Lets Talk Blankets

I don't and wont' debate the need or desire to blanket horses. We do blanket at the Sanctuary but it is based on need. Some of our residents never need anything more than a full belly and a wind break, while others need a variety of blankets to keep the chill off.


It is very contingent on each horse and it's  not even based on age. Rain is not even 20 and he's needed a blanket for the past few years. Jim, who's 30 doesn't need a blanket. So it's all in perspective who basic needs.


Each year I think I'm going to be ahead of the game and get blankets taken care of. I DID get most of the blankets washed this past July but I needed them repaired and waterproofed. I sent four off (the most coveted blankets) to be repaired by a volunteer. I've not gotten back to washing any of the others.


When I wash blankets, I don't throw them in the wash machine because ours can't handle it and I wont' take them to a Laundromat because I don't want to ruin someone else's clothes. So instead I wash them by hand. Either way of washing, I think the waterproofing doesn't last so I try to waterproof every year.


I used to think we had to have fancy waterproofing until Mike suggested using regular deck waterproofing and that's what we've been using ever since. One gallon of waterproofing covers about 6 blankets. We use whatever is the cheapest and lately it's been Thompson's Waterproofing.


I thought we bought a gallon this summer but I couldn't find it so I used up the left over from last year and got 1.5 blankets done. I bought another gallon and today slapped some waterproofing on one blanket during my lunch break.


Now to track down the coveted blankets and get them waterproofed while the weather is still nice. It's hard to think that we need blankets when it's gorgeous out but in short order the weather will turn and I want to make sure that the herd is well protected when the rains and snows start to fall and the temps plummet.


Anyone want to donate blankets or waterproofing? Or better yet, anyone want to donate their time to waterproof or repair blankets? I could use all the help I can get!

My help while waterproofing

My help while waterproofing

My help while waterproofing

Waterproofing done and now waiting to dry