blankets twisting on horse

[HungarianHippo]

arrgh. One of my three horses just cannot keep a blanket on straight! I'm on blanket #4 with him, and like all the others, it ends up twisting around so one side is way longer than the other, he's bound up at the neck and leg straps, and just miserable. Though I blanket only when conditions are really bad, he's turned out 24/7 so his blanket really needs to fit him well so he can move around the pastures. He's a TB-connemara X, his conformation is a bit on the narrow side but he's generally just a normal-shaped horse. I thought of putting a surcingle over the blanket, but that doesn't seem like it would be comfortable to wear all day. I haven't tried a belly band style yet, do you think that would work better? Any other ideas?

[sublimequine]

How are you doing up the belly and leg straps? Also, do you have them adjusted snug enough? :)

[Auventera Two]

We've had a lot of different horses and I don't think we've ever had this problem, except with really cheap blankets. Hmmm, how frustring for you! :( Are you sure the blankets fit REALLY well? Not too big? I do up the belly surcingles so there is only a few inches gap between the straps and the belly. I have a fly sheet that the leg straps are stretched out and need to be replaced, but other than that, I try to keep the leg straps done up pretty snug too. Of course you have to use the stretchy elastic ones if you're going to do that.

Also the higher quality blankets seem to be self-righting. I have a cheapie canvas blanket that was like $20 on Ebay that I use for a backup and it always slides around and gets kittywompas. But the good brand name blankets never do.

[Diamondindykin]

I am having the same problem right now since I am having to blanket because of cold temperatures here. I have noticed that the better quality (higher priced) blankets are staying put but the two blankets that are cheap are shifting. I did find that adjusting the leg straps tighter does help somewhat.

[goeslikestink]

arrgh. One of my three horses just cannot keep a blanket on straight! I'm on blanket #4 with him, and like all the others, it ends up twisting around so one side is way longer than the other, he's bound up at the neck and leg straps, and just miserable. Though I blanket only when conditions are really bad, he's turned out 24/7 so his blanket really needs to fit him well so he can move around the pastures. He's a TB-connemara X, his conformation is a bit on the narrow side but he's generally just a normal-shaped horse. I thought of putting a surcingle over the blanket, but that doesn't seem like it would be comfortable to wear all day. I haven't tried a belly band style yet, do you think that would work better? Any other ideas?

it dont fit-- thats why

when buying any blanket mesuare from chest to tail
and then again from wither to tail
then from wither to elbow
if bigger bellied horse then mesure wither to elbow then half way between elbow and knee thus will cover al of his body
then ask for a high neck line so doesnt fall out at the chest or clip backwards

then adjust all straps to the correct size
have x over belly straps -- rambo, or shires, ore weathabeata ones are better
have darted or pleates in front for schoulder movement also can get sepearate neck covers for a 14.2hh to 16hh you ned a medium one and not a large one

[Simkie]

I've found that horses that are lame behind often have blankets that slide off to one side. Just something else to think about...

[Brockstables]

Yup, the cheaper blankets do slide more, but fit is everything! We have rescue horses that come in so skinny that a blanket often hangs off them and are nearly impossible to keep straight until they fatten up enough for the blanket to fit correctly. I have an average size bellyband blanket that I use most often for these horses, but I have pretty good luck just shortening the straps, using the stretchy leg straps, and there is even a stretchy band you can add, that has clips on each end like the suspenders' clips, that you can snug a blanket up with.

We have quite a few horses come through here, so expensive blankets are out of the question. Cheap ones are fine, but look for the most adjustable that you can find.

