Fitting Guides for Horse Rugs and Hoods

5 min read

04/09/2019

Buying horse rugs online can be a little daunting if it's your first time. We have put together this comprehensive guide to help make it easy to get the correct size horse rug and help get a better understanding of the appropriate horse rug sizes when purchasing from our website. This horse rug fitting guide can be used to understand the way in which Caribu horse rugs are measured in relation to your horse and your existing rug brands.

Horse Rug Sizing Guide

How to Find the Best Size Rug for Your Horse

Option 1: Measure your horse

This is the most accurate way to get the correct rug size. Measure in a straight line from the center of the horse's chest (where the top chest buckle would sit), around the shoulder, along the side of the belly to the furthest rear point of the rump, or where you expect the rug to finish. Make sure not to measure around to the tail as this will add a few extra inches. It's a good idea to measure both sides more than once! This measurement can be used as a guide for your rug size.

An easy way to measure your horse is to use a tape measure that has imperial measurements on it (i.e.: feet and inches). Measure your horse in the same way as mentioned above. As you get to the horse's rump you can get an idea of where each size horse rug size will finish. Using the tape as a guide, check where you would expect the horse rug to finish and see how it relates to imperial sizing. For example, a 6'0 rug will measure 6'0, so considering the 3-inch intervals in sizing that horse rugs follow, and you can get an idea where a 5'9 or even a 6'3 will finish. Some people find this an easier method for measuring because it will help you understand where each horse rug size will finish.

Option 2: Measure an existing rug that fits

If you can, we would recommend that you measure both your horse and an existing rug that fits. Having two measurements to compare will help confirm your sizing.

When you are measuring an existing rug, try not to use a waterproof turnout, but simple normal cotton or mesh paddock rug or similar. Turnouts horse rugs tend to be slightly longer to cater for chest overlap, and this will complicate the way you need to measure your existing horse rug.

Don't rely on the sizing label on your existing rug, older rugs usually have stretched or shrunk or the way a manufacturer has listed may not be true to size. Keep in mind that turnout rugs follow a slightly different fit/sizing (see horse rug size chart below). To measure an existing rug, measure from the front edge of the rug, between the two chest straps, along the length of the rug, with the gusset closed, to the rear edge of the rug.

Check the fit of your horse rugs

Put the rug on the horse, it should sit forward and in front of the wither. The top chest buckle should be fastened to the tightest or second to last hole. If you are using the third hole or more, it may suggest the horse may need a larger rug size. The rug should sit firmly around the neckline and chest.

Leg straps should be loose enough to prevent chafing - but not hanging down low. Surcingles should be adjusted so that they allow a hand's width between straps and belly.

Rugs that are too big for a horse tend to create more problems from rubbing and chaffing than rugs that are too small. If a rug is too big in the neck area, the rugs slip back over the wither and put pressure on the chest. This will cause more fabric to hang over the rear end of the horse and you will have issues with slippage and horses getting caught in surcingles and stepping on their rugs when getting up or rolling.

The seam where the tail flap attaches to the rug should sit on top of the tail. If it sits beyond the tail, the rug is too big, if it sits up in front of the tail, the rug is too small.

Differences between the styles of Caribu rugs

We use a similar design cut across our entire range of Caribu horse rugs. We have used the same style on our rugs for nearly 10 years, and with thousands of rugs produced each year. However, every horse is different and it's important to get the size right for your horse. Sometimes your horse just has features that need a more specialised cut (e.g. a very high wither or a very broad chest). Across the different styles of our rugs, you will get variations in drops depending on the style of rug, but the necklines will be very similar. Different fabrics will also sit differently. For example, a flag combo will sit a little differently to a ripstop combo.

The only exception to our consistent design, is our synthetic denier waterproof turnout rugs and combos.

Different sizing is used on waterproof synthetic turnout rugs. Typically, synthetic turnout horse rugs, such as lined winter rugs and rain sheets, follow a slightly different sizing rule. This is due to the way waterproofing is applied and is to help avoid pressure points when layering rugs underneath in the cooler weather. Turnout rugs allow extra length in the chest area to allow the front edges of the rug to overlap behind the chest buckles, providing extra insulation and waterproofing. As such, our turnouts will generally measure approximately 4cm longer, along the lower length of the rug to cater for chest overlap. This also makes the rugs a little roomier in the chest if needed.

Horse Hood Sizing Guide

You will also often see sizing for items such as hoods, boots, and bridles referred to 'Pony', 'Cob' or 'Full'. As a guide, the following is usually considered the industry standard:

In some of our hooded rugs, 6'0 is available with either a cob or full-sized hood. Generally, we only recommend a cob size hood with a 6'0 rug which fits 90% of horses. A full-size horse hood is generally only used on larger thoroughbred's and warmbloods.

In some of our styles, 6'3 is available with either a Full or Cob size hood attached. Generally, we only recommend a Full-size hood with a 6'3 rug which fits 90% of horses. Sometimes the shorter, broader horses, need the bigger rug size, but the smaller hood size (for example, the quarter horse builds).

These are the hood size measurements you'll need to take:

Measurement 1: The measurement from point of the poll rearwards back along the crest of the hood to the rear hem of the hood.
Measurement 2: The measurement from point of poll down the centre of the face to the bottom edge of the hood.
Measurement 3: The sum of 1 & 2, measured along the top seam of the hood from nose point to rear binding edge

Please note the location of the point of the poll will vary from horse to horse, so please use as an approximation only. Measurement 3 will also vary slightly depending on how tight you pull the fabric. We have a detailed guide on using and adjusting hoods and masks here. Keep in mind that you will get a little variation in fit from one hood to the next, and one fabric to the next. While they are made from the same design template, they are all hand cut and hand sewn, which will create small variations in each hood.

Common sizing issues

Don't rely on your existing brand's size label - measure the rug to find its true size as many manufacturers rugs are not true to size.
Some necklines on certain brands are often very deep cut (or poorly designed!) which has the effect of making the rug a much bigger fit compared to better fitting brands in the same size.
Winter or lined/padded rugs are often a tighter fit when compared to summer ripstop rugs or sheets. This is due to the fact that the padding takes up additional space. If you use a summer sheet, wool, fleece or similar rug under your winter rug to create layers, it will add more padding and has the potential to create a tighter fit again. If your horse is normally between sizes in a normal summer rug, this may mean the difference between going up or down a size.
Young horses often have underdeveloped chests, which can make them a challenge to a rug. Often a dart in the shoulder line can take up the slack and be taken out when the horse fills out.

Ready to find the perfect fit? Shop Caribu's range of horse rugs online with confidence.