| If you own a horse, stabling and taking care of your | | | | items like horse blankets and saddle pads and can be |
| animal is paramount. Your horse or pony is only as | | | | very expensive to use on a regular basis. |
| healthy as the environment in which it's kept, and | | | | As a final option, most owners are forced to use |
| keeping those surroundings clean and sanitary is | | | | cleaning services either directly or through their stables. |
| always a challenge. That's especially the case with the | | | | These services are effective, but very time |
| variety of accessories needed such as blankets, | | | | consuming, hugely costly and leave you without gear |
| saddle pads, fetlock boots, wraps and belts. | | | | or tack for long periods while they are being cleaned. |
| After a heavy hack or a strenuous workout, a horse | | | | Purchasing you own Commercial washing machine, or |
| sweats and his blankets and saddle pads in particular | | | | encouraging your stables to do so, is a far better, |
| get soaked. These items are in direct contact with the | | | | more cost effective and practical solution long term. |
| horse and they can also become heavily soiled with | | | | Several manufactures of commercial washing |
| hair, dust, urine, manure and bacteria. Getting these | | | | machines include models in their range specifically |
| clean is important, not only to keep expensive tack | | | | designed for equine laundry. The largest of these |
| items in good condition and make sure they work and | | | | models will wash up to three winter blankets in a single |
| last as they should, but also to decrease the risk of the | | | | load. |
| animal developing fungal infections or dermatomycosis | | | | Although heavy duty, most machines are as quiet in |
| that can lead to alopecia or weeping wounds or more | | | | operation as a domestic machine would be, so can be |
| serious conditions like mycosis that can be contagious | | | | installed in stables next to horses without spooking |
| to humans. | | | | them. They can accommodate wool or cotton |
| The proper cleaning of any equine laundry therefore is | | | | blankets and waterproofing, extended rinse |
| essential, but fraught with practical difficulties. Domestic | | | | programmes and higher agitation and spin speeds for |
| washing machines just aren't up to the job. They can't | | | | outstanding cleaning results. |
| take the load and weights and offer very poor | | | | They will also easily cope with hairs and debris that |
| cleaning results. | | | | would clog up a domestic machine. Having access to |
| The only other option commonly available to owners is | | | | your own dedicated commercial washing machine |
| to use Laundromats or "washaterias" provided you | | | | gives complete control over the standard of cleaning |
| can find one that doesn't specifically prohibit using their | | | | your horse or pony gets and therefore helps you |
| machines for precisely those items. However even | | | | improve the quality of life your animal will enjoy. |
| these larger commercial machines don't properly clean | | | | |