I know this sounds pretty obvious, but I am going to add it anyway, because the know-it-all at my barn didn't have a clue and I thought it was pretty entertaining.... When you add a liner under your blanket, most of them have holes where the leg straps go through so that the two are kind of "attached" to each other, reducing movement and slipping. In fact, one of mine even has slots for the girth strap to pass through. For a week, I watched her horse walking around with his turnout hanging off one side and his liner hanging off the other, with his baffled owner following along behind trying to straighten his blankets... Yikes
Best of luck finding a workable solution for you hard-to-dress kid!
J

[JB]

I've found that horses that are lame behind often have blankets that slide off to one side. Just something else to think about...

You took the words right outta my mouth. They don't even have to look lame. But if they always lay on one side due to the other side being more difficult to rise from, or if they always rest the same hind leg due to it being achy (or the diagonal front leg being achy), this can cause it to twist. My TB gelding had arthritis in both hocks, but the right was the worst. His blankets routinely shifted to the right. My boarder's gelding has something undiagnosed (over years, and vets, and farriers, etc) in his LF, so he often rests the RH and points the LF a bit, and his blankets always shift to the right.

[pricestory]

My pony's Hug sheet slips horribly. I tried a belly band over the whole thing, didn't work. I loosened, tightened everything, nothing seemed to work. The I added a tail strap made from bailing twine, pretty snug, from the leg strap attachments on each side-back. Wallah, no more slipping.

[crosscreeksh]

I'm finding that the seamless style with a slippery nylon lining seem to fix themselves better than the shaped styles. I don't keep the leg straps toooo tight, but snug enough to keep the blanket from getting too far to one side. For a really bad "slipper" I've used a blanket roller syrcingle - the kind with large pads that fit each side of the withers. You don't have to make it way tight, but it will do the job. It doesn't seem to bother the horses, either.

[goeslikestink]

I've found that horses that are lame behind often have blankets that slide off to one side. Just something else to think about...

yes that can happen and normally to do with the rug legs straps being done up to tight so horse cant move well

[Buffyblue]

My Rambos never slip on my horse - don't know if that's the blankets (I think so) or just my horse. (Others at the barn wearing Rambos don't seem to have a slipping problem either.) They are seamless, nylon lined, and with a butt rope instead of leg straps. What brand of blankets have you tried?

[JB]

yes that can happen and normally to do with the rug legs straps being done up to tight so horse cant move well

Being "lame" in some regard is totally independent of having the leg straps done too tight. I can assure you the 2 cases I mentioned did not have leg straps too tight ;)

[Rebe]

My Rambos never slip on my horse - don't know if that's the blankets (I think so) or just my horse. (Others at the barn wearing Rambos don't seem to have a slipping problem either.) They are seamless, nylon lined, and with a butt rope instead of leg straps. What brand of blankets have you tried?

Exactly.

My old guy is "hitchy" behind, and every blanket I tried (which was almost all of them) would slide off to the side because of the way he walks.

Until I got him his first Rambo - now he wears nothing else.

The butt strap is much more successful at holding the blanket in place than leg straps ever were, at any length.

[luckles]

The only blankets I have found that don't twist are the Rambos. I have never had a problem with them. When I used Weatherbeeta, they NEVER stayed on .

[Lieslot]

Sorry did not read all replies, but here goes my solution :

I have the same problem with both my horses. The blankets always twist to the left over the hindquarters.
I went to Home Depot and bought the heaviest weight bulldog clips or snapclips they had.
It takes some playing to find the correct weight, but I counterweigh the blanket on the right with one or two (maybe 3) of those clips and the blankets stays perfectly in place now.
You need to find the right amount of clips, as too many clips will then have the blanket slip to the opposite side of course.

Both my boys are out with their Weahterbeetas and each has to 2 heavyweight counterclips on the right hind dee (where you attach the legstrap) and brilliant no slipping :cool:.

Give it a go, it's a cheap solution, for under $5 :D.

[nickers@dawn]

Another vote for Rambos! The only blanket I have found that doesn't rub, and stays straight. Add that with their different weights and liners, and you have a really good versatile blanket. The slippery nylon is also lighter, so when you have to toss blankets up onto a big horse it's much easier.