Does your barn have a blanket rule?

[CHT]

I am not so much talking about everyone being matchy matchy, but I am thinking I need some blanket rules for next year. Or maybe I am just extra bitchy as it has been a rough month help wise…

Things I have been having problems with:

1. Cheap hardware: T closures that don’t stay done up so I have to fix in the field and buckles where the latch part slips out of place so I have to fiddle with it in winter gloves and frosty glasses to get the blanket done up. Not sure how to address this other than to only allow Brand name blankets, which seems unfair, but I really don’t want to mess with cheap hardware.
2. Over the head blankets/shoulder guards. I just can’t use my shoulders that well anymore. I don’t care if they are on outside horses, just the ones I put on daily. Mostly an issue with blankets where the front buckle breaks, so rather than fix the owner just ties it together.
3. Cheap blankets. One owner won’t buy decent blankets because she says her horse wrecks them, so instead I am out rescuing her horse from blankets torn and around his hocks. Oddly the blanket I lent him while she was away did just fine for 3 weeks…and it wasn’t a particularly expensive blanket.
4. No replacement blanket: If a blanket gets ripped the horses need a replacement.
5. And my current annoyance: owner would rather layer than just buy suitable blankets but I only include ONE blanket on and off for blanket service (I don’t charge), so she wants me to leave the one on in the barn. The heated barn. On her super hairy horse. Plus, the blanket in question attracts shavings like crazy…easier to brush off a horse than a blanket. This one might be petty, but I swear I feel like I spent way too much time this week discussing blankets with her. It just doesn’t need to be that complicated, but she has so many fricking rules about her blankets (this one can’t be used when it might be muddy as an example, because she doesn’t want it to get dirty) Not sure what policy would address this though.

[Simkie]

I wonder if you started charging if people would stop requesting blanketing? At the very least, you’d be compensated for the hassle.

I’ve never boarded anywhere that had requirements on brand, etc, but I have always purchased quality blankets. Blanketing has, however, ALWAYS been a charge. Generally $30-$50 month, for one change in the AM and one in the PM as needed.

I think it would be very reasonable to request nothing that has to go over the head, due to your shoulder issues. Reasonable, even, to request no liners. I think restrictions on brand is a bit tougher.

[Lieslot]

I know of a boarding barn (high end) that requires all horses to have Rambo Optimo with the different weight underlayers.
It works apparently pretty well for the barnstaff. All horses are clipped too.
I do find it quite a pricey demand on the boarders, but apparently no one complains.

[merrygoround]

For the cheap hardware that keeps coming unhooked. Those annoying little rubber rings are available on line.

http://www.equestriancollections.com/product.asp?ic=WB00015R

[CHT]

I don’t want to charge for blanketing for the inside horses as I am not sure what I would do if someone didn’t want blanket service. The barn is heated, so in the cold months it might be 30 below outside, but it will still be above freezing inside…and in the summer I don’t want horses to have to wear fly sheets in the barn. I don’t offer blanket service to outside horses, but will rescue a horse as needed (I just want to minimize the need!)…maybe I should charge when it happens?

Would a hair elastic work as well as those rubber rings? Most blankets seem to come with the rings already, but good to know you can buy them.

[alto]

Just write up a concise letter to your boarders & let them know that with the (health) challenges you’re facing you’re going to instigate some changes …

1. small increase in monthly fees (rather than a blanket fee)

2. uniformity in blanketing, this is not just about you but also a dedication to the welfare of the horses
   (you may see some changes in your board population, but it will be for the better - it’s so much nicer to have clients that share your standards of care)

3. maybe organise a meeting & discuss with clients changes they’d like to see

4. you may need to just let those horses with unconcerned owners, deal with the consequences … except one sick horse can infect the whole barn, so this sounds better on paper than reality.
   So inform clients that they MUST supply a blanket in proper state of repair, suitable to the climate (winter or fly) etc.
   Otherwise they will be charged for a new blanket that you supply (except how do you actually collect on these charges - do you have credit card #'s on file in case or vet, etc?)

Absolutely ALL blankets must have working front closures - people can just replace these, or buy decent quality in the 1st place.

I would never expect my wonderful barn manager/staff to struggle with my horse’s blankets/halter etc.

You can also buy those packets of rubber “rings” at Greenhawk & other feed shops: in a pinch, I suspect any elastic will work, but most will quickly degrade with exposure to sun & cold.

[Lady_Eboshi]

“Bring a waterproof middleweight turnout–REQUIRED.” In tough weather, I blanket everyone whether they need it or not for the sake of public relations since my horses and all our boarders are out 24/7 with run-in sheds. A mid-weight over a fuzzy coat serves from sub-zero through those dark n’ stormy 40’s with no sweating up or crunching down.

“Heavyweights/rain sheets/fly sheets optional.” If you bring them, I will use!

“Once a year you will be charged a flat fee for cleaning/repairing.” So that each Fall when I shake them out and try to get them on the horses (in the dark, in a gale!) ALL the straps are in the right places, all the buckles work, and all are bran-spankin’ new squeaky clean and rewaterproofed–PRICELESS!

