Horse Blanketing FAQs
Hose blanketing is a widespread practice in the horse industry, but there is a lot of confusion surrounding when and why horse owners should blanket their horses. Additionally, the varying weights and styles of horse blankets (also called 'horse rugs') can make it difficult to choose the right one for your horse. This quick reference guide answers all of these questions surrounding horse blankets so you can find the best option for your horse.
Why Should I Blanket a Horse?
Horse Blankets provide additional heat and protection for horses in cold weather. Blanketing is the perfect solution for clipped horses, horses with light winter coats, older horses, horses in poor condition, and any horse that needs a little extra help staying warm. When horses are outdoors, waterproof turnout blankets shield them from the elements, keeping their coats dry so they can stay warm. Show horses also benefit from a consistent blanketing routine so their coats stay competition ready.
When Should I Blanket a Horse?
The answer to this question depends on the horse. Horses with heavy winter coats typically do not need a blanket until the temperatures drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degrees Celsius). In contrast, horses with a light to moderate winter coat will need to be blanketed when the temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Clipped horses are the most vulnerable to frigid temperatures, and they will need to be blanketed once it gets below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).
What's The Difference Between Lite, Medium-Lite, Medium, and Heavyweight Blankets?
There are different “weights” of horse blankets to account for variations in temperature and other conditions. Lite blankets have a 0g fill, protecting horses from inclement weather while providing little to no warmth. Medium-lite blankets are a step up, with a 100g fill that provides some warmth to the horse, perfect for when temperatures are just starting to get low. Medium weight blankets provide even more warmth with a 200-250g fill. Heavyweight blankets are the warmest option, with a 300-400g fill that will keep your horse happy in freezing temperatures.
Throughout the winter, horse owners will have to swap out their horse’s blankets when the temperature changes. Over-blanketing can cause a horse to sweat and overheat, so it is important to pay attention to the weather and change blankets accordingly. The chart below is not all-encompassing but can serve as a general guide.
|
Temperature |
Natural Coat |
Body Clipped |
|
50 degrees |
Nothing or 0g Turnout |
Lite 0g-100g Blanket |
|
40 degrees |
Lite 0g-100g Blanket |
Lite-Medium 100g-200g Blanket |
|
30 degrees |
Medium 100-200g Blanket |
Heavy 300g Blanket |
|
20 degrees |
Medium 200g-300g Blanket |
Heavy 300g-400g Blanket |
|
10 degrees or below |
Heavy 300g-400g Blanket |
Heavy 300g-400g Blanket with a 100g-200g Blanket Liner |
Read more about horse blanket weights and weather here.
What's the Difference Between Stable Blankets vs. Turnout Blankets?
As their names suggest, stable blankets are best for horses while they are indoors, and turnout blankets are better suited to the outdoors. The main difference between the two are that turnout blankets are waterproof, while stable blankets are not. Water, rain, and snow can soak through a stable blanket to a horse’s coat, so horses should not be turned out in a stable blanket.
How Do I Measure a Horse for a Blanket?
To determine what size blanket your horse needs, use a soft measuring tape and measure from the center of their chest to the center of their tail. Remove four inches from your measurement and refer to the table below to find out what size blanket is required. It is important to take accurate measurements to ensure an adequate fit. For more information on blanket sizing, visit this page. Or watch our Weatherbeeta YouTube Video.
Horse Blanket Size Chart
Blanket size is based on your horse's body length — not his height, and not his weight. Measure once, in inches, and that number is your size.
How to measure
Stand your horse square on level ground. Put the end of a soft tape at the centre of his chest, run it along his side across the widest part of the shoulder, and finish at the point of the buttock — where you'd want the blanket to end. Keep the tape level and snug, following the body rather than cutting across at an angle. It's much easier with a helper.
Measuring in centimetres? Convert to inches first (cm ÷ 2.54), then use the table below. The centimetre numbers printed on European blankets are a different measurement entirely — see the conversion table further down.
