I’ve always loved Baker.
I remember sitting in my room as a kid, thumbing through Dover, Horse
Illustrated and whatever equestrian magazines I was able to get my hands on
that week. There was always something special about the Baker
blankets, something classic and traditional that defined equestrian
style. Fast forward a few years (or more!) and I still love that classic Baker
plaid!
Although I’ve only recently been able
to dress my horse in Baker, I’ve had various breeches accented with Baker
plaid, saddle pads and various accessories adorned with their iconic pattern. I
love their vintage logo that hasn’t changed since the very beginning in 1866!
As I thought more about the brand itself, I did a bit of research and found
these amazing, vintage ads for baker blankets.
These were in newspapers from the
’50s!. I’m a huge fan of vintage advertising and absolutely love these. The
Baker brand began in Providence, RI in 1866 with S.W. Baker’s “Evaporating
Horse Blanket” (what we call a wool cooler these days). The same logo and
product description that originally appeared on those first coolers still
appear on every Baker blanket today! Talk about brand sustainability!
The original company closed in the
early 1930’s, but was purchased by William Ayres & Sons of Philadelphia in
the 1950’s and the blankets were re-issued in triple-weave plaid. They also
released a companion sheet that was originally called “Ironsides”. The Ayres’
also added “5/A” to distinguish their horse clothing products and the name “5/A
Baker” was reserved to describe the famous triple weave blanket.
In the 1960’s, the Ayres’ combined
forces with Philadelphia Blanket Company. In those days, the plaid was printed
onto the cotton. It wasn’t until after WWII that the plaid was woven into the
fabric. And in the 1980’s, acrylic fiber was also added to prevent shrinkage.
By 1987, the Ayres/Philadelphia due was bankrupt but in 1990, Curvon purchased
the Baker brand. Curvon, known as the oldest existing horse clothing
manufacturer, has helped restore and expand the Baker line to include other
products like saddle pads, luggage, clothing (for humans!) and many other
variations of that original horse blanket.
Now that you’ve had a history lesson
the brand, let’s talk details. I recently ordered the medium weight turnout blanket and
the turnout sheet, both in
the hi-neck version. I tried the turnout sheet first and immediately loved the
way it fit. I’ve never had a blanket fit Dancer this well before! (In case you
were wondering, he’s a 16hh Appaloosa gelding) Some small things I really love
are the chest buckle/snap combo. I think it’s more durable than just the
buckles and I like the multi-hook option which gives it a more custom fit. The
velcro under the front flap is great and helps keep everything in place. The
belly straps were WAY easier to buckle than my previous blankets have been and
I like that the nylon comes down over the buckle closure giving it a cleaner
look. I appreciate two rings for the leg straps for easy replacement if one
happens to break or get worn out. The hi-neck option has been great for us
because Dancer has been prone to wither rubs and after 3 weeks of almost
constant use, we haven’t had any issues with rubs. I also like that he has a
little bit of extra protection because we have pretty crazy wind out here on
the plains.
After much wear and tear, I am proud
to report that Dancer has not found a way to destroy, rip, or do much more than
get this blanket dirty. He’s really tough on his blankets and likes to roll
around, rub on trees and who knows what else when I’m not there! As for the
medium turnout, the fit is exactly the same. It’s incredibly durable and has
kept Dancer warm on our coldest nights so far. I should also say that they fit
very true to size – I measured Dancer as a size 76″, ordered that size and both
blankets fit great!
These blankets are so easy to switch
from one to the other and I love the classic design. They’ve both held up great
so far and after reading so many wonderful reviews – some from riders who claim
to still be using their Bakers after 10+ years – I expect these to last for
many winters to come. I honestly couldn’t ask for better blankets and
would highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a durable, stylish
blanket that will hold up to just about anything!