Those are our “blanket rules.” :yes:

[Highflyer]

Those rubber bands are available in packs of like 100 for $3 at TSC. They’re castration bands which was fun to ask the cashier about. (Our TSC is in a pretty urban area and has urban employees.)

[HealingHeart]

Yes, you should set expection for all boarders & their wear for their horses. It’s for their horse’s safety & yours or anyone that handles blanketing duties. As well, they are require to have the the right supplies for both heated barn & outdoor turnout. A horse can get sick if over blanketed, then that causes more work to do more barn checks or doctor horse. Proper Blanketing is necessary, but is a lot of work to manage at certain temps, so the easier the better & the owners should honor that extra work

[Abbie.S]

We don’t have “rules” persay, just a blanketing scenario that is “highly suggested”.

BO would like all horses who use blankets to have a waterproof sheet, a medium weight stable blanket and a medium weight turnout blanket. The rain sheet and waterproof medium weight can be combined as needed with the stable blanket, and then the top layer is pulled when the horses come in, so all they have on is the stable blanket when in the stall. The appropriate layer is then put on to go out the next day.

Some, like me, have their own take on it. My mare lives in the Back on Track sheet when in her stall. I have a 100g fill Amigo turnout blanket that can be combined with her stable blanket if necessary.

[sophie]

I think the ONE thing I would make mandatory is a good, really waterproof rain sheet, at the minimum. A waterproof/breathable Medium weight turnout would be good to have, too. Front opening, belly straps AND leg straps.
Some horses have to stay in all day because they have no rain gear, and we are not turning horses out in cold weather when it’s raining, without rain sheets on. I feel bad for those horses who have to stay in all day.

[skyy]

24 horses, most clipped but get clipped at different times of the year, a couple never clipped (so different blanketing scenarios depending on the horse), most go out during the day, some go out at night - everyone has to have at least 1 turnout sheet, 1 medium turnout and 1 heavy turnout. No stable clothes; horses live in turnout clothes. Horses get changed for temperature extremes or if wet underneath (in case someone gets caught in the rain and their turnout isn’t quite as waterproof as it should be). No other blanket changes. This system works pretty well for me with a minimum number of daily blanket changes but our barn is not heated. If the correct clothing is not available, horse stays in.

[dotneko]

Absolutely no closed front blankets. Too dangerous for the staff - especially short people and tall horses.
Our barn is heated to 40 degrees in the winter, so most clipped horses have a stable blanket.
Turnout is either a light weight, medium weight, or heavy weight thrown on top o whatever they have on in the barn.
Rule is a take off/put on free per day. Extra is a charge. Amazing how once a boarder is charged for many blanket changes, they learn to do what everyone else is doing.

[x]

Quick fix for the blankets where the T does not stay in the latch; buy some brake tubing, and cut a quarter inch piece off and slip it over the T. It acts as a spacer and keeps the T from coming unhooked.

[enjoytheride]

My barn doesn’t do stable blankets, they stay in their turnouts. I have a sheet, a midweight, and if it’s ridiculous cold I can put a liner on underneath but I shouldn’t expect to get more than a few blanket changes a week so I’ll usually adjust the night before if I’m out.

If the blanket is cheap and gets shredded I’ll get a call and my BM will probably find one of her blankets for me to use until I get it replaced, but that’s because she likes me and I’m not a pain.

Someone at my barn wanted to bodyclip their pasture pet and was told that they had to do all blanket changes themselves. Did I mention that they didn’t actually own any blankets at the time?

[findeight]

I don’t know about basic boarding barns requiring a specific number or type of blankets but can certainly see having a requirement that they not be closed front and must be kept in good repair or you will not provide any blanketing service. That’s so you can get them on and off with a minimum of fuss safely and quickly.

They can say their horse, their blanket all they want but they are not the ones handling it twice a day. They want to DIY 2 times a day 7 days a week? They can go have whatever they want.

Now, you get into training barns? They usually at least want them in the same color range if not all matchy matchy, but they clip most of them in those barns so more of an issue anyway…,charge more too.

[CHT]

Glad to know I would not be out of line with a basic blanket policy. I am going to work on one even though it might be too late for this season.

I think the one client really doesn’t get that it is worse for her pasture pet to overheat vs being a little chilly. Perhaps I need to find her some information so she can educate herself.

[cherham]

We don’t charge for blankets or boots. But everyone has to be reasonable. Our farm manager has some shoulder arthritis issues so for her to have to sling a heavy blanket over a horses head twice a day multiplied by numerous horses is just too much work for her so we do insist on buckle front closures. All the clipped horses have a stable sheet that we put a turn out blanket overtop, the stable sheet stays on inside. One blanket on, one blanket off per day. No extra charge.

[enjoytheride]

I will say that even though all the blankets in my barn are open front several of the horses get theirs stuffed over their heads with the buckles fastened because we’re lazy and sometimes it’s easier.

[findeight]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7847663]
I will say that even though all the blankets in my barn are open front several of the horses get theirs stuffed over their heads with the buckles fastened because we’re lazy and sometimes it’s easier.[/QUOTE]

For you it might be easier, for other folks who may be older, stiffer, shorter? Maybe not. Especially if a boarder has a big horse that’s not cooperative. It’s a reasonable request from a BO or their staff.