Horse Hide Coats

[LaVern]

I know that you guys are having a time coping with the cold unusual weather, but I don't think you need to worry about the horses if they have a good healthy coat,and fed well.

My grand father and great grand father and most of the old farmers around here had horse hide blankets and coats made from the hides of some of their favorite horses when the time came. This might not sit well with many now and I don't think they have been made for many years,but we still have some that are maybe 80 years old.

There was nothing warmer. I can vaguely remember riding to the country school house in a sleigh covered with them.

Those guys hauled grain with a team, as far as 20 miles a day in 30 below weather and I remember my grandfather saying that he was always warm when Chubb went with him.

And I must add that their horses were loved and taken care above all else, but nothing was waisted.

 

[mdegner]

LaVern

Both Mike and I remember grandparents and/or great grandparents who had horse hide coats/blankets as well. Again, NOT advocating this but back then everything was used including the beloved horse when that time came and life went on regardless of weather conditions. At 26 below this morning, those mares were alot warmer than Mike was when he went out to do chores! The only horses we have who seem to have problems with this weather are the futzy pampered show horses; the pasture mares aren't batting an eye. Later, Mary

 

[Genie]

Around here it was more common to have a bear rug or a buffalo rug on the cutter

We were very warm on our trips to town

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Speaking of nothing wasted, when I was a child my grandparents had a horsehair covered living room set. Man, you talk about itching when you sat on that thing! They didn't get it from their own horses, but got it from a furniture store. Guess nothing was ever wasted in those days!

 

[Katiean]

Back in the 80's when you could still get them, I had a rabbit fur coat that I used when I went to the barn. It was less bulky than a down jacket and I was warmer. Everyone looked at me like I was nuts. But I was a warm nut. I wish people would get past the fur thing. You all wear leather shoes don't you?

 

[chandab]

Back in the 80's when you could still get them, I had a rabbit fur coat that I used when I went to the barn. It was less bulky than a down jacket and I was warmer. Everyone looked at me like I was nuts. But I was a warm nut. I wish people would get past the fur thing. You all wear leather shoes don't you?

Yes, I do wear leather shoes and I'd wear a leather coat, but I don't want that fur on me (you can wear it or any one else, I just do not like the feel of it against my skin).

My grandfather had a horsehide rug, last I saw it, it was hanging in the garage at the farm; I believe it was from one of his old work horses. Grandpa's been gone for 25 years or so, and its probably been nearly that long since I last saw that hide. I have no idea what he had it for.

 

[LaVern]

I'm sure not for killing animals for their hides or furs anymore. We have other man made materials that are wonderful -light and warm. Was just thinking that Mother Nature put a pretty good blanket on horses. If we can just keep the clipper away from them, for most of the year. That long hair will protect them from just about anything. Actually I think taking the hair off at anytime is not smart, but I do it.

 

[miniwhinny74]

Thanks for sharing your memories, Lavern (and everyone else, too!) I never realized horse hides were used as blankets, so I definately learned something new! (Although I have heard of horsehair upholstery.)

I found it especially neat to find that they were kept not just for practical reasons, but to fondly remember a favorite horse.

 

[Sue_C.]

On one of my trips to Iceland, I was visiting a big warehouse/store, and one entire end of the shop was full of hanging skins with fur-on. There must have been a hundred or more...sheepskins, reindeer/caribo, and pony skins. That was only 20 years ago, max.

I have never minded fur coats, love the warmth...and no, I don't think it is any worse than wearing or using leather.

 

[gatorbait4sure]

Growing up in Western NY in the 60's and early 70's ( where it snowed MORE than in Buffalo!!!! REALLY! We were right on Lake Erie...) we used to go sleighing every weekend there was enough snow, behind a team of Belgians. The sleigh had three seats and a driiver seat, and we packed it with three families of relatives, and what seemed like 50 children. There were horse hairs hides, cow hides and one or two buffalo hides in it, and those were the warmest things ever!

I'd LOVE to have one or two of those now!

 

[mdegner]

I have a pair of Mukluks that I wear in the winter and I can be barefoot in them and whether I'm outside or inside my feet feel the same temperature. They are made from moose hide and I swear by them. There are probably more companies that make them but I got mine out of Ely, MN from a company started by Will Steiger and his wife. Good enough for a trip to the north pole, good enough for me!

Gloves made from deer hide are also very good. My husband and his sons deer hunt and they exchange the deer hide for a pair of gloves. Warm, water proof and a great way to use more of the animal. I also don't advocate killing animals for their hide but I eat meat and like the thought of using as much of the animal as possible.

 

[AppyLover2]

The comparison between wearing leather shoes and fur coats is like comparing apples and snow balls. Leather is a obtained from animals killed for a reason other than to make shoes. Foxes, mink, rabbits, etc., are killed solely for their fur. No disrespect of your opinions intended but I just don't understand the comparison.

 

[shadowpaints]

i am not against wearing fur. now everything we 'hunt' (depending on what it is) we enjoy rabbit quite frequently, yes we keep the fur, and tan it or have grampa tan it. but we dont kill the rabbit just for its fur, we love the meat too! same with our steers, we raise them to butcher, but we usually trade the butcher the hide for the price it costs our butcher. i still have my Great grampas big hide blanket that laid on his bed, it was passed from grampa to my grandmother , then from moy grand mother tomy mom and now, to me the oldest daughter, and it will be passed to my oldest when she is old enough! we follow many of my grampas ways here, when we butcher a animal ( steer, chicken, rabbit, goat) we use almost everything, goat skins line our outside dog houses, and we always take our hide blankets camping!! wayyyy better than a sleepin bag! haha!

 

[Sue_C.]

I find the comparison fair enough...

There is a use for the animals that are raised for food, the same as those raised for fur. Man can survive without meat...so why is raising an animal for meat any more "special" than raising it for leather or fur? When you consider that in some cultures, the animals that we in North America raise for both meat and leather are considered sacred or un-clean...who are we to judge what is proper or not?

 

[LittleRibbie]

Sue, well said