Now that the weather has started to turn colder, we're all starting to pull our musty horse blankets out from deep storage. If you're looking to purchase a new blanket, or even searching through used blankets, getting the best available size is very important. If a blanket doesn't fit correctly, it can cause discomfort (even rubs or sores), get stuck on a fence or tree branch, or even completely fall off and to get trampled.

When I purchased my first blanket (after adopting Chance), I got it on super sale from eBay, and prayed that it would fit my horse. It didn't, and I couldn't return it. Good money thrown down the drain. After that, I decided to actually measure my sweet boy and find something in his size range.

Use the following tips to get the best size for your steeds and for a final fitting, please see the guide below from Your Horse Magazine. They posted a very comprehensive and easy-to-follow tutorial on YouTube.

Measuring Tips

1. Make sure your horse is standing square.
2. Have a soft tape measure or a long string available (having a friend to help is always nice!)
3. Start measuring at the center of the chest (between the two chest muscles).
4. Stretch out the tape measure or string up the broad side of the horse and all the way around to where the hair starts to hit the buttock.
5. Keep the tape measure tight and level for the best measurement.
6. This measurement will be your horse's blanket size, in inches. (If you used a string, mark on the string where you started and ended and then measure the string between these marks.)
7. If you are between sizes, order a size up for the best fit.
8. Remember that size varies between brands, so do a little research on the brand's sizing for best results.

The blanket in the picture above is the Kentucky Horsewear Turnout Rug All Weather Waterproof Classic.