I picked up a new fleece cooler horse blanket the some other day, plus it reminded me exactly how much I rely on this stuff once the temperatures begins to dip. When you've spent any time around race horses in the wintertime, you understand the struggle: you finish a great school, your own horse is steaming and sweaty, but the air is freezing. You can't just toss all of them back in their particular stall or out during a call soaking wet, but you also don't have three hrs to stand generally there with a towel. That's where a good fleece cooler saves the day.
It's one of those items of tack that doesn't appearance like much—just a large rectangle of fuzzy fabric—but it's actually a bit associated with a workhorse in its own right. I've used them intended for everything from post-ride cool-downs to extra layers under the heavy turnout, and even as the "fancy" rug with regard to local shows.
How the particular wicking process really works
The main reason anyone grabs a fleece cooler horse blanket is for its wicking capability. If you're not familiar with the term, "wicking" is really a fancy method of saying the particular fabric pulls humidity away from the horse's skin and moves it towards the outside of the particular blanket.
When your horse is sweaty, their coat is trapped with moisture. Within cold weather, that will moisture turns chilly fast, which can lead to chills or even muscle cramping. When a person throw a fleece cooler on, the high-tech (but really soft) polyester fibres grab that sweat. After about 20 minutes, you'll in fact see little beans of water—almost such as dew—sitting within the very top of the fleece. Meanwhile, the particular layer touching your horse's coat remains relatively dry plus warm.
I've always found it satisfying in order to see those water droplets forming upon the outside. It's proof that the blanket is doing the heavy lifting so the horse doesn't have to use all its power simply to stay hot while drying away from. It's a much better alternative to the old-school method of stuffing hay under a carpet, which my instructor used to perform back in the particular day.
Why fleece beats constructed from wool for everyday make use of
Now, some people recommend constructed from wool coolers, and don't get me incorrect, wool is excellent. It's traditional and incredibly warm. However for my money and my sanity, a fleece cooler horse blanket victories every time with regard to daily barn existence.
First off, have you ever attempted to wash the wool cooler? It's a nightmare. You have to be so careful with the temperature or you'll end up with a blanket that will fits a Shetland pony rather than Warmblood. Fleece, however, is usually basically indestructible within the laundry. You may toss it within the machine, make use of regular detergent, plus it comes out looking brand brand-new. It dries within about twenty moments, too, that is a lifesaver when you have got a busy barn schedule.
Also, fleece is course of action lighter. If a person have a horse that's a little bit sensitive or in case you're hauling a ton of equipment to a present, without having to haul around a heavy, moist wool rug will be a massive in addition. Plus, modern fleece is surprisingly long lasting. I have one in my tack trunk that's possibly six years outdated; it's a little passed from the sun, but the fibers still wick moisture equally well as the day I bought this.
The flexibility you didn't understand you needed
While most individuals think of the fleece cooler horse blanket since something for after a ride, I actually use mine to get a dozen different things.
One of my favorite "hacks" is using this as a lining. Whenever we get the random cold snap where the temp drops way lower than my horse's medium-weight turnout can manage, I'll throw the particular fleece cooler on underneath. It provides a layer of trapped air for insulation without incorporating a ton associated with bulk that might cause rubbing in the shoulders.
It's also the go-to for trailering. Horses can obtain pretty stressed or physically warm when they're balancing within a moving truck, even in the wintertime. A heavy rug will make them overheat, but a fleece cooler provides just enough defense against drafts while letting their own skin breathe. In addition, they look sharpened walking from the movie trailer at a display in a clean, navy fleece.
Finding the right fit and features
Not really all coolers are created equal, plus I've learned that the hard way. When you're shopping regarding a fleece cooler horse blanket , you wish to look at the particular "weight" from the fleece. Some are very thin—almost like a sheet—which is fine to get a summer cooling, however for winter, you want something with the bit of loft. A "polar fleece" is usually the sweet spot with regard to thickness.
Examine the closures, too. If you're thinking about leaving the horse alone in their own stall while they dry, you definitely want a cooler that has concealed or removable surcingles (the straps that will go under the particular belly). Plenty of conventional coolers just have the single chest straps and an end cord. That's great if you're standing right there grooming, but if the horse decides to roll or even just maneuver around, a cooler without belly band find yourself around their particular neck or under their feet within seconds.
We personally like the ones with a "contour" fit. Some chillers are just large squares (often called a square cooler), which look traditional but can become a bit of a trip risk if you aren't using a surcingle. A shaped fleece cooler horse blanket that comes after the line of the particular horse's back and has a proper throat opening stays in position much better.
The "hair magnet" struggle is actual
I possess to be sincere with you: the only downside to a fleece cooler horse blanket is usually that it is usually a total magnets for hair, shavings, and hay. In the event that your horse is definitely shedding their winter coat, that fleece is going to look like the furry animal simply by the time a person take it off.
I've found that this best way to offer with this really is to keep a rigid dandy brush specifically for the blanket. When the horse is dry and I take the cooler away, I give it the quick flick-off prior to folding it. In case you let the hair get ground in to the fibers, it's much harder in order to get out. But even with the particular hair situation, I'd still take fleece over almost any other material just because showing how well it works.
Keeping your own horse comfortable during grooming
Another thing I love using my fleece cooler horse blanket for is throughout those long wintertime grooming sessions. When I'm doing a full groom or clipping, I don't want my horse standing in the particular cold cross-ties with nothing on.
I'll usually drape the cooler over their hindquarters while I work on their front finish, then swap it. It keeps their muscles warm and keeps them from getting "tucked up" from the cold. Some sort of relaxed horse is definitely a much better-behaved horse on the grooming tie, and I'm convinced the warmth of the fleece helps with that.
Final ideas on picking one out
In the end of the day, you don't need to spend a lot of money to get the decent fleece cooler horse blanket . Right now there are high-end ones with fancy piping and leather buckles, and you will find budget-friendly ones basically simply as well.
The most important thing is definitely that it suits well enough not to slip and that the materials is high-quality enough to actually wick moisture rather as opposed to the way just getting saturated. Once you discover one you including, you'll probably question how you actually managed a winter months with out it. It's just one of individuals simple tools that makes barn existence a little little bit easier and keeps our horses the whole lot even more comfortable. Just remember to shake away the shavings before you decide to put it in your car—trust me on that one!