Shopping Cart
/ /

What size rug does my horse need?

Aug 08,2017 | Kim Horton

What size rug does my horse need?

It’s often assumed that most of us know how to measure a horse for a rug but do you know how to do it so that you get a good fit as well. Our easy to follow guide will help you get the right size and fit:

  • Decide where you want your rug to end. Some owners prefer the tail portion to be long enough to form a "tent" over the top of the horse's tail, especially for turnout rugs and for horses who live out most of the time. Other owners prefer to have the rug stop just short of the tail, especially stable rugs
  • Stand your horse squarely on level ground
  • Take a cloth tape measure and measure from the middle point of your horse’s chest, around the sides of his body to his hindquarters, roughly at the point where the “cheek” meets the tail
  • Convert the measurement you obtain in to feet and inches, eg 75” is 6’3”. This then is the size of rug that you need to buy for your horse.

How to measure a horse for a rug

An important rule to note: if the measurement falls in the middle, always round up a size! You're always better off to have a slightly bigger rug, especially since you may end up layering blankets for the winter.

Smart tips:

  • Measure in inches as this is how horse’s rugs are sized
  • Ensure that you include the widest part of the shoulder
  • Keep the measuring tape level and taut
  • It’s easier to measure with a second pair of hands!

You can use this method to measure for both stable and turn out rugs.

One word of caution: measuring your horse gives you a good idea of his size but in terms of fit, it’s usually trial and error depending on the cut, style and shape of your horse.

What are the standard sizes of rugs?     

The table below shows the UK standard rug sizes.

Measurement in inches

Measurement in centimetres

Standard UK Rug Size

48”

122 cms

4’0”

51”

130 cms

4’3”

54”

137 cms

4’6”

57”

145 cms

4’9”

60”

152 cms

5’0”

63”

160 cms

5’3”

66”

168 cms

5’6”

69”

176 cms

5’9”

72”

183 cms

6’0”

75”

191 cms

6’3”

78”

199 cms

6’6”

81”

206 cms

6’9”

84”

214 cms

7’0”

87”

221 cms

7’3”

Not everyone can afford to splash out on a new rug. Or maybe the quality and style is actually OK but it’s just in need of repair. If this is the case, take a look at our Rug Accessories collection. Here you’ll find an array of spare parts for your horse’s rug that will enable you to repair or even reproof it.

Shop horse rug accessories online

Comment

Name
Email
Comment