Now that the weather has started to turn colder, we’re all starting to pull our musty horse blankets out from deep storage. If you’re looking to purchase a new blanket, or even searching through used blankets, getting the best available size is very important. If a blanket doesn’t fit correctly, it can cause discomfort (even rubs or sores), get stuck on a fence or tree branch, or even completely fall off and to get trampled.
When I purchased my first blanket (after adopting Chance), I got it on super sale from eBay, and prayed that it would fit my horse. It didn’t, and I couldn’t return it. Good money thrown down the drain. After that, I decided to actually measure my sweet boy and find something in his size range.
Use the following tips to get the best size for your steeds and for a final fitting, please see the guide below from Your Horse Magazine. They posted a very comprehensive and easy-to-follow tutorial on YouTube.
Measuring Tips
- Make sure your horse is standing square.
- Have a soft tape measure or a long string available (having a friend to help is always nice!)
- Start measuring at the center of the chest (between the two chest muscles).
- Stretch out the tape measure or string up the broad side of the horse and all the way around to where the hair starts to hit the buttock.
- Keep the tape measure tight and level for the best measurement.
- This measurement will be your horse’s blanket size, in inches. (If you used a string, mark on the string where you started and ended and then measure the string between these marks.)
- If you are between sizes, order a size up for the best fit.
- Remember that size varies between brands, so do a little research on the brand’s sizing for best results.
Now the shopping fun begins!! Look at all the cute blanket choices that are available these days:
Post tips or your favorite blankets below!
xo
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