This post features an article written by Christine Barakat from an old Equus Magazine. I thought it would be a great article to share with you as winter approaches. I’ll be breaking it up into two posts. The first will show you how to measure for a blanket and the second will explain how a blanket should properly fit.

Blanket Fitting

A well-fitted blanket is a welcome comfort to a clipped horse on chilly winter days. But a covering that is too small, too large, or otherwise fits poorly can cause painful pressure or rubbing. In extreme cases, a blanket can make a horse lame or permanently damage skin and underlying tissues. All of this means you’ll want to shop as carefully for your horse’s cold-weather garments as you do for your own winter coat.

First, you’ll need to take careful measurements to determine what size he needs.

Measuring

1. With a flexible tailor’s tape, measure from the center of the horse’s chest…

2. …along his side in a straight line…

3. …to the center of the horse’s tail. This final measurement corresponds to body length.