Each equestrian is faced with the need for horse blankets. Stores offer this desired piece of ammunition at high prices. But do not get upset. After all, you can sew it yourself, without spending a lot of time.
What is blanket?
Horse blanket - like a jacket for a man. It protects the animal in winter weather from wind and rainfall. Also used to maintain heat after a workout. If the horse is not covered after a heavy load, it can catch hot parts of the body, which will lead to complications. Most often, blankets are made of fleece material. It is not only good because of its lightness, but also retains heat perfectly. Winter horse blankets are dense material. At the same time, in the summer, the steed can get along with a wide blanket of cotton fabric. A feature of blankets is that the fastener on the chest does not allow the product to slide or fall.
Keeping a horse is an expensive pleasure. The cost of equipment and feeding at any time of the year is high. Therefore, it is important to find rational solutions when there is a need to buy something from ammunition. For example, blankets can be made by yourself according to a rather simple scheme, while preserving the convenience of specially sewn products from large companies.
Fabric selection
How to sew blankets for a horse? First of all, you need to choose a fabric. It can be a material of almost any color. It is important that the blanket is practical. Therefore, you should not choose bright colors, as the horse may not accept them. It is also better not to give preference to light tones, because all the dirt on the bedspread will be visible after the first application. Since frequent washing is not recommended due to the rapid deterioration and accumulation of soap, it is better to choose a neutral or dark color. You also need to take wide ribbons (or just pieces of material) for sheathing blankets around the edges.
Any fabric is suitable for sewing, but still the fleece is considered ideal. It is convenient and practical. Fleece blanket for a horse provides air penetration to the body of the animal. At the same time, it retains heat. The material is quite affordable, so a few meters of fabric will not hit the horse's budget.
Merki
Then you need to take measurements from the horse. This is done simply. First you need to measure its body length: starting from the withers or crest of the neck (depending on what size you want the blanket) to the middle of the tail, following the spine. But that is not all. It is also necessary to measure from the withers to the lower part of the shoulder. The figure for measuring horse blankets on a pony can be seen below.
It is necessary to make a small depression in the withers so that the front part looks like a semicircle. Otherwise, an ugly crease is formed on the back. To make a blanket windproof, you need to consider the volume of the abdomen. If this part is not taken into account, the product may turn out to be too short.
If the cover is sewn for a "heavy truck", then it is advisable to take a few centimeters into the stock taking into account the massiveness of the horse. Horse blankets will be much larger in size than a pony product. You also need to grab a few extra centimeters if the fabric tends to sit down during washing. For convenience, you can use a ready-made stencil of real size.
Fabric preparation
Having spread the fabric on a flat surface and smoothing out all the folds, we can draw in chalk the contours of the future blankets in one line. After two centimeters on the outside, we put another line for the hem. Immediately note the places where Velcro will be sewn: on the chest and under the stomach. You do not need to do deepening here, because it will be inconvenient to attach the locks otherwise. Then gently cut the blanket along the outer contour. We recommend using special sewing scissors. Otherwise, the fabric may stretch or wrinkle, and the outline will be uneven.
Double-bend a few centimeters that we left when sketching. When wrapping, you can use both a thread with a needle and a sewing machine. In the latter case, making an outfit for a horse will turn out much faster. It is important to remember: the better the blanket is sewn, the longer it will last. If you use a dense fabric, it will be extremely difficult to wield a needle. Therefore, it is advised to use a typewriter.
Sewing
Using a sewing machine or manually, we overcast the edges of the product. And then again, now even and dense stitches, we fix the seams. The bulk of blankets is ready. In order to ensure that the edges of the fabric are tightly folded, and also to protect the lower part from dust and dirt, additional dark material can be hemmed. At the same time, doing this will improve the appearance of the product.
The last step is to install Velcro or locks. Most horse blankets have only chest mounts. However, to ensure the strength and perseverance of the product on the horse, you can add such a detail on the stomach. The choice of Velcro is strictly individual. Many of them become unusable within a few months. At the same time, locks require attention when using. Also, experts advise taking small latches, as they are less traumatic.
Finishing touch
On a blanket, you can sew some jewelry, badges or depict a pet's name on it. After you definitely need to try on the ammunition on the horse and make sure that the coverlet is suitable for her. If necessary, you can shorten the blanket or attach additional material to it. If coarse fabric is sewn around the edges , you must use a small fur trap. It will soften stiffness in the neck and chest. It is important to consider that horse blankets should not be blown. It must be consistent with the season of the year and the purpose of use. The color scheme, size, convenience - all this has a huge impact on the animal and its mood.
Here is the horse blanket (photo above). Such a thing is not only practical, but also indispensable in cold weather. Now we know how to make horse blankets without spending money, so that each pet has its own ammunition.