Winter Horse Blankets

Horse Saddle Blankets

Horse saddle blankets were the first piece of gear used when horses were first domesticated. Horse saddle blankets were placed on the back of a horse to protect the rider, and they were mainly fastened by a rope. Although there is newer equipage used in riding horses nowadays like saddle and saddle pad, horse saddle blanket remains as popular as ever. These days it is used and placed under the saddle to absorb moisture and to cushion the saddle to protect the back of the horse. Saddle blankets can be used for everyday riding or during competitions though there are some version that are used for identification or decorative purposes

Choose from the best Horse Saddle Blankets

There are different types and styles of horse saddle blankets available in the market today

One of the most popular is the western-style saddle blanket. It is typically made of hand-woven wool or cotton with traditional designs and patterns. It is usually a single sheet blanket but there are also thicker, modernized versions. Hand-woven saddle blankets are cheaper; they costs around $50 to $100.

Another type of horse saddle blankets is thicker. Those saddle blankets are made of heat-pressed wool. Unlike woven fiber, heat-pressed fibers (also called felted mat) are windproof and shower-proof. Their Velcro straps and girth guard prevent the blanket from slipping. There are also vents in the blanket that allow air to circulate. There are different designs of wool-felt blanket in the market. They usually have GP shape and can be ready-made or custom made for your horses. These kinds of saddle blankets are pricier. The price ranges from around $100 to $300.

The cheapest type of horse saddle blanket is one made of woven acrylic. This type of saddle blanket can be recognized by more complicated and bold patterns and designs. It is also tear-resistant. But unlike wool or cotton blankets acrylic blankets are not that water/sweat absorbent. Additionally they can only be hand washed. This type of saddle blankets costs around $20 to $80 for regular and up to $120 for deluxe.

Just like full-horse blankets, saddle blankets are made for different purposes: everyday riding, competition, hunting and/or endurance, decorative and therapeutic. Everyday riding and decorative saddle blankets are usually single-sheet and machine washable.

Hunting, endurance and show horse saddle blankets are thicker. They usually come either with pads or they are double-woven. The most are cushioned and are shock proof, windproof and waterproof. This sort of blankets is more durable and usually has solid colors. They may cost from around $80 up to as much as $300 depending on the manufacturer.

Horse saddle blankets can also be use for therapeutic purposes. Therapeutic saddle blankets are normally cushioned and they either have an opening or are raised-in-the-middle. This little trick is to reduced pressure on the horses shoulder and gives comfort and proper ventilation on horses back. Depending on the manufacture the cost can be as little as $50 or as much as $300.

Get the Right Horse Saddle Blanket

Horse saddle blankets are smaller compare to full-horse blankets. They are made of totally different materials, too, although both kinds are used for protection. Unlike regular horse blanket, saddle horse blanket doesn’t cover the whole body of the horse but just a small part in the back area. It is usually put under horse saddles to protect the rider and the horse and prevent the saddle from slipping.

There are different manufacturer of saddle blankets and you can find them online or through niche stores near you. As for caring and maintenance, all blankets are hand washable and can be clean using water and detergent. But there are sensitive and color-fast fabrics that require dry-cleaning or simple hot water-cleaning.

So in the end, no matter what style or materials you choose for your horse saddle blankets, whether it is ready-made or custom-made what’s important is that it fits your equines perfectly. So before buying make sure that you get the exact measurement of your horse. Unlike measuring for full-horse blankets, measuring for horse saddle blankets starts with the contour of the top channel of you horse to the rear panels. Once you got the measurement add a minimum of five centimeters to get the size of your saddle blanket.

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