Is there anything I can do to stop a sheet or blanket from shifting to one side?

[Iride]

Keep in mind, both the turnout sheet and turnout blanket fit the mare in question. They are both Weatherbeetas. This is the ONLY brand that fits her comfortably. Everything else pulls on her shoulders or chest. Yes, even Rambo. These for whatever reason are perfection in fit (the mysterious shifting notwithstanding), and have held up thus far. Each has two straps at the chest for closure, plus 3 belly surcingles, and leg straps (which I hate, but…).

Is removing the leg straps and replacing with a tail cord (as in Rambos) something doable, or even possibly a fix? While I plan to try, I’m wondering right now if it might make a difference. (I won’t even know for sure till I try it whether or not the rings are positioned too low on the legs for a tail cord to be put on safely.)

I’m just looking for input from the COTH wizards in the meantime. I’m willing to hear the dreaded “no”. :no:

If necessary to purchase new dang stuff, I will. But I am wishing for a magic (or even possibly helpful) bullet! The budget situation plus the sheer agony of blanket selection and fitting this particular mare are things I’d like to avoid. :grief:

[2DogsFarm]

Sorry, but might be a No. :no:

Of my 3:
*Horse has legstraps & crossed belly surcingles (2 - where does your 3rd attach?) & tail cover. Kodiak brand.
He rolls and sometimes blanket ends up one-sided, sometimes not. Does not appear to bother him - no rubs - just makes me crazy.
*Pony has no legstraps, crossed belly surcingles & tail cover. Cannot recall the mfr.
He rolls and blanket usually stays in place or shifts only minimally. Again: my problem, not his.
*Mini has a single surcingle, legstraps & tail cover. Tough1 brand.
He rolls like he was hired to do so.
His blanket shifts more than pony and he has to tolerate me tugging it back in place.

Actually, they all have to deal with my obsessive blanket fixing.
And the asymetry doesn’t seem to cause any problems besides creating work for me.

[DinkyDonk]

Anytime I have a blanket that shifts, I get rid of it by donating to a rescue…shifting blankets drive me nuts! I think they shift because when they are made, they somehow are sewn with the fabric not lined up correctly.

[JB]

IME, a blanket that shifts to one side on a regular basis (ie the same side) means either a lopsided horse - one shoulder or haunch more developed than the other), or the horse has an unsoundness issue on that side.

I have/had 3 horses who all have/had known unsoundness issues, and their jammies all shift to that side.

Now, if it shifts randomly, then I’d look at whether the blanket style is suitable for that horse’s build - that’s different from actual fit. Since it seems you’re talking about both a sheet and a blanket, the other possibility of an oops stitching (ie lopsided blanket) doesn’t seem to fit.

[Lolliver]

I have a senior retired mare whose blankets always shift. All brands, all weights. I’m pretty sure it’s the way she stands. She always cocks the same back foot. I’ve tightened the belly straps, loosened them, legs straps, tail strap, it doesn’t matter. It shifts. She doesn’t mind. Makes me crazy.

[betsyk]

I find it has to do with the way you adjust the surcingles, as well, and whether the blanket really fits right. My mare looks like she ate the round bale, all at once. She has broad shoulders and chest, with narrower hips. If a blanket fits her through the front end, sometimes the surcingles sit a little farther back and the back end of the blanket is a little big - and that’s the blanket that will shift. Her midweight - same make and model as her rainsheet - shifts, but the rainsheet doesn’t. The ancient, hand-me-down heavyweight Schneiders that she wears in extreme weather sits perfectly in the center - too bad she only wears it two weeks each year. And to follow JB’s suggestion, she’s a bit asymmetrical overall and I’m sure that contributes.

[Iride]

See, this (what you say below in quotes) is what gives me pause. Is it really a problem for HER? Or just me? Cuz if it’s just me, I’m fine to have those things shift like there’s no tomorrow if they want to, so I don’t have to shell out this week’s paycheck for new clothes.
But…then again, it can’t possibly be comfortable for her, eh? If only they could talk

@2DogsFarm

And the asymetry doesn’t seem to cause any problems besides creating work for me.

[Iride]

Yeah… she is unsound on one side. But I’m in denial about it being the cause. Because if it is, then I fig every blanket will shift and there’d be no solution. :-/

@JB

IME, a blanket that shifts to one side on a regular basis (ie the same side) means either a lopsided horse - one shoulder or haunch more developed than the other), or the horse has an unsoundness issue on that side.

