Horse blankets have gone fashionista

When I first decided to develop a horse online store, I never did envision that I’d be thinking about high fashion for horses. It’s an amazing thing, really. It is happening right now in the horse industry, and I’m a part of it. Truthfully, I find it fun, exciting and a mite hokey. But I’m loving every minute of it.

Some horses don’t need an extra blanket at all since they are perfectly able to fend off winds and cold temperatures with the natural coat God has given them. 

Horse people are still dressing their horses with Mother Nature in mind and, of course, that is first and foremost. For those of us that want to supplement the horse’s natural protection, stable our horses or just want an easier time keeping their coats clean and protected, we have choices – and, oh my goodness, what choices we now have.

We now have space age technology – I mean we have fabrics that are absolutely amazing and our horses have not been forgotten in state-of-the-art textiles. Fabrics designated for horse wear come in rip stop nylons or poly and various denier grades for light and medium and heavy weather conditions. Materials are not cumbersome and massively heavy, they’re breathable, tough, and definitely attractive. Linings are also hard wearing and fine coat friendly. Any fillers for insulation have become light, airy and more efficient. I like to think of our horse blankets as high tech these days.

Customers will notice the changes in water resistant materials and vast improvements in waterproofing materials. In addition, stitching for most waterproof horse turnout blankets and sheets are no longer on mid-back. Instead, blankets are manufactured avoiding stitches along the backline of horses to avoid water seepage through the tiny holes made by the stitches. Further improvements to horse blankets have also been made by adding shoulder gussets and tail flaps. Overall designs wear better, are more durable and horses – when measured correctly for blankets – don’t attempt to rub them off since they fit much better than in the past. 

Then there are the fabric designs. I’m not sure the horses care one way or the other if they wear purple or pink or orange. However, I can tell you that I do and I’ll give you several reasons.

During hunting season, I like to see my horses in bright orange or another loud color choice. We are not far removed from forests and not only can I see my animals from the distance and know exactly where each horse is, but I can assume that hunters are able to see them as well.

A horse owner is able to identify horses at a quick glance. From a distance, a brown horse and another brown horse – both wearing navy blue – look alike in many ways until you look for differences in height or markings. I find it preferable to look and see, in an instant, where everyone is and I can do that based on blanket color.

Some owners prefer to dress their horses in stable colors. That is also possible with the myriad choices available today for trims and basic blanket fabrics and colors.

Others enjoy the fun prints and fashionista styling available these days. Why not go animal wild and gussy up the horse in zebra, giraffe or leopard prints. Horses can wear camouflage in various colors or really go camo. They can get halters to match.

You might have read my article on the Cowgirl Fever Blankets and Horse Sheets. What fun and what a success these blankets and sheets have been. Kudos for companies that lead the way for horse pizzazz. Horses can wear tie dye, peace signs, hearts, dots, or dress retro as easily as the traditional type of horse clothing. It’s only in the imagination and desires of the horse public as to what can be created next.

I’ve said it many times. It never ceases to amaze me how ideas form and then take off. It’s so much fun dressing up horses. And why not, I ask.