I put together this guide for the company I work for, Equestriancollections.com. For the last section, Blanket for Your Breed, I reached out to our 23,000 Facebook Fans for their opinions. They are always a great source of information. Please feel free to share your opinions!

Choosing the Right Horse Blankets

What size horse blanket does my horse wear?

What’s in a size? Horse blankets are sized in two or three inch increments based on the measurement between the center of the horses chest and the point of the rump. Proper blanket
fit is important to prevent rubbing and other injuries. Here are some simple steps for choosing the
correct blanket size for your horse.

1. Measure: Stand your horse on a level surface. With the help of a friend, use a flexible measuring tape to measure from the center of
your horse’s chest to the point of the rump, where you want the blanket to
end.(Insert picture) For an accurate
measurement, keep the tape measure level and flat. Do not bend the tape to the contours of your
horse’s body.

2. Consider Build: It is likely that your horse’s measurement will fall between horse blanket sizes. Choose your size based on your horses build. Size up for a broad, stocky horse, and down
for a narrow, slight horse. For
extremely broad or narrow horses, you may even go up or down an entire blanket
size. See our Blanketing for Your Breed
Guide for more information.

3. Try one on for size: If you are still not sure what size to buy, you can always try a few on for size! If you have a collection of blankets (like so many of us do) or you are in a barn with a lot of other horses, try on some
blankets in the size you think you need.
If this is not possible, call our customer service representatives and
we will gladly help you choose.
Remember, if the blanket you order doesn’t fit, you can exchange it for
another size.

4. Horseware, maker of Rambo, Rhino, and Amigo Horse Blankets, has there own horse blanket measuring guide that is slightly different.
Here is a link to that guide: http://www.horseware.com/RugFitting.pdf

What kind of winter blanket does your horse need?

Stable Blanket or Turnout Blanket?

Stable Blanket: Stable blankets are only appropriate for while your horse is indoors, or as an extra layer under a turnout blanket. If your horse spends most of the time
indoors, is on layup, or you just want a blanket to change your horse into
while he is in his stall, you should get a stable blanket. They are also good for shipping and horse
shows where your horse is indoors much of the time. It is nice to have a clean, attractive stable
sheet set aside for these occasions. See
our Blanket Weight Guide for suggestions on when to use a stable sheet as an
extra layer under a turnout blanket when temperatures drop below what your
horse is used to.

Turnout Horse Blankets: Turnout blankets can be used both in the stall and while your horse is turned out. These blankets are waterproof, breathable,
and built to withstand the wear and tear of turnout. If you can only afford one blanket for your
horse, a turnout blanket is your best bet.
The next step would be to determine what weight blanket your horse
needs.

Light, Medium or heavy Weight? Most blanket come in three weights: light, medium and heavy weight.
A great example is the Rambo
Original turnout Blanket. The light
weight is made with a super strong 1000D ballistic nylon shell with no
filling. Ballistic nylon is both
waterproof and breathable. The Medium
Weight has 200 Grams of fill, and the Heavy Weight has 370 grams. How do you know what your horse needs? Here are some basic guidelines. These are
based on a horse that is not clipped. If
your horse is body clipped, add ten degrees to the temperature guidelines.

Some horse blanket manufacturers make quilted liners specifically to fit their turnout blankets. These can be used instead of a Stable Blanket for extra warmth. The
Rambo Duo and Rambo Duo Liner is a great example.

Blanketing for Your Breed

No two horses are built alike, and some breeds just don’t fit the average horse mold! We compiled information from our vendors, our personal experience, and the experiences of
our customers to help you choose the best blanket for your horse’s
breed/build.

Warmbloods/Drafts/Shires: For the our biggest horse breeds, just finding a the a big enough size can be difficult! Equestrian Collections has a
number of blankets recommended for Warmbloods
and Drafts.

Our Top Picks

1. Rambo by Horseware XL Heavyweight Horse Blanket A more generous cut around the neck and shoulders and added depth around the belly make this the perfect blanket
   for Warm Bloods and Draft type horses who tend to be broader in the chest
   and girth. This horse blanket is
   available is a size 90! This is the
   largest horse blanket size we carry.
2. Rambo by Horseware Duo Horse Blanket This extremely versatile horse blanket from Rambo is the perfect fit for larger
   breeds, and goes up to a size 87.
   Worn on its own, or with the matching Duo
   Blanket Liner, available in three weights, this is the only blanket
   your horse will need to get through winter! Removable neck cover.