Find your size
| If your horse measures | Your blanket size | Also written as | Roughly suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55–57" | 57" | 4'9" | 12.2–13 hh |
| 58–60" | 60" | 5'0" | 13–13.2 hh |
| 61–63" | 63" | 5'3" | 13.2–14 hh |
| 64–66" | 66" | 5'6" | 14–14.2 hh |
| 67–69" | 69" | 5'9" | 14.2–15 hh |
| 70–72" | 72" | 6'0" | 15–15.2 hh |
| 73–75" | 75" | 6'3" | 15.2–16 hh |
| 76–78" | 78" | 6'6" | 16–16.2 hh |
| 79–81" | 81" | 6'9" | 16.2–17 hh |
| 82–84" | 84" | 7'0" | 17–17.2 hh |
| 85–87" | 87" | 7'3" | 17.2–18 hh |
| 88–90" | 90" | 7'6" | 18 hh + |
Between two sizes? Go up, not down. A blanket that's fractionally long still sits correctly; one that's short rubs at the shoulder and slips.
66" and 6'6" are not the same size. They're nine inches apart. 66" is written as 6'6" only in the sense that six feet six inches equals 78" — so always check which system a listing is using before you order.
Why vendors list different numbers
Every brand on this page measures the horse the same way. What differs is what they print on the label — and that trips people up constantly. Four reasons:
- 1Two different measurements both get called "the size." The inch or feet size is your horse's body length — chest to buttock. The centimetre number on European blankets is the back seam: wither to tail, along the topline. Same blanket, two measurements, two completely different numbers. A 72" and a 135 are the same garment.
- 2The centimetre ladders are brand size codes, not real measurements. Each manufacturer built its own and they've drifted apart over the years. A Shires 110 is a 57" blanket. A LeMieux 110 is a 63" — six inches bigger. The number matches; the blanket doesn't.
- 3Some brands round, and some add extra sizes. WeatherBeeta rounds its centimetre figures to the nearest 5, so they read a touch larger than everyone else at the same size, and they offer a 77" that nobody else does — which pushes their whole code ladder out of step above 75".
- 4Same size, different cut. Shoulder gusset shape, depth of drop and neck cut vary by brand and by product line. Two blankets both labelled 75" can sit quite differently on the same horse — which is why we'd rather you measure than go by what fitted last year.
Vendor size conversion
If you're looking at a European listing or an old blanket with only a centimetre label, find the number here to get back to your inch size. Match on the size, never on the centimetre code.
| Size | Centimetre code printed by vendor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | Feet | LeMieux | WeatherBeeta | Horseware | Shires |
| 57" | 4'9" | 95 | 95 | — | 110 |
| 60" | 5'0" | 100 | 105 | — | 115 |
| 63" | 5'3" | 110 | 115 | — | 120 |
| 66" | 5'6" | 120 | 120 | 115 | 125 |
| 69" | 5'9" | 125 | 125 | 125 | 130 |
| 72" | 6'0" | 135 | 135 | 130 | 135 |
| 75" | 6'3" | 140 | 140 | 140 | 145 |
| 78" | 6'6" | 145 | 150 | 145 | 150 |
| 81" | 6'9" | 155 | 155 | 155 | 155 |
| 84" | 7'0" | 165 | 160 | 160 | 165 |
| 87" | 7'3" | 170 | 165 | 165 | 170 |
| 90" | 7'6" | — | — | 170 | — |
Kensington isn't in this table — and that's good news. They're the one American brand we carry, and they size in plain inches. Their size is your measurement, so the first table is all you need. Nothing to convert.
- Sizes run true across all these brands. A 75" is a 75" whoever made it — if you already know your blanket size, order it.
- Height is a starting point only. A stocky 15.2hh cob and a fine-boned 15.2hh thoroughbred rarely take the same blanket. Always measure.
- Smaller and larger sizes exist. Several of these lines run down through pony, foal and miniature sizes, and Kensington carries mini and draft ranges. If your horse falls outside 57–90", ask us and we'll point you to the right line.
- Still not sure? Send us your measurement and a photo of your horse standing square. High withers, broad shoulders or an unusually deep barrel all change what we'd recommend, and we'd much rather get it right the first time than process a return.
