How to Measure for
a Horse Blanket

After you have explored our guide on how to choose the best blanket or sheet for your horse, you will need to measure your steed to ensure that their new blanket will fit!

The perfect fit is pivotal for the comfort and safety of your horse in their winter gear. A blanket that's too small may cause painful sores and could restrict their freedom of movement. A blanket that's too big can be hazardous and may get tangled when the horse lies down or rolls.

To ensure your blanket will properly fit your horse, the Riding Warehouse Crew has put together a helpful guide on how to measure for a horse blanket, with tips on what to look for in the perfect fit.

Follow these five easy steps to measure your horse for a blanket:

1. Grab a friend and a soft fabric tape measure. If you don't have a soft fabric tape measure, see our "Pro Tips" below for other options.
2. One person will place the fabric tape measure at the center of your horse's chest just below where their neck ties into their body and hold the end of the tape there.
3. The second person should unroll the tape measure around the widest part of your horse's shoulder and angle it up to the farthest point of the horse's buttock.
4. This person will wrap the tape around the point of your horse's buttock, then end the measurement in the middle of the tail.
5. You will use this measurement to find your horse's blanket size. If your horse is in between sizes, it is usually a safe bet to round up.

Pro Tips

• When trying a new blanket, place an old bed sheet over your horse before putting the blanket on. This will help keep any hair, dirt, and debris off the blanket for an easy return process!
• If you don't have a soft fabric measure, you can use string or twine to find the length of blanket needed on the horse, then use a regular tape measure against the string to measure the length of the blanket.
• Check for a size chart that corresponds to the specific blanket you are looking to buy. Some manufacturers may tell you to add or subtract inches from your horse's measurement or offer a back seam length measurement as well.

For our visual learners, watch the video below to learn how to measure your horse for a blanket, ensuring you purchase the right size for your horse every time.

How a Blanket Should Fit

A well-fitting blanket should cover your horse's body and still allow them to move naturally. Evaluate these three points on the blanket to decide if it is a good fit.

1. Shoulders: The front buckle closures should land across the chest and not stretch over near the points of the shoulders. The neckline should rest above the shoulder. A neckline that sags down to expose the shoulders is too large. You should be able to run a hand along the chest and shoulders and not feel tension or see visible pulling.

2. Withers: Ensure that you can place a hand between the withers and blanket. A blanket that is too tight will rub the withers and be uncomfortable for the horse. A blanket that's too big can create tension across the top of the horse's back and cause discomfort.

3. Length: A blanket should cover the horse's barrel and flank and should end just below the elbow and stifle. A blanket that's too small won't offer enough coverage, while a blanket that's too big is hazardous and may cause the horse to get hung up. The back length should ensure the horse's hindquarters are fully covered but not hang past the tail.

Adjusting Blanket Straps

Chest Buckles/Surcingles

Chest buckles or surcingles allow the blanket to be adjusted tighter or looser for a perfect fit. Some blankets have traditional buckles, while others use "quick clips" for quick and easy access. Some quick clip styles do not offer adjustable tabs.

When adjusting chest straps, you can check to ensure the blanket is tightened just right by sliding a hand down the neck. From here, you can loosen or tighten accordingly.

Pro Tip: For a blanket with buckles, make a mental note of which hole reaches your horse's perfect fit for future dressing. Some equestrians will make a mark or tie a piece of yarn over the correct hole for easy application. This can be especially helpful for barn staff that blanket your horse. For a quick clip blanket, you can adjust it once and it will be set to go for future wear!

Belly Surcingles

Belly surcingles prevent the blanket from rotating around the horse's barrel. Typically, blankets come with one or more surcingles. For a more secure blanket to keep the escape artists in, try for one with more surcingles.

Belly surcingles should cross into an "X" under the belly to ensure the horse's legs cannot get caught. Correct fit is also critical to avoid this. You should be able to fit a closed fist in between the horse's belly and straps.

Leg Straps or Tail Strap

Adjusting your horse's leg straps (or tail strap) is a crucial part of ensuring that the blanket does not rotate. Each leg strap should be hooked around each of the horse's legs, as well as linked through each other. By linking the straps around the leg, through one another, and then connecting back to the blanket, you can eliminate the chances of your horse's leg getting caught in the opposite leg strap.

To properly adjust your leg straps, make each strap the same length. The length should be approximately a hand's width from the strap to the thigh. This will allow the straps to keep the blanket in place and give your horse freedom to move.

Tail straps hang straight across the back of the blanket and tuck under the tail. They should keep the end of the blanket loosely against the sides of the horse's hindquarters without tugging. Tail straps have less risk of a leg getting caught, however, they tend to collect more dirt and manure.

Over time, leg straps can break or become stretched out. Luckily, Riding Warehouse has all your replacement leg strap and blanket accessory needs covered!

Neck Hood/Cover

A neck hood or cover adds extra protection to the neck area. They can be removable on some blankets, while others have the neck cover attached permanently and are commonly referred to as "combo blankets." D-rings on the blanket are there to allow the neck cover to come on or off. Some blankets may have more D-rings than others for an extra secure hold. A detachable neck cover can be useful for horses who live in climates that tend to change often.

For more information on blanket parts and features, explore our Complete Expert Guide on Horse Blankets.

Q: How do I know if my horse needs a blanket?

A: If and when to blanket your horse depends on factors such as whether he is body-clipped, has access to shelter, his body condition and age, and more. For more information, head to our guide on When to Blanket Your Horse.

Q: Which blanket is best for my horse?

A: Horse blankets come in a huge range of weights and sizes with a wide variety of features to suit all kinds of equines and environments. Our guide on the Best Horse Blankets will help you find the perfect option for your horse!

Q: How do I put a blanket on my horse?

A: Since some horses can find blanketing to be a little frightening, it is important to follow a certain set of steps when putting on and taking off your horse's blanket. Head to our guide on How to Safely Blanket a Horse for best practices.

Q: What if I incorrectly measure and my horse's blanket doesn't fit?

A: With our generous 365-day return policy, you don't have to fret about horse blanket returns or exchanges. Products returned in new, store-bought condition are eligible for exchange, refund, or Riding Warehouse store credit for the full value of your purchase. Products returned that are unable to be returned to stock are still eligible to receive Riding Warehouse store credit for the full value of your purchase.

We'd like to encourage you to reach out to our friendly customer service staff if you encounter any questions along the way while sizing your horse for their winter blanket. You can also visit our Compete Expert Guide on Horse Blanketing for more information. Blanket season can be an overwhelming time for horse owners, and Riding Warehouse is here to make your blanket search simple, easy, and successful!