How to Measure for a Turnout Blanket

Purchasing a turnout blanket for your horse will help protect him from the outside elements. It will protect him not only from the rain and the cold, but it will also protect him from pesky insects. Before you run to the tack store and purchase a turnout blanket for your horse, you must know the size blanket to buy. If you get a blanket that is too small, it can irritate the skin of your horse and restrict his movement. If the blanket is too long, your horse can be injured by tripping and falling.

Things You'll Need

  • Cloth tape measure
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position the horse so that she is standing up in a straight position. Her two forefeet should be beside each other. Her two hind feet should be beside each other.

    • 2

      Walk around to the left side of the horse. Place the end of your cloth measuring tape on the front center of the horse. The end of the tape measure should be at the point where the horse's neck and chest meet. Hold the end of the tape measure in place.

    • 3

      Use your other hand to bring the tape measure up and around the left side of the horse. The tape measure should be brought up around the widest part of the horse's left shoulder shoulder.

    • 4

      Write down the measurement from the horse's chest to the widest part of her shoulder in feet and inches.

    • 5

      Leave the end of the tape measure at the point that was determined to be the widest part of the horse's left shoulder. Hold the end of the tape measure in place with your left hand.

    • 6

      Take the rest of the tape measure into your right hand (while still holding the tape measure in place with your left hand). Use your right hand to measure the distance from the widest point of the horse's left shoulder to the left side of her buttocks. The end of the measuring tape should end about 10 to 12 inches below the top of her tail.

    • 7

      Write down the measurement from the widest area of the horse's left shoulder to the left side of her buttocks.

    • 8

      Add the measurements from Step 4 and Step 7 together. The final result should be in feet and inches. This is the size that the turnout blanket needs to be. Turnout blankets are sold in “even” sizes. For this reason, if the final result is an odd number, round it up to the nearest even number to ensure a good fit.