One size does not fit all when it comes to your horse and we are here to help you measure them for their new blanket.
Why making sure you have the right fit matters!
A well-fitted blanket ensures your horse remains comfortable while serving its purpose. Failure to fit a blanket correctly can restrict your horse’s movement and lead to rubbing and slipping which could cause injury.
How to size your horse correctly:
Before you get started you will need a soft measuring tape that will be long enough to measure your horse in one swoop – for this reason we recommend using a tape that is at least 96” in length. We recommend taking this measurement with your horse standing on a flat surface, and when possible have someone with you to help with the measurement. It is 100% possible to do this measurement solo, but it will be much quicker and easier if you can have someone at the other end of the tape.
Now onto the measurement! To start, make sure your horse is standing square, and place the start of the tape at the center of your horse’s chest, continue your measurement in a straight line to the center of your horse’s tail. Take note of this number and subtract 4” (or 10cm) from your measurement. This will give you your horse’s blanket size.
Although our way of measuring a horse is an industry standard, keep in mind that every equestrian brand will have their own recommendations on how to measure, and may have different styles of blanket to fit different body types. If you know the brand you wish to purchase your blanket from, check out their measuring guides before taking your measurements. This will not only save you the hassle of having to measure your horse twice, but hopefully lead to a favourable fit for your horse.
Let’s put it in practice!
You have measured your horse from the center of the chest to the center of the tail arriving at a measurement of 76”. You subtract 4”, and arrive at a final size of 72” – this is your horse’s US blanket size. However; you might see a blanket advertised as 5’6”, or even 130cm, these sizes are simply the UK and European versions of the exact same measurement just formatted differently. It is easy to convert your measurement of inches into these other measurements – for example 72” would be 6’0” or 183cm.
Remember – once you order your blanket be sure to try it on. You want to keep three things in mind:
1) The front closure should be in line with the point of your horse’s shoulder. The blankets neckline above should lie with the contour of your horse and not be too tight or look like it is pulling.
2) You want to be able to slide your hand under the horse’s blanket at the withers – if this fit is too tight it could be a cause of rubbing and skin irritation down the line.
3) You want your blanket to cover your horse’s entire barrel ending just below his elbow and stifle.