DIY Personalized Horse Blanket

Your horse will make a fashion statement in the stable while staying warm with a smart, personalized blanket. For the hard-working horse, a light horse blanket makes an ideal cooling sheet as well. This practical and attractive blanket requires some prior sewing experience to complete, but it is well worth the effort. A handmade blanket adds style and will save you considerable money in the long run.

Measure your horse from the middle of his chest to the base of his tail. Use this measurement to cut the fabric for the blanket.

Fold the fabric in half. Turn the fabric so the folded side is facing away from you. Cut out the top left-hand corner in a large arch shape. This will form a neck hole for the horse. Unfold the fabric.

Place the fabric over the horse to test-fit the neck cut out. Remove the fabric from the horse and cut as needed.

Fold over 1/2 inch of fabric on top of itself around the entire perimeter of the fleece fabric. Pin the fold in place. Sew over the fold to create a hem, removing the sewing pins as you sew. This will keep the fleece from fraying.

Cut three strips of hook and loop fastener material, 2 inches long. Pull the strips apart so you have six strips now. Pin the strips on the edge of the fabric below the neck arch. Pin each pair of hook and loop fastener strips exactly opposite each other on the fabric. Sew the hook and loop strips to the fleece with a sewing machine. Remove the pins from the strips after sewing.

Test-fit the blanket once again, this time fastening the hook and loop fasteners in the front. Adjust the hook and loop fastener strips if needed for the best fit. Remove the blanket.

Write the name of the horse in large bubble letters on a piece of cardboard. Cut out the letters.

Using the cardboard letters as a pattern, cut out the letters on a different color of fleece fabric. Make the cuts as neat as possible.

Lay out the fabric letters on the horse blanket. Position the letters in the desired location on the blanket. Pin the letters to the blanket and sew them in place. Remove the pins after sewing.

Measure the horse's girth. The girth is the area around the horse's body behind its front legs. Add 12 inches to the girth measurement.

Fold the imitation leather in half lengthwise. Sew around all the edges of the fabric with a sewing machine.

Cut two strips of hook and loop fasteners measuring 6 inches long. Pull the strips apart to form four strips. Pin and sew the strips with the opposing sides opposite to the ends of the belt. Remove pins.

Position the horse blanket over the horse. Attach the chest part of the blanket in the front. Place the belt over the blanket. Strap the hook and loop fasteners together underneath the horse.