Stupid question… can someone describe to me the process of wrapping a halter in fleece or flannel? I’m sure it’s super easy, but I’ve never done it before and want to know all the tips and tricks.
Also, is there any benefit to fleece over flannel or vice versa? Can I use old polos for this purpose?
For what purpose? Why not just buy halter tubing?
A few reasons -
-It’s not rubbing where halter tubing sits - it’s rubbing by the stitching on the buckles, and also the throat latch.
-Halter tubing is bulky, and my BO puts the fly mask over the halter.
-I’ve always wondered how to do this.
I don’t use fleece because it collects “stuff” which irritates the skin. Seeds, chaff from hay, bits of wood, splintered pieces of shaving bedding.
Wrapping parts of the halter using fabric is easy. Cut the fabric big enough time be the length of the strap and wrap around a couple times. Then secure it on the strap with a couple pieces of tape. I use athletic wrist and ankle tape. Cheaper, better glue than electric or adhesive tapes.
Horses here don’t wear halters a lot, but may get “greasy” places on halters that irritate summer hair or skin, so halters get wrapped temporarily. Fabric used for wrapping is considered “disposable” so I toss it when removed. Never used flannel, consider it too thin unless wrapped a number of times. I prefer old towel pieces, washrags are a perfect noseband size for my horses halters. I want any wrapping to also pad the halter strap so weight is not rubbing skin.
We use nylon halters, so they are washed often, not allowed to get crusty dirt buildup. I wash them in my washer (top loader), in net laundry bags, hang to dry. Might take two cycles t get clean.
Leather halters would have to be hand scrubbed with a brush to get the grunge off, clean the stitching. We never use leather halters because they require more work to keep clean, leather supple and they break under strain.
I would not use leg wraps as halter coverings unless cut into pieces. Polar fleece picks up as much trash as fuzzy (sheepskin, real or fake) fleece, so not my choice as halter padding.
ADDED; I posted before your picture. I would check around for a halter with the strap ends on the outside, not against the shin. Looks like that halter is sewn with the strap ends tucked INSIDE so sealed nylon and stitching is against the skin to rub. Not made by horse folks!!
I have never had rubs in those locations, since my Valhoma halters are not sewn that way. Mine are not breakable which some stables require when they also require halters to be left on during turnout.
What about using moleskin from the drugstore (if you’re not familiar with it, it’s not really made of moleskin!) to wrap the buckles? It will stay on for a long time, and can survive getting wet.
It’s got strong adhesive on one side and soft fleecy material on the other and it’s used to put on your bare feet to prevent rubs and blisters from shoes. It comes in a pack with several good-sized sheets that you cut down to whatever size you need.
Oh now that’s an idea! I might have another use for this on my mare (see my flysheet rubbing thread!).
This halter is brand new, so it’s not crusties. She’s just got thin skin/hair.
Wash rags are a good idea. What would you think about about microfiber rags? I’ve got a bunch of those for car/paint stuff.
Micro fiber is a good choice, but they are not as thick as most washrags, bur would cover the areas. I added to my first post, you will want to read it again.
It’s made by Weaver, and she’s been in that same halter for years. The extra turnout means extra head shaking from flies, so this problem is new!
I’m still curious how to do the old-school flannel wrapping. It it a big piece like a washrag? Or a thin strip the goes around and around like a leg wrap? How do you secure the end?
I think @Texarkana mentioned doing this…
@goodhors because I was curious and couldn’t remember offhand, I went looking for a higher resolution photo of the halter. The nylon strap ends are not against the horse.
Good to hear. The corners LOOK like they stick out and are against the skin. I can only enlarge so far, could not actually tell, so offered it as a suggestion. I have seen halters made that way.
Good luck with wrappings, I hate rubs on my horse!
She’s had a particularly rough go of it this year, she’s getting rubs from her fly sheet right now too. Just wimpy hair against a lot of flies. Even her girths are rubbing this year when before they didn’t.
Ah the life of a thin-skinned TB! Good thing she’s cute!
For the places where it’s rubbing, I would wrap duct tape around it. There are tons of colors available now if you don’t want to look “redneck” with the silver LOL Wrap a few wraps so that it’s smooth, and the end of it is on the outside, not against the horse. It’s smooth, it’s slick, it slides without rubbing, doesn’t hold water or dirt, which will be the case for anything like moleskin or fleece or flannel or anything cloth-like.
Duct tape does break down with time though so it will require regular repair/replacing.
It will also leave a sticky residue on your halter so you will never be able to use this halter without something covering those spots again.
Again, not a reason to not try it, just stating a fact.
That’s true, both things, though I have halters that have been wrapped in those areas for 2 years, worn 22 hours a day from Spring to Fall (muzzles), and are still smooth on the inside.
The stickiness when you remove the tape really doesn’t last very long, and a scrub with some shampoo and a stiff brush takes out the majority.
I wouldn’t use it for a show halter, but it sounds like this is a turnout halter with the fly mask, so pristine aesthetics isn’t something I personally would be worried about 
This is what I use too. It usually lasts about a year before I have to re-do it. I’ve always had trouble with fleece or anything that can catch debris. Duct tape has a smooth surface and I’ve never had rubs with it.
I was super tacky and used vet wrap so I had better control over the thickness.
It doesn’t leave the stickiness duct tape does.
I never thought of vet wrap as something that could prevent rubs, as it isn’t slippery or particularly cushy. Interesting!
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