Hold Your Horses (On Your Back Window): The Horse See-Thru Rear Window Graphic
Every barn has that one truck. It's parked by the hay, it smells faintly of saddle soap, there's a lead rope on the passenger seat that's been there since spring, and it has hauled more feed bags than anyone can count. That truck deserves better than a plain back window.
The horse see-thru rear window graphic turns the glass behind your head into a panorama of white and gray horses charging straight at the car behind you. It's a little dramatic, a lot of fun, and anyone who has ever mucked a stall will grin when they pull up behind you.
How "see-thru" actually works
The graphic is printed on 50/50 perforated vinyl. That means the film is covered in tiny holes, with roughly half of the surface printed and half open. From outside, your eyes blend the printed dots into one big picture. From the driver's seat, the dark side of the film faces you and the holes let you look out, a bit like looking through a window screen.
What you get
- Two sizes: small at 16 x 55 inches and large at 22 x 65 inches.
- Applied to the outside of the rear window, then trimmed to the shape of your glass for a custom fit.
- A squeegee and written instructions come in the box.
- It ships the next business day.
Picking the right size
Measure the visible glass on your rear window, side to side and top to bottom, inside the black dotted border. The graphic is meant to be a little bigger than the glass so you can trim it to fit, so choose the size that covers your measurements with some extra to spare. Most full-size pickup back windows suit the large size. Smaller cabs and SUVs often suit the small one, but your tape measure gets the final say.
Putting it on
- Clean the glass well, outside, with glass cleaner and then rubbing alcohol. No wax, no residue.
- Tape the graphic in place across the top edge and check that the horses are level.
- Peel the backing a little at a time and work from the center outward with the squeegee.
- Trim along the edge of the glass with a sharp blade, keeping it light so you don't scratch anything.
- Let it set for a few days before a car wash, and skip the ice scraper on that window. Use your defroster instead.
Rules about rear window coverage vary by state, so check your local regulations before you apply any rear window film, and keep both side mirrors in good shape.
Saddle up before the holidays
Know a horse-crazy teenager getting their first truck, or a trail rider who has everything? Holiday gifting is coming up fast, and a rear window graphic is the kind of present that gets a reaction. It ships the next business day, and standard shipping is free on U.S. orders over $55. Giddy up.
