Blanket storage on stalls- I need creative ideas!!

[BCGirl]

I am hoping the creative brains of COTHers will be able to help me out with this one!

We are facing a bit of a dilemma when it comes to blanket bars/blanket storage for everyday use. Our stall doors are sliding and have the nice “V” where they can stick their heads out. We do have the option of closing those if someone is being nasty or causing problems. They look similar to these in the design of the top. http://www.keystonebarns.com/images/StallDoor-650je2.jpg

Of course, since our barn is old and quirky, we cannot put them next to the sliding door because there isn’t enough space for a decently sized blanket bar.

So, our only option that we can come up with is to put them on the front of the stall door. Since horses are horses, this is a great set up for pulling off blankets and causing issues! We could always put the grates up, but I would like to avoid doing that.

Does anyone know if there is either a guard of some type to put above the blanket bar to prevent them from playing with the blankets? Or does anyone have creative ideas other than standard blanket bars? We are a bit stumped.

Thank you for your help!!

[Ambitious_Kate]

What I have seen in some barns is a rack of blanket bars elswhere in the barn. Some of these are swinging arms at differing levels on a single hinge, some are a type of ladder of racks of bars, but it puts the blankets in one place, and away from the horses.

Also, the blankets are more at shoulder height, and make it easy to brush off the blankets on the racks, or sort through them looking for rips and broken hardware.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Any number of ideas scrolling down this page

https://www.google.com/search?q=horse+blanket+storage&biw=1024&bih=637&tbm=isch&imgil=DojpbO5SXXpVzM%253A%253BUzwgXjWVBntBjM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.chronofhorse.com%25252Fforum%25252Fshowthread.php%25253F379681-Horse-Blanket-Rack-Ideas&source=iu&pf=m&fir=DojpbO5SXXpVzM%253A%252CUzwgXjWVBntBjM%252C_&usg=__VQKx3EZXa0atMp1iyCF3LqGlKQ8%3D&ved=0CEsQyjdqFQoTCIGUtLqr4MgCFYIqPgod5WgNbw&ei=jzcuVsGQLYLV-AHl0bX4Bg#imgrc=DojpbO5SXXpVzM%3A&usg=__VQKx3EZXa0atMp1iyCF3LqGlKQ8%3D

[TheHorseMutterer]

Could you put a shelf on top of the blanket bar?

Take some of these, flip them upside down, bend the “hooks” into 90* angles and attach a board across the top that keep interested lips off the blanket. Might have to have a pretty wide board, maybe 8-12" but that would probably cost less than replacing all the blankets several times :yes:

[Wonders12]

When your stall door is open, does it take up the full length of the stall front, or is there an area where the door doesn’t cover?

We have hooks that hang above the bars of the stall door. (Our set up is opposite, bars on the door, opening on the non-door section of the stall.)

I REALLY like this set up because the blankets dry so much better this way. Rained on blankets and sheets can drip dry, and damp coolers don’t stay damp folded up on a rack.

While it’s not the prettiest way to store blankets, I do find it better than the “stuff-a-blanket” alternative that blanket bars become if you don’t have incredibly detailed oriented people handling them daily.

Plus, they are super cheap. The biggest downside is short people struggle, but there is a technique (or step stools) that makes it possible.

[BCGirl]

Ambitious Kate- I have seen that set up as well. Unfortunately our barn is a 14 stall bank barn and the only place we could conceibably do something of this sort is on one of the ends, which would be a huge daily PITA. I am thinking we may do some of the shoulder height ones at one end for when blankets come in soaking, but for everyday it just wouldn’t work. I have seen it done in normal aisle barns and it looks nice and tidy! Bank barns do not want to play the tidy game…I am also checking through some of the ideas from your search, thanks!

The Horse Mutterer- We had tossed that kind of idea around- I think it would keep them off the blankets, but we may get someone who wants to pull the board off, but it seems like the most likely option if we go the route of blanket bars on the doors! Thanks!

Wonders12-It takes up almost the entire length on most of the stalls. I am pretty sure I understand your set up, but do you happen to have a picture of it? And what did you use for the hook? Just a run of the mill hook? Thanks!

[China_Doll]

Why not a hook between stalls?

[Gainer]

[QUOTE=Wonders12;8374596]
When your stall door is open, does it take up the full length of the stall front, or is there an area where the door doesn’t cover?

We have hooks that hang above the bars of the stall door. (Our set up is opposite, bars on the door, opening on the non-door section of the stall.)

I REALLY like this set up because the blankets dry so much better this way. Rained on blankets and sheets can drip dry, and damp coolers don’t stay damp folded up on a rack.

While it’s not the prettiest way to store blankets, I do find it better than the “stuff-a-blanket” alternative that blanket bars become if you don’t have incredibly detailed oriented people handling them daily.

