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.