[Iride]

Solidarity.

Perhaps time for a Blanket Shifters Club. No champagne, just bourbon eh.

@Lolliver

I have a senior retired mare whose blankets always shift. All brands, all weights. I’m pretty sure it’s the way she stands. She always cocks the same back foot. I’ve tightened the belly straps, loosened them, legs straps, tail strap, it doesn’t matter. It shifts. She doesn’t mind. Makes me crazy.

[Iride]

Are you me? :lol:

My mare looks like yours and is built like yours. Round bales, poof, gone, into tummy in 5…4…3…2…

Right down to the old Schneiders heavy! She has the same! It’s the only heavy she has and like you, she only wears it a handful of times per year. And it’s OF COURSE the only one that doesn’t shift to one side. Murphy, go eff yourself and your laws.

PS Sorry, I should reply to everyone’s posts in one post of my own, instead of 900. Have to figure out how to do that next time.

@betsyk

I find it has to do with the way you adjust the surcingles, as well, and whether the blanket really fits right. My mare looks like she ate the round bale, all at once. She has broad shoulders and chest, with narrower hips. If a blanket fits her through the front end, sometimes the surcingles sit a little farther back and the back end of the blanket is a little big - and that’s the blanket that will shift. Her midweight - same make and model as her rainsheet - shifts, but the rainsheet doesn’t. The ancient, hand-me-down heavyweight Schneiders that she wears in extreme weather sits perfectly in the center - too bad she only wears it two weeks each year. And to follow JB’s suggestion, she’s a bit asymmetrical overall and I’m sure that contributes.

[JB]

@Iride

Yeah… she is unsound on one side. But I’m in denial about it being the cause. Because if it is, then I fig every blanket will shift and there’d be no solution. :-/

Yeah, well…

@Iride

Solidarity.

Perhaps time for a Blanket Shifters Club. No champagne, just bourbon eh.

Sign me up! But we need tequila too, so…

[Iride]

@JB

Sign me up! But we need tequila too, so…

Yay on the tequila. Just nay on the champagne cuz we ain’t celebrating, we’re lamenting… :o

[JB]

The fizzies give me a headache anyway, so… :lol:

[cloudyandcallie]

Rambo shifts less than any other I’ve ever bought, Ottb and warm blood.

[joiedevie99]

If this specific blanket didn’t shift in the past, and the horse is unsound, I think you have your answer. I know someone who sewed weights into the lining of her old retired horse’s blanket to keep it straighter - but I don’t think it was super successful. If this is a new blanket that has always shifted, then there may be options.

[jawa]

?? Does your horse only roll one way? IE lay down and roll left to right, but not all the way over? This may explain the one sided shifting. Does it mean lameness? Or habit?

[Iride]

@jawa

?? Does your horse only roll one way? IE lay down and roll left to right, but not all the way over? This may explain the one sided shifting. Does it mean lameness? Or habit?

I have noticed it shifted before she has rolled or lied down.

[PNWjumper]

Some blankets just pull funny because of the fit on the horse (or because the horse is uneven side to side). But usually you can adjust the stomach straps to really help in situations where the blanket is pulling.

Also, how do you hook your leg straps? IMO there’s only one correct way, and that’s to connect the first one back to the same side and then to loop the other one through the buckled one and then back to its own side. I’ve fixed friends blanket shifting problems just by changing that. But usually the problem is more related to the stomach straps. Wish I could tell you which way to go, but I can never remember until I have to do it!

[Iride]

@PNWjumper

Some blankets just pull funny because of the fit on the horse (or because the horse is uneven side to side). But usually you can adjust the stomach straps to really help in situations where the blanket is pulling.

Also, how do you hook your leg straps? IMO there’s only one correct way, and that’s to connect the first one back to the same side and then to loop the other one through the buckled one and then back to its own side. I’ve fixed friends blanket shifting problems just by changing that. But usually the problem is more related to the stomach straps. Wish I could tell you which way to go, but I can never remember until I have to do it!

Yep, leg straps get secured the correct way (your way)!

i haven’t even thought about adjusting the belly straps differently. Will try that. She’s out nearly 24/7 so I’d be a little concerned in case it really messed things up when I’m not there but I’ll give it a shot especially as you said it’s worked for you.

[beowulf]

Echoing what others have said - blanket shifting = uneven horse.

Specifically in my experience, it’s usually one of the earlier signs of a neurological issue. It’s one of the earliest “symptoms” of cervical arthritis, in my experience.