Saddle Blanket Care
With many styles and materials available for
saddle pads and
blankets, the wool blanket is far and away
still the favorite for many horse owners and
trainers. As with anything that is built to
withstand extended use, a good wool blanket
is seldom inexpensive, and should be considered
an investment. With proper care (requiring
only a little attention), a wool blanket will
last for many years, even if used for many
hours every day. Here are a few tips to help
you prolong the life of your wool blanket and
the comfort of your horse.
Brush & Beat The Blanket:
Every few days, simply slap the blanket against
a door, pipe, fence, etc. Then use a soft to
medium stiff horse brush (not a metal curry
comb), and brush the hair and dander from the
blanket. This won’t take more than 5
minutes of your time.
Wash The Blanket:
Every 60 to 90 days, wash the blanket in a
tub of cold water. For best results, put your
blanket in a tub of water and let it soak for
a least an hour. Then, as best you can “wring” the
blanket in the water, then “wring” it
out of the water. Next, hang the blanket over
a rail (like the top rail of a fence), and
with a soft to medium brush, lightly brush
the blanket on both sides. Let the blanket
air dry completely, then slap it against a
door or fence until it feels as soft as a brand
new one.
Note: It is best not to use soap when washing
wool blankets. The blanket will retain much
of the soap (even soaps made specifically for
wool). When the blanket becomes wet with sweat,
the residual soap may seep throughout the very
porous wool, and irritate a horse’s back.
After a few washings, the color may begin to
fade, this has no bearing on the usefulness
of the blanket in serving its true purpose.