Light-colored, pink-skinned horses are prone to sunburns.
In horse industries, the term "sweat sheet" is commonly used to refer to anti-sweat sheets. Anti-sweat sheets are thin horse-blanket-style covers used to keep horses more comfortable during warm weather. Anti-sweat sheets actually serve several different purposes, offering an assortment of benefits for horses.
Moisture and Cooling
The primary purpose of an anti-sweat sheet is to keep a horse cooler than it would be without the sheet. These sheets are made of a very lightweight, highly breathable material that is designed to wick sweat and moisture away from the skin. These sheets are most popular during summer months, but you can also layer them with other blankets during cooler months in order to create just the right amount of warmth and protection from the elements. They can also help prevent hot or recently bathed horses from getting chilled in cool weather due to moisture or sweat on their coats.
Sun Protection
People are not the only mammals who have to worry about sun damage to their skin. Light-colored horses with pink skin are prone to skin cancers and sunburns. Sweat sheets help block potentially harmful UV rays from reaching a horse's skin, limiting exposure to the sun and the potential for burns.
Coat Protection
If a horse is competitive, it is important that it has a glossy, healthy-looking coat. Anti-sweat sheets are useful for preventing the sun from reaching the horse's coat and bleaching it out. Some of these sheets feature a design that allows them to cover the horse's neck as well, which helps keep the coat color consistent across the horse's body. The sheets are typically made of light-colored fabric, which can be especially useful for helping reflect light away from horses with dark coats.
Bugs
Anti-sweat sheets are similar to fly sheets; many do double duty by keeping flies, mosquitoes and other pests away from a horse's body. This is especially useful since mosquitoes can carry and transmit an assortment of dangerous diseases.
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