Washing and Repair of Horse Blankets

In order to keep your horse's blankets, sheets and turnouts in good working order and extend their life, washing and repairing are a necessity. If professional laundering and repair is not an option, you can easily take care of the blankets yourself. It's important to remove manure and urine from the fabric, as the chemicals present in waste, such as ammonia, are acidic and will break down the fabric. Storing your blankets before you've cleaned them properly is a recipe for disaster. You may unpack next winter to find a tattered rag filled with holes and bleach spots.

Things You'll Need

  • Fence or gate
  • Stiff-bristle brush
  • Hose
  • Pail or bucket
  • Mild detergent
  • Waterproofing
  • Blanket repair tape
  • Upholstery needle
  • Heavy thread
  • Seam sealant
  • Elastic leg straps
  • Extra hardware
  • Tack trunk or plastic bag
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Instructions

    • 1
      A gate makes a great blanket rack for washing.

      Throw the blanket over a rail fence or gate. This provides easy access to both sides, as well as a sturdy work surface.

    • 2
      Brushes can be found at a hardware store.

      Brush away any excess dirt, hair and manure with a stiff-bristle brush. Use either a scrub brush found in hardware stores, or your horse's stiff grooming brush.

    • 3
      A garden hose is all you need.

      Hose the blanket with cold water until saturated.

    • 4
      Any bucket will do.

      Fill a pail or bucket with a mild detergent and water. Scrub the blanket with the soapy water until you're satisfied that it's clean.

    • 5
      Rinse until water runs clear.

      Rinse thoroughly with fresh water, hosing until the water runs clear and free of suds. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until stains are gone and water runs clear when rinsed.

    • 6
      Hang the blanket until dry.

      Line-dry the blanket thoroughly.

    • 7

      Check the blanket for rips, tears, broken hardware and loose or broken straps.

    • 8

      Sew or patch small rips. Repairs can be made by hand-sewing with an upholstery needle and heavy thread using a whip stitch. Blanket manufacturers often offer patches that retain the waterproof integrity of the blanket.

    • 9

      Spray your clean, dry and patched blanket with a waterproofing spray, available from most horse-blanket manufacturers. Seal any seams or repaired rips with a seam sealant. Replace leg straps that have lost their elasticity, and any broken hardware.

    • 10
      Put your blanket away for safe-keeping.

      Fold and store your blanket in a tack trunk or a sealed plastic bag to keep out dirt, moisture and animals.