Saddles and Harness

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A HORSE BLANKET

1. Your correct size for the horse you are buying for.

2. Are the Straps leather or Nylon / Double or Single

3. Is the fabric a RIP STOP fabric

4. Do the straps have elastic for ease of movement

5 Is the blanket thick enough for the weather in your area to keep the horse warm on the coldest days.

6. Does it have padding in the wither area for comfort of your horse.

7. Does the blanket have pleats or fixed shoulder for the movement of your horse to move his shoulders.

8. Does the front of the blanket open with one or two straps at the chest or does it go over the head.

9. Does the blanket have a nice edge so that it doesn’t fray after a few usages.

10 Is the hardware on the blanket Stainless or easy to use or stay in place

This are all things you should look at when purchasing a blanket to know if it will meet your expectations for your horse. Some things may not matter to you, some will be a extra benefit when you start using the blanket on your horse.

Measuring for your horse a Turn Out Blanket / Stall Blanket
To measure for a blanket you will need a tape measure that is cloth type so you don’t spook your horse. I bring my horse in the barn on level ground and put my tape in the middle of the front legs, or the middle of the chest, around his shoulders and all the way back to the back to the middle of his tail. This is the measurement of the length of the body.
 Your blankets come in even sizes ex: 78 - 80 - 82- 84 …
Once you determine the size you are ready to purchase.  
Remember many factors may change, your horses body weight can change the shape of a horse’s body over a course of a few months / Increase in muscle mass / Also, just in the age of the horse the body changes shape with age. Here are some things to look for
1. Be sure he is standing comfortable and run your hands up and over the withers. Be sure that the blanket is over the withers loosely .
2. Slide your hands under the blanket at the horses shoulders. It should feel loose so that your horse can move his shoulders without rubbing his hair off.
3. Check the chest area so that it comes down to where the neck merges into the chest so that the blanket is on the chest and not the neck. Encourage him to lower is head, the blanket should not pinch or restrict his head from lowering it to graze or eat.
4. Check the belly straps so that you may slide your hands through without them being too tight. If they are more then 4-5 inches from his body they are too big and could pose a risk of danger or entanglement.  Make sure they are adjusted to fit your horse.
5. Check the rear straps on the hind legs. They should fit so that their is no chance of your horse getting his feet caught up in them, but loose enough so that they don’t cause rubbing. They are better to run them through each side so that they keep from rubbing the horse.
6. Slide your hands under the blanket at his hips and rump of your horse so that the blanket is not too snug.
7. Finally check the tail flap to be sure that it’s not too long, he needs to be able to lift his tail or it could cause a real mess.
Remember even a right size blanket can cause rubbing or chafe in certain areas. You can use sheep skin or a slick type material to help in those areas to help your horse stay comfortable in cold weather.