Plus, they are super cheap. The biggest downside is short people struggle, but there is a technique (or step stools) that makes it possible.[/QUOTE]

This is what I do as well. Not as tidy looking as a folded blanket, but the blankets dry much faster.

[enjoytheride]

Hang a hook up high right before where the next stall opening starts. You’ll lose a few inches of space but it will not be noticeable.

Another option

http://www.bigdweb.com/Blanket-Storage-Bag/productinfo/664828/

[Chall]

Coolest ever thing I saw was a lead line holder (big metal ring, 1ft in diameter)attached to a chain.
The chain went to a pulley in the ceiling and the chain had a counterweight.
Pull it down, hang up lead line and a slight push and it went up.

That principle could be applied, but you would need high enough ceilings. And a counterweight that would handle the varying weight of a dry vs wet blanket.

(It was at Trowbridge Arabians that I saw it, I want to give credit where it is due).

[Chall]

Coolest ever thing I saw was a lead line holder (big metal ring, 1ft in diameter)attached to a chain. <br>
The chain went to a pulley in the ceiling and the chain had a counterweight.<br>
Pull it down, hang up lead line and a slight push and it went up.<br>
<br>
That principle could be applied, but you would need high enough ceilings. And a counterweight that would handle the varying weight of a dry vs wet blanket.<br>
<br>
(It was at Trowbridge Arabians that I saw it, I want to give credit where it is due).

[Simbalism]

A bunch of us at the barn where I board just got blanket bags from Stateline tack. They were pretty economical, came in a few colors and your personalization embroidery was included. They hold several blankets. Sorry this post acted crazy, was trying to post link to the Tough 1 bags.

[silverdog]

Beware any sort of blanket bar that the horse can reach. My horse was on stall rest last winter and out of boredom was playing with his blanket bar - he got a thru and thru lip injury that took ages to completely heal up. His blanket bar has now been secured so it affords no entertainment. We hand the blankets up on hooks in a variety of locations around the barn. Works fine and they get a chance to air out.

[Palm_Beach]

I second the hook idea - install the hook high, do up the chest of the blanket, and hand it by the chest. Takes up way more vertical space than horizontal space, but seems to work well.

[sascha]

On the STBD side at my boarding barn, each stall has a rope with hooks attached to a ring or pulley way up high. There are eye screws on the walls at about waist level. Harness bags are attached to the rope and then hoisted up high. The clip on the other end of the rope is then attached to the eye screw keeping the bag up and out of the way and well away from prying teeth.

That sort of system would work well for blankets too. Even if you don’t have a lot of height in your old barn, it would at least prevent them from trailing on the floor and would also allow short people to handle the system with ease.

[Xanthoria]

[QUOTE=Chall;8375629]
Coolest ever thing I saw was a lead line holder (big metal ring, 1ft in diameter)attached to a chain.
The chain went to a pulley in the ceiling and the chain had a counterweight.
Pull it down, hang up lead line and a slight push and it went up.

That principle could be applied, but you would need high enough ceilings. And a counterweight that would handle the varying weight of a dry vs wet blanket[/QUOTE]

I got the BM to make a single pole version of this design with no counter weight needed. It pulls blankets up out of the way and into warmer (rising) air to dry faster. Great idea except the BM used rope that didn’t fit the pulley and a bar that’s too lightweight so it gets stuck. And we need one per horse!

[IndyEquestrian]

A few barns around here use carabiner clips on the blankets to hang them from the wall. . . It lets them dry and they are super easy to take down. They have just a few hooks between each stall on the walls and the blankets hook right on, chest up.

[rhymeswithfizz]

I just ordered one of each of these from Schneiders:
http://www.sstack.com/horse-blanket-and-cooler-racks/easy-up-swing-arm-rack/

And to organize saddle pads in my tack room, a smaller version:
http://www.sstack.com/horse-blanket-and-cooler-racks/easy-up-mini-swing-arm-rack/

Joy!! I can’t wait to try them out.

[BCGirl]

I appreciate all of the suggestions!!! I also came across this type of rack, a Roma Wall Blanket Rack, which may well work for our situation. https://www.horseloverz.com/horse-barn-stable-supplies-equipment/horse-barn-stable-supplies/horse-blanket-bar-bags/roma-wall-blanket-rack

Currently my plan is to:

1. Install the blanket bars with a shelf over them to prevent nibblers.
2. Add hooks between the stalls on the ceiling/high up for hanging wet blankets/additional space.
3. Try out the Roma one that I linked.

I really appreciate all of your suggestions!

[Foxyrab]

I use a blanket clamp like this: http://www.bigdweb.com/Blanket-Clamp-Large/productinfo/49/ and attach a lightweight “S” hook from Tractor Supply. I clamp hold of the blanket – at the end, middle, wherever, and hang the blanket up. I have a light weight chain hanging across one end of the barn aisle (think clothesline, only it’s a “blanketline”) and hang the blankets on the chain.