If your horse is clipped for the show, under lights, is young, old, ill, or has very little winter hair, they will probably need a blanket on cold nights. If you decide to blanket your horse, remember that horses produce a huge amount of body heat in a blanket. This means that they will need to have that blanket removed BEFORE they start to sweat. This is important as the horse will become chilled in a sweaty blanket.

Perhaps the most crucial part about getting your horse a blanket is to make sure it is the right size. All you need is a fabric tape measure or a long piece of string.

Follow these Steps:

• With your horse standing squarely on all four feet, place the end of your string or tape measure at the center of your horse’s chest, right below where the neck comes out of the chest.
• Hold the string or tape measure level. Work your way around the body of your horse.
• Hold the string or tape measure TIGHTLY AGAINST the side of your horse. Go around the point of the shoulder and continue along down the side of the body and around the hip to where the tails sits in the rump.
• Mark your string at that point or note how many inches your tape measurements. That number is the size of the blanket your horse will need. If your horse measures 78 inches, then he needs a size 78 blanket.

Most average size horses will wear between a 76 to an 80. Arcola Feed also offers Winter Horse Blanket Cleaning and Repairs! Visit us for more Horse Blanket Measuring Tips and more.