How Should A Horse Blanket Fit

In order to get the right fit for your horse, you need to know how it should fit. This means taking careful measurements and paying close attention to the details of each blanket’s specifications.

The shoulder seams of a blanket should be one to two inches behind the front edge of your horse’s shoulder, so that when he lifts his head up or lowers it down, he doesn’t pull on the seams. The front edges of the blanket should bend over your horse’s shoulders as he moves—you’ll be able to tell if they don’t do this by watching from behind or from above when he’s trotting around his pasture or paddock.

The chest straps should not be buckled over top of the blanket because this causes pressure points that can cause rubbing wounds; instead buckle them around your horse underneath so there is no pressure whatsoever on any part of him! Your horse’s blanket should extend five to six inches beyond his tailbone area between his hind legs; however beware if you have a draft type breed like Clydesdale horses whose coats are naturally longer than other breeds’. If their blankets are too long then they will rub against their hindquarters which can cause sores and other problems down there! Also pay attention if your horse has been grazing too much grass recently because they might develop diarrhea issues which could lead them being unable to wear blankets at all due to leaking waste matter onto themselves while wearing one **ENDWRITE**

The shoulder seams of the blanket should be one to two inches behind the front edge of your horse’s shoulder.

The shoulder seams of the blanket should be one to two inches behind the front edge of your horse’s shoulder. This will ensure that your horse is protected from wind, cold and rain while still allowing him enough movement to graze or use his muscles comfortably. If the seam is too far back, it can rub against his shoulder and cause soreness or injury. A snug but not too tight fit will keep your horse warm without restricting his movement or causing chafing.

The front edges of the blanket should bend over your horse’s shoulders as he moves.

The front edges of the blanket should bend over your horse’s shoulders as he moves. To measure this, stand behind your horse with one hand on each side of his chest, holding up the blanket at shoulder level. You can hold it in place by pressing against the rear edge of the blanket where it lies over his back (see figs 1 & 2).

Measure from where these hands meet to where they end, then add two inches to get what we call “back rise” (the distance between these two points). This measurement is crucial because if it’s too short for your particular horse, you could have trouble getting a good fit in other areas as well: The chest strap might not be long enough to reach around both sides and fasten securely; or if there isn’t enough back rise room beneath his belly band (a separate piece that goes around his belly), it may rub against him uncomfortably instead of fitting snugly across him from side-to-side.

The chest straps should be buckled around your horse, not over the top of the blanket.

The chest straps should be buckled around your horse, not over the top of the blanket. This is to prevent rubbing and pulling. If you buckle them over the blanket, it will pull up and cover their head, which can lead to discomfort for your pet. Additionally, if you buckle them under the blanket, it’ll pull down and constrict their legs. Buckle these straps at mid-chest (not at withers).

Your horse’s blanket should extend five to six inches beyond his tailbone area.

The blanket should extend five to six inches beyond the tailbone area. If it doesn’t, it will be more likely to bunch up and rub your horse’s skin. This can cause sores and make your horse uncomfortable while wearing his blanket.

If you have a blanket with a tail flap that attaches to the other side of his saddle, you won’t have to worry about this at all!

The back edge of your horse’s blanket should fit three to four inches below his withers.

The back edge of your horse’s blanket should fit three to four inches below his withers. The withers are the highest point of the back and located between the shoulders and base of the neck. A good way to check this is by placing your hand on top of his withers, then run your fingers down his spine until they meet up with where you placed them. If you can do this without bumping into anything (like a saddle), then he’s got enough room in his blanket for winter warmth!

If the blanket does not touch your horse’s belly, it is too short.

If your horse blanket does not touch your horse’s belly, it is too short.

If the blanket does not touch your horse’s belly, it cannot protect them from the cold and rain. This is what a proper fitting blanket looks like:

Be sure to take careful measurements when you buy a horse blanket

When you buy a horse blanket, it’s important to take careful measurements of your horse. The following measurements will help ensure that the blanket fits your animal properly:

• Measure between the withers (the highest point on a horse’s back) and the elbow. This is called the neck measurement.
• Measure from where the tail begins along the spine until it ends at where it connects with their hindquarters or rear legs. This is called length of back measurement.
• Measure from under their belly all around them in both directions, including legs and chest/belly area. This is called girth measurement or circumference of body measurement (if taken around). It’s often referred to as cinching up because this would be how much you’d cinch up on a saddle too! If taken by itself without being connected with other points on your horse such as sides/saddle pads etcetera then it might also be called saddle pad length

Conclusion

Remember, you can’t go wrong if your horse blanket fits well. It will keep him warm and comfortable, whether he’s standing around in the barn or trotting across the pasture. If you own a large draft horse or pony, talk to a professional before buying an oversized blanket; they may need special consideration when purchasing a blanket that will fit their size.