When you need to put away your horse’s winter blanket for the day or the season, casting them aside is no way to keep your blankets organized. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to store horse blankets. Properly storing winter horse blankets protects them from damage and prolong their lifespan, ensuring they are in excellent shape winter after winter. Storing horse blankets correctly also helps reduce clutter in the barn, a fight we always try to win.
This guide will show you the best methods for folding your horse blankets, offer great storage ideas, and give you easy-to-follow tips for keeping the barn tidy.
Why Proper Storage is Important for Your Horse Blankets
Properly storing your horse blankets is important to keeping them clean and safe. Horse blankets left in a damp area or left damp by horse sweat or water can grow mold and mildew, which can stain and ruin a blanket and pose a health hazard for your horse. In addition, improper storage can invite pests to chew on the fabric or use it as a nest or bathroom (gross, right?!). Fabric damage doesn’t just come from pests either; damage from improper storage can come from horses and people stepping on them or other gear ripping and tearing the fabric.
When you store horse blankets properly, you help maintain waterproofing, save space, preserve the blanket's quality, and prevent unnecessary wear and tear. In addition, proper horse blanket storage makes it easy to grab the right blanket quickly when the air gets chilly.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fold a Horse Blanket
Maintaining the condition and durability of horse blankets depends on proper folding and storage. Whether folding for storage or hanging on a stall, follow these four simple steps to neatly store your blankets for the next winter season. Taking the time to store them correctly helps prevent damage and extends their lifespan.
Folding Your Horse Blanket for Long-Term Storage
Properly folding and storing your horse blankets is essential for maintaining their condition. Here are simple steps to follow for both storage options:
Lay the blanket on a clean, flat surface. Fold it at the spine, with the surcingle/belly band side facing you.
Bring the belly straps up and tuck them onto the body of the blanket.
Fold the back and front of the blanket towards the middle, reducing its size by a third.
Finally, fold the bottom of the blanket up to the top. You can fold it one more time for lightweight sheets and coolers.
Folding Your Horse Blanket to Hang on a Stall
If you have limited storage space or prefer quick access to your horse blankets, hanging them on the stall door is a practical solution. Remember to fold them properly beforehand to avoid wrinkles or damage. Follow these four steps to fold your blankets like a pro and keep your barn aisle neat and organized.
Lay the blanket flat on a clean surface, folded at the spine with the surcingle/belly band side facing you.
Bring the belly straps up and tuck them onto the body of the blanket.
Fold the blanket over so that the spine and bottom meet.
Pick up the blanket from the middle and fold it, then fold it in the middle again. This will help you hang the blanket neatly on a stall front blanket bar.
Best Horse Blanket Storage Ideas
Now that your blanket is folded and ready to be stored, how do you store horse blankets? There are a lot of storage solutions for your barn, but we’ve narrowed it down to the best horse blanket storage solutions.
Blanket Bars and Racks
Both wall-mounted and portable horse blanket racks keep horse blankets organized and allow blankets to air-dry when damp. You can hang your blankets virtually anywhere. Blanket bars and racks can hang over the edge of the stall, a mounted hook, or clipped to stall bars by S-hooks. They can be a great choice in stables with multiple horses. Horse blanket racks include swinging arms, heavy-duty steel construction, and expandable systems.
Some great options include the Easy-Up® Pro Rolling Blanket Hanging Rack, the Easy-Up® Heavy Duty Deluxe Blanket Rack, and the Easy-Up® Horsewear Bar with Tack Hangers.
Storage Bags
For the best long-term horse blanket storage solution, keep your blankets in a storage bag. This allows you to easily label and keep your blankets tidy off-season. Waterproof and breathable storage bags can also protect blankets from moisture and pests.
Storage bags like Schneiders® Vinyl Sheet Storage Bag or the Dura-Tech® Vinyl Blanket Storage Bag are great horse blanket organization ideas.
Hanging Blanket Organizers
Hanging blanket organizers, like stall front bags, keep your blankets dry and neat without wasting valuable floor space. These convenient hanging blanket bags protect your blankets from excess dirt, keeping them handy when needed. This horse blanket storage solution is great for storing multiple blankets in small spaces.
Choose hanging blanket organizers like Schneiders® Stall Front Large Horsewear Bag or the Dura-Tech® 2 Pocket Water Resistant Stall Front Bag as a top horse blanket organizer.
Plastic Totes and Bins
Looking for a quick and stackable horse blanket storage idea? Folded blankets can be stored in plastic totes and bins to protect them from dust and pests during the off-season.
Preparing Your Horse Blankets for Storage
To prepare your horse blankets for storage, clean them before storage and dry them thoroughly. Wash your blankets according to the manufacturer’s instructions, either at home or through a professional cleaning service, and dry them thoroughly. Blankets stored damp will cause mold and mildew. Not only will these ruin the damp blanket, but they will also spread to any other blanket being stored with it.
Once a year or when your horse blanket shows signs of losing its waterproofing ability, reproof it after washing to ensure it remains functional for the next season. Use a product such as Schneiders BlockAide Blanket Reproofer to keep water from soaking into the blanket and chilling your horse.
Tips and Tricks for Storing Your Horse Blankets
Label your blanket bags or totes with the size, weight, and your horse's name for easy organization. This will save you time and effort when searching for the right blankets and sheets during fall and winter. Additionally, tagging each blanket individually helps identify the appropriate weight for your horse.
Before storing your blanket, inspect and replace any missing or damaged elastic leg straps or tail cords. Avoid the frustration of finding out your blanket is missing essential components when you need it the most.
Even after washing, blankets can develop a musty odor from prolonged storage. Add a few dryer sheets to your blanket storage bag or tote to keep your blankets fresh throughout the storage season.
For heavily soiled or smelly blankets, consider using Schneiders® Odor Eliminator as an additive in the wash cycle. This powerful product eliminates odors caused by mold, mildew, urine, or manure. It can also be diluted in a spray bottle for quick deodorization.
Over time, the waterproofing of your turnout blankets may wear off. Revitalize their water resistance with Schneiders® Spray On Blanket Re-Proofer, a convenient spray-on treatment that extends the lifespan of your turnout blankets or sheets.
Storing your winter horse blankets doesn't have to be a hassle. Follow these tips, tricks, and storage steps to simplify your blanket storage routine. Share your own folding techniques or storage hacks for horse blankets with us!
