I just got out my new horse’s blanket and saw that the back leg straps had been torn off or removed. Is it ok to use it still until I can get him a new one ordered or does having those missing make it dangerous for him to wear?
Does it have a tail strap?
Yes, it can be dangerous…a good wind gust will blow it up around his withers. If he’s a calm sort, he’ll just be cold on his butt…if not, he could panic and make the situation worse.
It’s perfectly acceptable to rig something up with some bailing twine and snaps, however, until your new leg straps arrive.
Is there a tail strap to secure the blanket?
Consider what will happen in a wind or as horse is lying down/getting up, playing with others etc … in other words I have used a blanket with missing leg straps in the short term, but would hesitate in many scenarios.
From experience, yes, if the blanket it made for leg straps, it needs them. I tried to substitute a tail strap on a windy day…thank heavens it was Mr. Nothing Bothers me. I found him grazing with the entire blanket blown over his head.
Ok, I’ve ordered new straps and won’t use it until I have them or a good safe strap alternative. Thanks for the advice guys!
[QUOTE=LauraKY;7851931]
…thank heavens it was Mr. Nothing Bothers me. I found him grazing with the entire blanket blown over his head.[/QUOTE]
OMG so funny! And what a good boy!
[QUOTE=LauraKY;7851931]
From experience, yes, if the blanket it made for leg straps, it needs them. I tried to substitute a tail strap on a windy day…thank heavens it was Mr. Nothing Bothers me. I found him grazing with the entire blanket blown over his head.[/QUOTE]
he probably pulled it over to keep his ears warm!
like above poster said, I would feel perfectly comfortable jerryrigging some straps in the interim. If the inside attachment point is sewn (ie doesn’t have a d-ring to tie onto) I’m sure there’s still a patch of nylon or whatever that you could sew onto without piercing the waterproof outer layer. Making the whole strap out of baling twine might be scratchy on their leg, I’d try to find something softer. Some old panty hose would probably work well.
[or, decide that your valuable time is better spent on something else, and just suck up the express shipping costs and be done with it. :lol: That’s prob what I’d really do ]
Are there any blankets other that Horseware that do not use leg straps?
I would have to check but Bucas I don’t think have leg straps.
P.
I have a random, no name pony blanket that doesn’t have leg straps. It is very curved on the bum and seems fine to stay on with just the tail strap.
One boarder tried using her leg strap brand blanket without last year, and on a windy day the blanket turned into a parachute for the poor horse, and yes, ended up on the ground where it turned into a toy for her field mates.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;7852093]
he probably pulled it over to keep his ears warm![/QUOTE]
Knowing Bill, nothing would surprise me.
[QUOTE=HungarianHippo;7852193]
like above poster said, I would feel perfectly comfortable jerryrigging some straps in the interim. If the inside attachment point is sewn (ie doesn’t have a d-ring to tie onto) I’m sure there’s still a patch of nylon or whatever that you could sew onto without piercing the waterproof outer layer. Making the whole strap out of baling twine might be scratchy on their leg, I’d try to find something softer. Some old panty hose would probably work well.
[or, decide that your valuable time is better spent on something else, and just suck up the express shipping costs and be done with it. :lol: That’s prob what I’d really do ][/QUOTE]
LOL, we never left the blankets on for long, the holes in the stable rug were a puzzle until I found the answer in a catalog or book or something…
Quick solution (for the school girl pre internet, etc) was to braid some twine up, attache some small snaps on one end, done.
That kind of bailing twine softened up with use, so no problem there.
And I got to practice my fancy 4 strand round braid! 
Both Bucas & Horseware Ireland provide D’s for leg straps, sometimes they even include the pretty color coordinated leg straps (with nicer hardware than I can find in locally available replacement straps 
), both include tail straps (again usually on D’s).
Lots of wind here so we almost always use the leg straps, only use the tail straps if they are the clip sort (too inept to tie I guess :o )
I detest leg straps, and much prefer bum straps!
I do have one pony who still has a WB and I removed the leg straps and made him a bum strap.
I have never had any issues with blankets slipping and it’s less strapping for them to get tangled up in.
A local boarding barn has done the same thing and she finds it saves her quite a bit of time not having to do up 40 leg straps first thing in the morning. And there have been no complaints from any of the boarders.
Baling twine tied to the rings or tied to snaps works JUST FINE for a quick fix!!!
Including yesterday’s blanket debacle, I have now known four horses to have their blankets blown forward and lodge over their heads. I now put leg straps even on blankets that don’t come with them, and replace them religiously when broken.
I always take them off. The blankets fit her well, the back comes well over her tail, the belly straps are crossed and not too loose. There’s never been a problem with the blanket shifting when she rolls or bucks. It seems to be shaped too well to lift up over her rump and even when I’ve wanted to take her temp, I’ve had to undo the back belly strap. I’m much more worried about her getting a hoof through a back strap when she’s rolling or messing around.
But, if you want them, you could probably find them quicker at the horse laundry, and I’ve seen them sold just about anywhere that sells blankets.
Rhinos don’t have leg straps, just the one surcingle and a tail strap and then another right on the tail flap. Somehow they don’t budge - LOVE mine.
I remove my leg straps and use twine to make fillet strings. They are easy and cheap to replace when dirty
