Sew a DIY Cooler Out of a Wool Blanket!

This is a DIY wool cooler I sewed for my miniature horse Jasper McTavish. First, you need a wool blanket. I bought mine of Amazon, here's a link to a similar blanket: https://amzn.to/3ThlYjC You could also find one at an old army/navy surplus store or find something in a local thrift shop. Second, you need a blanket that already fits your horse to use as a template. Place that on the blanket and start cutting. Next, sew on your straps and hardware. I used some velcro I already had for the front, and straps/buckles I took off of something else for the belly closure. I haven't made a leg straps or tail straps yet. Finally, I used some bias tape for the border to really polish the look, but I think depending upon the type of blanket you're using, this could be an optional step. I also made darts on the back of my blanket, just like the blanket I used as a template. It was super easy. My favorite sewing machine for this type of job is a vintage Singer. I have a 66 with a hand crank. I picked it up for $45 on Facebook marketplace, and it will sew through several layers of wool blanket and nylon webbing straps. This may be a difficult project for a modern sewing machine, so proceed with caution!