘horsey underwear’
or sewing in nylon to the shoulder areas in the blanket could solve
the problem without having to purchase a new blanket altogether.
5. It is always better to have a blanket that is too big because alterations
can be made more easily. If the neck is too big on the blanket, darts
can be made and sewn in to readjust the sizing for the particular
horse.
6. Make sure that your horse and the blanket do not become too dirty.
Dirt and mud can cause friction which will lead to rubbing. The cleaner
the horse and blanket, the less likely it is
Five Fitting Faux Pas
1. For your horse, wearing an undersized blanket is like you wearing
shoes that are too small. Rubbing and restriction of movement cause
discomfort and cramping.
2 A blanket that constantly slips to one side of the horse will create
sore muscles and could lead to crooked movement if not corrected.
3. A slipping blanket can also lead to dangerous situations such as
loosened belly and leg straps. A horse that gets up from a prone position
can get a leg caught.
4. A blanket that does not fit properly around the neck can interfere
with movement in the withers and point of shoulder. Impaired circulation
and muscle tension can affect the horse’s range of motion and
correctness.
5. Back pain can be caused by a variety of factors, including too
much weight from a heavy rug, uneven weight distribution, or misuse
of a roller.
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