Take a cloth measuring tape and measure from the center of the horses chest, around his side, and stop on his butt near his tail. Blankets in the United States are sized by this number of inches, so my pony wears a 46", and Margo wears a 78". If you get an odd number, buy the next size up blanket. If you don't have a cloth measuring tape, use a piece of baling twine, then take it inside and measure the length with a ruler.
I like to cross the front straps on a blanket, as shown above, to give the neck more room.
I also like to cross the leg straps to prevent rubbing. To do this, buckle the left leg strap to the left back dee ring. Then take to right leg strap and thread it through the left, then buckle it to the back right dee ring.
Remember that most horses are warmer without any blanket. Their fur stands on end creating an insulating layer around them. Too light of a blanket just flattens that natural insulation, making them colder.
Also, make sure you check if your horse is too warm, at least twice a day by putting your hand under the blanket around the withers and under the blanket over the haunches. If you horse feel like he is sweating even a tiny bit, pull the blanket off.
Read more about blankets on my old post Blankets and Sheets and Coolers, Oh My
2 comments:
Hi Sara! My name is Jodia nd I live in Burdett, NY. I found your page when I Googled how to measure your horse for a winter blanket. My friends and I are leaving for the QH Congress today and I am buying my mare a blanket. I think it's funny that we have so much in common, I am 28 and work for a college and LOVE horses, too!
Thanks for the info and take care! Jodi
Thanks for sharing this wise thought.
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