If your tape measure isn’t long enough, you can pull a piece of yarn from the chest to the tail, then measure the piece of yarn. The length of a horse’s body will be anywhere from 64 inches (1. 6 m) to 90 inches (2. 3 m).
Your goals for the blanket should drive which fabric you choose. You can also buy these fabrics online. Purchase additional fabric in case you make a mistake and need to start over. You can purchase waterproof/breathable materials from companies like Polartec, eVent, Pertex, and Gore-Tex. [4] X Research source If you don’t use a waterproof fabric and keep your horse outside, the blanket will get wet from the rain or snow and will make the horse colder. It can also cause rubs and sores where it touches the horse. Cotton and nylon will be the cheapest fabrics, while breathable and waterproof fabrics are the most expensive.
If the blanket droops below their shoulders or withers, you’ve made your neck hole too large. In this case, you’ll have to recut a new piece of fabric. Make sure that the blanket doesn’t restrict movement in the horse’s shoulders. The blanket should fit loosely around the shoulders and shouldn’t impede the horse’s movement.
If you like, you can also measure and create a loop at the end of the blanket for the tail to go through. This is up to you.
Sew your belly strap and tail straps in place as well. Use a mechanical sewing machine if you want to save time.
Be sure to provide a 3-sided shed for your horse to take shelter in as well when the weather is bad.
A horse’s coat is sensitive to temperature. If it’s acclimated to living in a warmer climate, its body won’t need to grow a thick winter coat.
If you want to reduce your horse’s coat, you should put the blanket on it when the temperature dips below 50 °F (10 °C) or lower. Take the blanket off the horse so that you can groom it regularly. When you remove it, check for any areas of chafing or excess sweat. Don’t put a blanket on a horse in the hot weather, or you may overheat it.
