The Old Gray Mare

Measure for Horse Turnout or Horse Blanket



Posted: Friday, September 16, 2011

by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com

The weather is getting cooler and the inevitable Fall, and then Winter, will be moving into many locations. Already in Connecticut, leaves are turning colors. It seems to me that it’s all happening a week or two earlier than the norm.

It is also the time to consider outfitting your favorite horse with a warm winter blanket. I should mention, again, that it’s not always necessary to dress your horse in a winter blanket or a horse turnout. There are several horse articles by The Old Gray Mare right here on SearchWarp that provide guidance. Briefly summarized, however, if the horse grows a warm, wooly coat and he is able to seek cover out of wind, rain, sleet or snow, it is quite normal for him to face the elements naturally. On particularly cold nights, it is advisable to bring him in. Horses are well equipped to handle many types of weather conditions. It is best to prevent chills, shivering or leave him totally unprotected. Seek out the articles, brush up and then make an educated decision about blanketing.
                        
If the horse is turned out all the time and could use some protection, get him measured up for a waterproof horse blanket turnout with tail flap. Select it carefully so it really is waterproof (not water resistant). Be sure to purchase it in his correct size.

Here is how to measure - This is simple, straight forward and will give you his size.
                                copyright DressYourHorse.com - Little Patrick poses for measurement
The easiest way to determine the correct size of your horse turnout is to take a side measurement.

Begin from the middle of your horse’s chest, hold the tape against his side horizontally, and measure to the point of the rump as shown (from the black vertical line at his chest to the black vertical line at his rump). That measurement is the size of the blanket or sheet for your horse. If that measurement is 72 inches, you will need to order a size 72 blanket. If your measurement is 73 inches, you need to order the next even size up – in this case a 74.

For open front blankets, the chest straps provide an adjustment that allows some expansion so you can double blanket or give extra space for a wooly, heavy coat or allow for maturing & growing horses.

The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
Heidi Rucki brings expertise as a horsewoman, dog lover and stained glass/mosaic artist. She is an accomplished freelance writer in the horse industry. Writing online as The Old Gray Mare, many of her current articles can be found on www.DressYourHorse.com. In the past, Rucki wrote for numerous horse organizations including The Connecticut Horse Council. She took early retirement from Phoenix Home Life where she wrote mutual fund prospectuses and was responsible for their submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Old Gray Mare writes to share knowledge and her love of horses for everyone but especially for novice and new horse owners. Besides her two main websites, she has recently published three new blog sites. Of those, her favorite is www.BeautyOfHorses.com.
This Article has been viewed 307 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.