Warmer weather is promised for next week, so it's time to take the horses' blankets to the laundry. I've been using the laundry myself, because there are quite a few blankets - almost ten are in use during the winter.
Remove hair from the warp with a rubber band!
Before going to the laundromat, I air all the rugs and remove the worst hairs. Over the years, I have learned to buy rugs that do not catch hairs. You have to be really careful with the material, we find that smooth-surfaced fabrics work best. We don't see any fleece rugs! However, if hairs have stuck to the rug, I have found that the best way to remove them is with a rubber squeegee! Yes, you read that right. Try it yourself!
The eternal question: with or without warp?
Our hobby horses are used to being outdoors for long days and are not clipped, so in good weather they can go outside without a blanket. However, remember to be careful not to put a horse out without a blanket that is not yet used to it. Gradually reduce the thickness of the blanket!
-----
The author is a hobby stable owner in his mid-thirties. He has three horses in the yard and has been involved in the hobby for thirty years.
