BLANKETING 73 



called, that Is, a short blanket just covering the loins, 

 are useful under such circumstances. These blankets 

 are sometimes made of rubber or leather, and in that 

 case are extremely dangerous, for when they are taken 

 off, the horse is very likely to catch cold, there being 

 no ventilation whatever in the rubber or leather 

 blanket. 



All street blankets should be provided with a strap 

 and buckle to fasten them under the belly in windy 

 weather. 



The size of the blanket is very important, and it is 

 almost impossible nowadays to get a good-sized blanket 

 ready-made. In order to cut down the price, manu- 

 facturers have scrimped blankets, both stable blankets 

 and street blankets, unmercifully. This applies espe- 

 cially to the depth of the blanket. A blanket should be 

 deep enough to cover the horse's belly, and the street 

 blanket should be much deeper than that. The mini- 

 mum depth of any blanket intended for an ordinary 

 horse should be forty-two inches. 



It is economical to buy a fairly expensive blanket of 

 good material, for, if properly cared for, such a blanket 

 will outlast three or four cheap blankets. After the 

 winter use of a stable blanket, it can be put in a tub 

 of water, even cold water wall do, and by poking it 

 with a stick now and then and changing the water two 

 or three times, the ammonia contained in the manure 

 will take the dirt all out of the blanket without any 

 scrubbing or soaping. It can then be dried, and, with a 

 little patching and mending, will be practically as good 

 as new. Street blankets should be treated in the same 



