When buying any rug for your horse to wear, fit is key, and should never be underestimated. If you’ve bought the most amazing rug with a whole range of features it could potentially cause more harm than good if it is ill fitting.
The good news is that it is not hard to achieve a good fit - here are our top tips:
Measure your horse before you go out to your local tack shop. This can be done with a tape measure. Simply put one end of the tape in the centre of your horse’s chest and the other end on the horse's buttocks where you would expect the rug to finish.
Horse rugs are sized in centimetres, inches or feet and inches - make sure you check what size rug you are getting as a 66" will not fit a 6'6" horse.
When you've bought the rug, take it home and try it on your horse over a clean bedsheet or clean summer sheet - make sure you leave all the tags on. If the rug fits then remove the tags and use, if not, you might be able to return the rug to the retail outlet you purchased it from as long as it is in a saleable condition- check with your retailer at the time you purchase the rug.
A badly fitting rug will slip and could cause discomfort or even injury for the horse, and could result in damage to the rug itself.
| Horse Rug Size Chart | |||||||||||||||
| Bottom measurement (feet) | 3'9" | 4'0" | 4'3" | 4'6" | 4'9" | 5'0" | 5'3" | 5'6" | 5'9" | 6'0" | 6'3" | 6'6" | 6'9" | 7'0" | 7'3" |
|
Bottom measurement (inches) |
45" | 48" | 51" | 54" | 57" | 60" | 63" | 66" | 69" | 72" | 75" | 78" | 81" | 84" | 87" |
| Back measurement (cm) | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 | 120 | 125 | 130 | 135 | 145 | 150 | 155 | 165 | 170 |
| Turnout Rug Neck Compatibility | ||||
| Neck Size | S | M | L | XL |
| Rug Size | 4'6" - 5'0" | 5'3" - 5'9" | 6'0" - 6'6" | 6'9" - 7'3" |
| Foal Rug Size Chart | |||||
| Back measurement (cm) | 65cm | 71cm | 78cm | 82cm | 85cm |
| Bottom measurement (inches) | 33" | 36" | 39" | 42" | 45" |
| Bottom measurement (feet) | 2'9" | 3'0" | 3'3" | 3'6" | 3'9" |
| Miniature Rug Size Chart | |||||
| Back measurement (cm) | 65cm | 68cm | 73cm | 79cm | 85cm |
| Bottom measurement (inches) | 33" | 36" | 39" | 42" | 45" |
| Bottom measurement (feet) | 2'9" | 3'0" | 3'3" | 3'6" | 3'9" |
| Horse Boot Fit Guide | ||
| Size Guide | Front | Hind |
| UP TO 13.1HH | Pony | Pony |
| 13.2HH - 14.1HH | Pony | Cob |
| 14.2HH - 15.1HH | Cob | Cob |
| 14.255 - 15.1HH (with good bone) | Cob | Full |
| 15.2HH - 16.2HH | Full | Full |
| 16.3HH + | Full | Extra Full |
| Over Reach Boot Fit Guide | |
| Size Guide | |
| UP TO 14.1HH | Pony |
| 14.2HH - 15.1HH | Cob |
| 15.2HH - 16.2HH | Full |
| 16.3HH + | Extra Full |
| 16.3HH (heavy) | Extra Extra Full |
| Numnah Size Guide | |||
| Size | 15"-16.5" | 17"-18" | |
| A | BACK SPINE LENGTH | 48cm | 50cm |
| B | DEPTH AT CENTER OF PATCH | 47cm | 51cm |
| Saddlecloth Size Guide | ||||
| Size | 14" | 15"-16.5" | 17"-18" | |
| A | BACK SPINE LENGTH | 44cm | 49cm | 56cm |
| B | DEPTH AT CENTER OF PATCH | 40cm | 46cm | 48cm |
| Fly Mask Size Guide | |||
| Size | A | B | C |
| Extra Small Pony | 54cm | 77cm | 27cm |
| Small Pony | 59cm | 86cm | 28cm |
| Pony | 61cm | 89cm | 33cm |
| Cob | 66cm | 89cm | 34cm |
| Full | 68cm | 104cm | 36cm |
| Extra Full | 71cm | 107cm | 46cm |
To measure your horse for a bit:
1. Having first selected the correct height stand in front of your horse (for safety, with your face turned to one side) and with your hands hold a contact with the bit. Approximately 5mm (1/4 inch) on each side is correct (a little more can be allowed for loose rings). As a guide there should be space to fit one finger between the horse's lips and bits ends on both sides.
There should be adequate space on both sides to clear the lips to prevent pinching but not so much that the bit can slide across the mouth. N.B. Rubber bit rings need additional width.
2. Remove the bit and lay it flat on a firm surface. Measure between the twon corners of the bit, inside to inside (C) to find the width size of your horse's mouth.
| Bit Size Guide | |||||||||||
| Inches | 3" | 3.5" | 4" | 4.25" | 4.5" | 4.75" | 5" | 5.25" | 5.5" | 5.75" | 6" |
| Centimetres | 7.5cm | 9cm | 10cm | 10.5cm | 11.5cm | 12cm | 12.5cm | 13cm | 14cm | 14.5cm | 15cm |
| Cavesson & Flash Bridles | ||||||
| Mini | Small Pony | Pony | Cob | Full | Extra Full | |
| Head Measurement (bit ring to bit ring) | 65-81 | 74-94 | 80-98 | 86-109 | 93-115 | 95-122 |
| Browband (end to end) | 32.5 | 35 | 37.5 | 40 | 42.5 | 45 |
| Throatlash (split to split) | 41-56 | 45-64 | 51-69 | 60-83 | 67-91 | 71-94 |
| Cheekpiece (include buckle) | 18 | 21 | 22.5 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Noseband (circumference) | 45-51.5 | 47.5-55 | 50-58 | 58-64 | 62-70 | 68-76 |
| Flash (circumference) | N/A | 39-49 | 42-54.5 | 47-57 | 52-63 | 57-68 |
| Mexican & Grackle Bridles | ||||
| Pony | Cob | Full | Extra Full | |
| Head Measurement (bit ring to bit ring) | 80-98 | 86-109 | 93-115 | 95-122 |
| Browband (end to end) | 37.5 | 40 | 42.5 | 45 |
| Throatlash (split to split) | 51-69 | 60-83 | 67-91 | 71-94 |
| Cheekpiece (include buckle) | 22.5 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| Jaw strap (ring to ring) | 21-28.5 | 24-35 | 30.5-39.5 | 34-44 |
| Long Buckle strap (include buckle) | 53 | 59 | 63 | 67 |
| Long hole Strap length | 38.5 | 43 | 47.5 | 52 |