Customer Favorites: We asked our customers and Facebook fans to tell us what blankets they found work best for their horse’s breed/build.
Here are our Customer Favorites for Warmblood/Drafts

1. Shires Typhoon Horse Blankets: Available in three styles and in heavy and medium weight, this
   blanket by Shires was recommended as a great blanket for large, broader
   built horses. Available up to a
   size 87, the Shires Typhoon Horse Blanket has all the features needed to
   keep your horse warm, dry, and comfortable this winter.
2. Weatherbeeta Orican Horse Blankets: The perfect fit for your Warmblood/ Draft at a reasonable price! The Weatherbeeta Orican Horse Blankets
   are made with traditional shoulder gussets to give even the broadest
   shouldered horse freedom of movement and comfort. Available in three different neck styles
   in light, medium, and heavy weight.
   

Quarter Horses/Stock Horses. These horses are normally not as large as Warmbloods, but are often
fairly broad, especially in the rump!

Our Top Picks:

1. Rambo by Horseware Quarter Horse Turnout: The same time tested, waterproof, breathable turnout as the Rambo
   Original, but designed to fit a Quarter Horse! Rambo blankets last longer, making them
   a worthwhile investment. Click
   here to see why!
2. TuffRider 600D Plaid Turnout Horse Blanket: This waterproof, breathable sheet is great for the horse owner on a budget. It
   is a midweight, waterproof, breathable horse blanket suitable for most
   winter weather. The shoulder
   gussets provide freedom of movement and a little extra room for
   wide-shouldered Quarter Horses.
   There is also amble room in the rear to fit that classic Quarter
   Horse rump! At only $90.95, it is great quality at a great value.

Customer Picks:

1. Pessoa Horse Blankets: A number of our Facebook Fans recommended Pessoa Horse Blankets for Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Stock Horses, or any shorter,
   broader built Horse. They come in a
   variety of styles, colors, and weights so you have plenty of options for
   you horse. Click
   Here for ten reasons to buy a Pessoa Horse Blanket.

Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Sport Horses: For horses that tend to be more narrow in the shoulders, and more slender all around, finding a blanket that doesn’t slip or
hang too low can be difficult. Here are
some blankets that work for this group of horses.

Our Top Picks

1. HUG Blankets: If you have a horse with narrow shoulders, you need a blanket you can adjust yourself so that
   they really fit your horse... a blanket that provides full freedom of
   shoulder movement, and prevent rubbing.
   The Patented Hug Blanket, with overlapping panels and adjustable
   elastic straps, makes easy work of sizing and fitting. The elastic
   attachments actually stretch as your horse lowers his head to eat and then
   restore the blanket to its original position when he lifts it up
   again! Available in a variety of
   sizes, styles, and weights.
2. Rambo Original Turnout: The standard in horse blankets, the Rambo Original Turnout is the most versatile horse
   blanket we have come across. While
   managing horse farms, I found this blanket fit just about every horse and
   pony I worked with. Waterproof, and
   with superior breathability.
   Available in a light, medium, and heavy weight. Available with neck cover, or with neck
   cover sold separately.

Customer Picks:

1. TuffRider 1200D Stretch Manager Plus Horse Turnout Blanket Stretch Manager Plus is made from a special 4 way stretch rip stop fabric which is laminated with a
   breathable, waterproof membrane for the ultimate comfort and protection in
   a lightweight horse blanket . The strategically placed stretch
   fabric panels do not need shoulder gussets and allow for a very aesthetic
   design and appearance. A number of
   our Facebook Fans suggested this as the perfect blanket for narrow
   shouldered or slender horses.
2. Weatherbeeta Landa Rug-Sac Horse Turnout Blanket Set A fantastic combo of blankets! The Rug-Sac includes a lightweight, medium weight,
   and a fleece cooler. A whole winter of blanketing needs in one!

The Landa Rug-Sac includes: Landa Original Standard Neck with 220 grams of fill, Landa Original Standard Neck Lite (no fill), and a Standard neck fleece cooler.

Ponies/Minis Here are some blankets that work for the tiniest ponies, and suggestions for stouter pony breeds.

Our Top Picks

1. Weatherbeeta Pony Standard Neck Turnout Blanket A fresh styled blanket with a tough 600D outer. Fully waterproof and breathable, the blanket features nylon lined
   shoulders, a shoulder gusset for ease of movement and adjustable/removable
   leg straps. Your pony will be in the height of fashion in this great
   turnout blanket. This blanket
   starts at a size 51 and is available in a variety of colors to suit your
   adorable little pony! Plus it only
   costs $71.95!!
2. TuffRider 600D Pony Plaid Turnout Blankets: Available in light, medium, and heavy weight starting at a size
   60. This blanket features high
   shoulder gussets to give even the most active ponies freedom of
   movement. Also great for broader
   shouldered or stout ponies.

Customer Picks:

1. Rhino Pony Wug Turnout Blanket: The best all around pony blanket on the market. Starting in a size 51, this blanket will
   fit even the smallest ponies. The
   high cut neck acts like a scarf, reducing heat loss. This style, with the v-snap closure is
   also great for any pony who tends to get shoulder rubs. One of our Facebook Fans also told us
   this is a great blanket for larger, chunky ponies, such as Connemara
   ponies.