A Peek into The History
of Horse Blankets
Horse blankets have been used at ceremonies and other special
occasions. The intention was actual use under a saddle, often
with an added pad. The blanket also served to cover the pad
for a better look for riding or for show. The blanket could
be used when riding with no saddle or pad, serving as a barrier
between the person and the horse.
Native American Indians wove their own horse blankets and still
make them today. Blankets were traded for other items, as
well.
The Navajo blankets are an especially popular decorative horse
blanket. Found with bright inks or earth tones, usually with
fringed ends. They were also used as rugs by the early
Indians, woven smaller for that use or for decoration on top of the
saddle.
The most popular horse blankets were the double blankets, which
were used by folding in half before placing on the horse.
Although it wasn't their only design, the Navajo woven horse
blankets can be easily recognized by the diamond patterns woven
into them. An authentic Navajo horse blanket is to be admired
for its simple, artistic quality. It should also be a reason
to respect the person who put his or her time and effort into its
creation.
The double saddle blankets were woven with no art in the
centers. These would be covered by the saddles, making the
extra effort impractical as they could be out-of-sight when used by
the rider.
The horse blanket could be hung on a wall in a log cabin and
bring out a surreal sense of its natural beauty. Photographs
and posters or wall paintings of these horse blankets could be
added to the cabin to create a western theme. Search for
books bout the Navajo horse blankets, weaving, and inks made by the
Navajo indians to cultivate knowledge and respect for the weavers
and these beautiful works of art. It will take the minds of
your visitors back in time and help them appreciate the work that
went into making these wonderful results.
What constitutes a fine piece of art is the beauty in the eye of
the beholder. The horse blankets are just as lovely when they
have been used and have become worn as they were when they were
new. The usage seems to add character and may create some
interesting stories from the riders. The horse blankets have
the ability to stimulate the three senses of sight, touch, and
smell (which could be good or bad, depending on the smell it
brings!).
The horse blankets that were woven could be washed in cold water
with little or no detergent and hung to dry. Although in the
early western days, they were most likely wrung out in a nearby
creek or river and laid on a rock to dry. Now there are horse
blankets made of other fabrics which most likely are better at
resisting stains and other such improvements modernization
brings.
Horse blankets have value especially to anyone interested in
Western culture.
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