Horse rug size chart: how to measure, and feet-inches-cm conversions

Sizes vary between brands. The table below comes straight from two manufacturers' published size guides, and the two don't measure in quite the same way. Use it to understand the sizes, then check the size chart for the exact rug you're buying. If in doubt, ask your local saddlery to help you measure.

Horse rugs are sized in feet and inches [1]: a 5'9, a 6'3 and so on. That number is a body measurement, not your horse's height. Two horses of the same height can need different sizes, and two brands can size the same horse differently.

Here's how to measure, what the sizes convert to, and how to check the fit.

How to measure your horse

You'll need a soft measuring tape and, ideally, a helper to hold the horse. Stand the horse square on level ground.

The two brands we checked describe the measurement slightly differently, so follow the method for the brand you're buying:

WeatherBeeta: measure the body length from the centre of the chest, around the body, to the end of the rump [1], which WeatherBeeta Australia describes as the rear of the quarters where you expect the rug to finish [2]. Rugs are usually sized in 3-inch increments, and if your horse is between sizes, choose the bigger size [1][2].

Horseware: measure from the centre point of the chest, across the point of the shoulder, to the centre of the tail. Then remove 10 cm (4 inches) and choose the size from the table [3].

That 10 cm step is the main reason the same horse can come out at different sizes for different brands. Write down your raw measurement in centimetres so you can apply each brand's method.

Horse rug size chart

Sizes from WeatherBeeta's and Horseware's published guides [1][3]. The centimetre figures are each brand's own; they're close but not identical, so don't mix them up.

A dash means that brand's guide doesn't list the size. For Horseware, compare the table figure with your measurement after removing 10 cm [3].

How to read it. Say your WeatherBeeta-style body-length measurement falls between the 175 cm and 185 cm rows: WeatherBeeta's advice is to choose the bigger size, a 6'0 [1]. For Horseware, take your chest-to-tail measurement, subtract 10 cm, and find the nearest size in the right-hand column [3].

Both brands describe their tables as a guide only, because every horse is different [1][3].

Pony, petite and XL sizes

Horseware publishes separate tables for different body types. Its petite sizes run from 2'6 to 4'0, and it notes that its pony cut has a 10% shorter body to avoid restricting movement [3]. Its XL cut is 20% deeper in the neck and sides, with a 10% deeper body length, for a larger frame [3].

Choosing a style that fits your horse's shape

Size is only half the story. Horseware suggests matching the cut to your horse's build [3]:

• Average build: a classic straight front, or a V-front for extra comfort.
• Deep-shouldered, narrow horse: a V-front closure design.
• Narrow-chested horse: a disc-front closure.
• Deep-shouldered, deep-necked, wide horse: an XL cut.
• High-withered, narrow horse, or a young horse: a design that reduces wither pressure and helps stop slipping.

A saddlery can help you try styles. Find one in our saddlery directory.

Rug weights

Rug "weight" refers to the amount of fill, not how heavy the rug is. Horseware's guide lists lightweight as 0–100 g fill, heavyweight as 300–450 g, and rugs of 150–250 g in between [3]. Other brands may use different bands, so check the product details.

Do you need a rug at all?

The RSPCA's advice is to treat each horse individually [4]:

• All horses should have access to shelter, and healthy younger horses with good shelter don't always need rugs. Older horses may need extra warmth in cold, wet weather.
• Fine-coated breeds such as Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds feel the cold and wet more.
• Rugs don't replace shade and shelter.
• In hot weather, rugs can be a welfare issue: they stop cooling breezes and get in the way of sweating. The RSPCA notes horses are at risk of heat stress when temperatures go above 25 °C.
• If the day warms up above 20 °C, remove heavy rugs.
• Feeling your horse's skin isn't an accurate way to judge whether it's warm, and can lead to over-rugging.
• A badly fitting thin rug that flattens the coat can leave a horse colder than no rug at all.

The exception in summer is a horse with Queensland itch, which the RSPCA says does need light rugging to reduce insect bites [4]. See our Queensland itch guide.

Checking the fit

Once the rug is on, walk the horse and look for:

• No pressure or rubbing at the shoulders, withers or chest
• Room for the horse to move and graze without the rug pulling tight
• The rug finishing where you expected over the quarters [2]
• Straps adjusted so the rug can't slip, without being tight

Then keep checking:

• Daily: Agriculture Victoria says to check a waterproof rug every day to make sure it isn't rubbing, slipping or leaking [5].
• Twice a day: the RSPCA recommends checking at least twice daily that straps haven't broken and the rug hasn't slipped, which can injure a horse [4].
• After rain: check the inner lining is still dry. The RSPCA warns a wet rug can be worse than no rug [4].
• Regularly: take the rug off to check for rubbing and changes in weight, and groom thoroughly, because rugs stop horses shedding dead skin and hair naturally [4].

Hoods: use with great caution. The RSPCA warns a hood can slip and cover the eyes, causing panic or injury, and can rub the eyeball and cause an ulcer that needs immediate vet attention [4].

Weight changes under a rug are easy to miss. Our weight calculator estimates weight from a tape measure, so you can track it through winter, and the care planner can remind you to check.

Frequently asked questions

Is rug size the same as my horse's height? No. Rug sizes are based on a body-length measurement [1][3], so two horses of the same height can need different sizes.

My horse measures between sizes. Which do I pick? WeatherBeeta says to choose the bigger size [1][2]. For other brands, check their guide.

Why does my horse take a different size in different brands? Brands measure differently. Horseware, for example, asks you to remove 10 cm from a chest-to-tail measurement [3], while WeatherBeeta uses the body length to the end of the rump [1].

Measure once, write it down in centimetres, and check each brand's own chart before you buy.