Fitting a Horse Blanket
Use this handy reference for getting a perfect fit when you buy a blanket for your horse.

You’ve just purchased a new blanket for your horse, but when you get home and try it on him, you realize it’s not the right size, and back to the tack store you go. Here’s how to get it right the first time. All you need is a cloth measuring tape and a level spot on which to stand your horse.

If you blanket your horse for winter, careful measurements will ensure a perfect fit. | Photo by Darrell Dodds

1. Stand your horse up squarely. Tie him, or ask someone to hold him.

2. Standing on his left, take the end of the tape in your left hand and place it at the point where his neck meets the center of his chest.

3. With your right hand, draw the tape along his left side as far as you can. Make sure the tape crosses the widest part of his shoulder; if you measure too low on the chest, your blanket will be too small. The tape must be level and taut, or you’ll add inches to your final measurement, and end up with a blanket that’s too big.

4. When you’ve reached as far as you can, mark the spot with your right thumb, noting the measurement. Then measure backward from that spot, holding the start of the tape there with your left hand, and again reaching back with your right.

5. Still keeping the tape level and straight, bring it across the point of his buttock (the hindmost point of the quarters, about 10 to 12 inches below the place where the tail joins the body). Stop at the edge of his tail, noting the measurement.

6. Add your two measurements to get your horse’s blanket size. Stock blankets come in even sizes, from 30 (for foals) to 88 (for large horses). If you come out with an odd number, round up to the next even number.

CATEGORIES
TAGS
Related Articles
Horse in a Stable Box
Freshen Up Your Barn
Tip of the Week: Freshen Up Your Barn
man on horse in the snow
Ride Through Winter
Warm Up to Winter Riding
Woman riding bay horse in an arena
Conquer Fear
The Right “F” Words
Horse eating hay in winter
Cold Weather Feeding
Quick Tips for Winter Feeding
Newsletter
Receive news and promotions for Horse & Rider and other Equine Network offers.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Horse and Rider
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.