How to Fit a Horse Blanket
Horses, like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. Some have large chests and withers and require more freedom of movement, while others are narrower and need a tighter fit. Determining your horse’s unique size is important to keep him comfortable and happy in his blankets. To assess your horse’s blanket size, you will need to measure your horse. Using a soft tape measure (you can use a hard one too, but a lot of horses get spooked by them), follow these steps:
Let’s Measure!
- Place the start of the measuring tape at the centre of his chest.
- Measure down his side, over the widest point of the shoulder, to the point of the buttocks.
- Make sure you keep the tape tight against your horse’s body; it might be beneficial to have a friend there to help you.
Here’s a visual representation of the measuring line:
The red line on Rou’s body goes from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock.
What Does this Measurement Tell Me?
The number you get is your horse’s true blanket size; for example, 76 inches means your horse will wear a size 76 blanket. If you get an odd number, like 75, size up to the next even number, so 76.
However, remember that brands differ in size, and a 76 in one brand might be slightly larger or smaller than a 76 in another brand, so make sure to read product reviews before purchasing a new blanket!
What Happens if the Blanket Doesn’t Fit Properly?
If the blanket fits too tightly, your horse will develop painful rub marks, and behavioural issues associated with blanketing can arise. Similarly, if the blanket fits too loose, it can rub in other areas or twist and tighten around him.
When your horse’s blanket fits properly, it won’t restrict his movement, and all parts of the blanket will fit comfortably. You should be able to place one hand’s width between the chest straps and your horse’s chest, and the same can be said with his belly straps and barrel.
How to Evaluate Blanket Fit
The best way to evaluate if your blanket is the right size is to put it on your horse and let him walk a bit or graze, allowing you to assess blanket fit in a functional way. The fabric should not pinch or pull or be strung tightly across the chest or points of the shoulder. There are key things to check: the chest and shoulders, the withers, and the length.
The Chest and Shoulders: the front closure of your blanket should be in line with the point of your horse’s shoulder and shouldn’t pull or put pressure on the point of the shoulder. You should be able to fit one hand between the closure and your horse’s chest.
The Withers: this is one of the most important spots. The blanket should never be tight across the withers, or it will be extremely uncomfortable or painful for your horse. You should be able to fit one hand between the blanket and withers. The neck area of the blanket is arguably the most important area to fit properly, so pay close attention.
The Length: Your horse’s barrel should be entirely covered, and the blanket should end just below the stifle and elbow. If it’s too long, it may twist and shift. If it’s too short, his belly (and often the point of the buttock) will be exposed to the elements.
How do I know if the blanket is too tight on my horse’s belly?
If your surcingle straps are extended to their full length and the blanket is still snug against his belly, it’s too small. You should size up by one or two sizes and consider re-measuring your horse’s size. Most surcingle straps cross underneath the horse’s belly and should hang about 1-2 inches below the barrel (or about four fingers width), not pressed against it. In the photo below, you can see the straps wrap under the barrel are are against the horse’s body. This blanket is too tight, and the horse’s rear end is exposed.
How do I know if the blanket is too tight on my horse’s chest?
If you can’t easily fit your hand between the front closures of the blanket and your horse’s chest, it’s likely too tight and will inhibit movement. Pay attention to how the blanket stretches across the point of the shoulder; is the fabric pulled tightly or sitting high under the horse’s neck? If so, consider measuring your horse again and sizing up.
Is the Blanket Cut Important?
The cut of the blanket plays a huge role in blanket fit; horses with a big chest benefit from blankets with a high-cut neck opening and shoulder gussets to help increase the horse’s freedom of movement.
The blanket should never pull when the horse lowers his head to eat, and the shoulders should move easily during the walk. Horses with a large barrel will benefit from leg arches, and often need a longer cut as well.
Different Blanket Cuts and What Your Horse Needs
Thankfully, just like horses come in many different shapes and sizes, so do blankets. Here is a quick-reference guide to the various cuts and shapes blankets come in and which body type they suit.
High Cut: high cut blankets have a neck opening that sits higher than a regular cut, usually 3-6 inches higher up the neck. The added height takes the pressure off the withers and can prevent rubbing.
Regular Cut or Standard Cut: This cut sits just above the withers. Usually, these blankets are good for horses with large chests, as they don’t restrict their shoulders much. If your horse has high withers, you may want to consider getting a high neck cut instead or a regular cut with a built-in wither-relief pad.
Leg Arch: Arches provide more freedom of movement for a horse’s legs than a standard cut blanket. They also cover further down the leg, adding extra protection in the cold. If you have a horse with a large barrel or hips, leg arches are an excellent choice.
Closed Front Blanket: As the name implies, the front of these blankets have no straps or closures. The blanket’s fabric is sewn closed, so you must put them on over your horse’s head. These blankets are great for use underneath layers, as they have no extra straps to rub on the horse. They’re also a good choice for horses that like to bite at their chest straps and can be a safer option than traditional blankets.
Wither Relief: Usually in the form of a wither-relief pad to lift the blanket or a high neck cut, this feature alleviates wither pressure. The withers are a sensitive area, and unnecessary rubbing here can be uncomfortable, even painful, to your horse.
Full Neck: Full-neck blankets go up the neck to the base of the ears. Full-neck blankets provide the most protection in extreme cold and are essential if your horse is clipped.
Shoulder Gusset: Shoulder gussets are a slit in the fabric near the horse’s shoulders, which provides freedom of movement. Gussets are a great feature for large-chested horses with broad shoulders.