How to Care for a Horse's Blanket

Keeping your horse's blanket in top shape is important. Think of the blanket as your horse's clothing. Depending on the type of blanket, its purpose can be to keep your horse warm, dry, free of flies, or clean. Good horse blankets are one of the more expensive items you will buy for your horse. If you exercise proper blanket care, however, your horse will be able to use his for years to come.

Things You'll Need

  • Scrubbing Brush
  • Lint Roller
  • Stain Remover
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Large Self-Sealing Bag
  • Iron on Patch
  • Needle
  • Thread
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove hair, mud and grime before washing the blanket in the machine. Using a scrubbing brush, attack any mud and grime on the blanket. Go over the spots with quick strokes to remove excess dirt. Shake the blanket out. Next, get the lint roller and remove hair. Taking hair and grime off prior to washing makes it easier for your machine to effectively clean the blanket.

    • 2

      Use stain remover. Check before spraying or rubbing on the stain remover that it doesn't bleach the blanket by testing on a non-conspicuous area. If there is no bleaching, use the stain remover on any stained areas of the blanket. Allow the blanket to absorb the stain remover.

    • 3

      Tighten the straps. Pull the belly surcingles and leg straps as short as they will go and tuck the t-clip in. You don't want dangling surcingles loose in your washing machine as they can get caught and twist the blanket. A twisted blanket it less likely to be effectively cleaned and can also cause the blanket to rip or tear.

    • 4

      Wash the blanket. Some horse owners wash blankets annually at the end of each season. For example, if their horse uses a heavy weight turnout, the owner washes it at the end of winter. Blanket washing should occur more often than once a year, no matter if you're using stable rugs or turnouts. Every horse owner knows that when they blanket their horse, she is sure to lay down in her stall or roll outside in the pasture. Mud, manure, urine, and grime quickly build up so be sure to wash the blanket several times during the season. Use laundry detergent and put the blanket through a wash cycle at least twice.

    • 5

      Dry the blanket. The best way to get the blanket dry is to let it air dry somewhere that it will not be disturbed. Some people hang their blankets in the barn, but others will drape theirs over a shower curtain or on a fence rail. Using a dryer can cause synthetic blankets to shrink.

    • 6

      Store the blanket. When you are not using a blanket and it has been through the cleaning process, store it immediately after it has air dried. Fold the blanket into a square, tucking all straps inside. Place it in a self-sealing, plastic bag. If you leave a blanket hanging in the barn, it is sure to pick up dust and dirt. Put the blanket where it will be undisturbed until you need it again.

    • 7

      Repairing the blanket. Should your horse rip or tear his blanket, usually it can be repaired and used again. If the tear is small, seal it up by using an iron on patch. If you are able to sew, small rips can be repaired this way. For large tears or rips that include the filling or inner layers of the blanket, take it to a professional seamstress for repair. Repairs made to a blanket will show, but if you are using the blanket only around your barn, this should not matter. For showing purposes, it is best to purchase a replacement blanket.

    • 8

      Keep a spare. Always keep double blankets for your horse. You never know when he might be turned out and come back with a wet blanket, or destroy it when he rolled. Have two of each in the event that your horse needs his blankets replaced.