Waltrap is part of a horse’s equipment. It is a fabric cover, which is placed under the saddle. The first primitive models - chepraki - appeared in Russia in the pre-Petrine time. At the moment, lap-tops are actively used in the sports industry, and not only. There are many companies that make saddlebags from different materials and different sizes. In the article we will find out what kind of jack-overs can be, where they can be bought and how to put them on correctly.
Why do you need a wraprap?
Valtrap is a blanket of rectangular, oval or arbitrary shape. It is attached using loops to the spigot. This item of equipment performs the following functions:
- protects the horse's back from rubbing and the appearance of corns;
- serves as a shock absorber between the back and saddle (while riding and jumping, it softens blows a little);
- does not allow the saddle to slip;
- serves as a decoration;
- absorbs sweat (this prevents irritations on the horse’s back and protects the saddle from excessive moisture).
Some horsemen refuse this type of equipment because they believe that because of it the horse understands the rider’s commands worse. Others suggest that multilayer bedspreads fold during riding and rub the skin of an animal. These disadvantages relate to poor quality bedspreads. With a correctly selected robe, both the horse and the rider feel comfortable.
What materials are used to make a horse tramp?
Modern wall-hangers are:
- Single-layer - they are called sweatshirts and are made from felt or cloth. Over time, the sweatshirts become dirty and absorb sweat worse, so they need to be washed often.
- Two-layer - they are obtained by stitching two parts of synthetic, cotton, cotton, linen or coarse calico. They do not absorb sweat well and mainly perform a decorative function. The simplest winter bedspreads are obtained from two patterns of sheepskin, fur.
- Multilayer - their outer layers are sewn from thin natural fabric, and the inside is filled with synthetic winterizer or foam rubber (winter version), felt or batting.
In competitions, white covers are usually used. More expensive models are decorated with drawings, embroidery, emblems.
What are the sizes of wrap-ups?
Valtraps are accessories that are sewn manually, taking into account the structure of the horse and the design of the saddle, but they are very expensive at the same time. Amateur riders profitable to buy equipment in horse shops. On squadrons "Squadron" their size is usually indicated:
- ExtraFull - size for a large breed horse.
- Full - the size for the average horse, the most bought model, fits the saddle 16-18.5 sizes.
- Cob - a lap-top with such marking is suitable for you if your horse has outgrown a pony, but has not grown to an average horse.
- Pony - size for adults and fully developed ponies, corresponds to a saddle with a size of 14 to 16.5.
- Shetty - a cover for small ponies or mini-horses.
If you have a sewing machine, you can sew an exclusive t-shirt that will definitely suit your horse. When sewing, consider the size of the saddle: the classic version of the saddle-length peeps out from under the wings of the saddle.
Varieties of Wrapraps
Covers for saddles are classified by shape and purpose. For different disciplines of equestrian sport, they are different:
- Dressage bag - it is much more than other models.
- A medium sized universal triathlap is the best choice for beginners.
- Competitive wrap-around - it is much shorter than other models.
- The western lapel is similar in size to dressage, sewn from dense fabric, almost square in shape.
In order to determine the shape of the tramp, it is laid out on a horizontal plane. The shape of the throw-ups is divided into classic rectangular and trefoil. Some bedspreads have the shape of a bell: at the neck of the horse they are rounded, closer to the rear they are rectangular. Shamrocks, when viewed from the side, are as if divided into two halves, one of which is two times shorter than the other.
How to choose a waltrap and take care of it?
Waltrap is an ammunition that is used year-round. At first, you will need the simplest universal blanket under the saddle. It should be light and thin. The half that adjoins the horse’s back should be sewn from natural fabric with good hygroscopic properties. For the other half, it is best to choose a dense synthetic fabric that prevents slipping.
For long trips and for racing at low temperatures, multi-layer wrap-ups will be needed. Due to synthetic fillers (foam rubber, sintepon) and fur, the horse's back sweats heavily, so such models can only be worn in the cold season.
During long autumn-spring trips, the skin under the saddle is heavily rubbed, but the overheating of the steed cannot be allowed either. For such situations, you need to purchase a felt wrap or a sweatshirt.
Removing wool and cleaning with a damp cloth is the first step in grooming a walkie-talkie. They must be washed once every 1-2 weeks in a washing machine or manually. Try to use natural products so that the skin of the horse does not appear irritation.
Among the store-related ammunition for equestrian sports, the Eskadron, Horze, Anky and Fouganza waders were excellent.
How to sew a diaper yourself?
Waltrap is a piece of equipment that is easy to stitch at home. This will require several types of fabric measuring 80 x 80 cm. You can take denim or gabardine for the top, felt or cotton for the middle, as well as flannel, cotton or calico for the lower part. In addition, you need strong ribbons for edging and loops for loops.
Open all kinds of fabric according to the finished pattern (or circle the old bedspread around the edges). Do not forget about allowances of 3-5 cm. If the fabric crumbles, treat the edges. Then stitch the two halves, that is, divide the canvas into squares or rhombuses of the same size. After quilting the material, seam and sew the halves of the mantle to each other. To prevent the skin of the horse from rubbing, sew a wide stripe-edging along the connecting seam. The last stages are the edging of the edge with ribbons and a line of loops through which the saddle-strap will be attached to the rest of the horse’s ammunition.