Clueless

[Gorgeous George]

As I am in the process of looking for my first horse I have realised I am clueless about so many things, despite 30yrs experience!

So the things I would like to know:
How do you measure a horse for a rug?
How do you measure a horse for an exercise sheet?
Now I think this may be a stupid question, but is there a special way to measure for a girth?
How do you know what size horse boots you need or do you just make an educated guess?
How do you measure for a bridle and bit?

I know this is going to make me look pretty dim asking these q's but I'd rather that than make an expensive mistake. Finally can anyone recommend a good saddler in Essex as most of the horses I've looked at seem to come saddle-less so it looks like I will need to sort that out.

Thanks for your help

 

[dunthing]

Hi, just trying to help with your post.
to measure for a rug - go from centre of horses chest in a straight line until level with the top of the tail and the same for exercise sheets. You get the same measurement for both but the sheet is obviously shorter. UNLESS you get a huge great highland who has his rugs made to measure because hes got such a massive neck. I dont know about saddlers in essex as Im in north devon. You might try looking at tack shops online, you get some good bargains sometimes

 

[bex1984]

Make sure you ask previous owners! Even if they're not selling rugs/tack with the horse they should be able to tell you what size rugs they've used for it, what size bridle (pony, cob or full), what type bit they've used, and you should be able to find a bit out about the saddle they've used, which would be handy info for the saddler.

Most online tack shops have rug measuring guides, but don't just go by height because it really does depend how broad they are!

How is the horse hunt going?

 

[Chex]

I usually find out by trying on others people's and seeing if they fit. When I measure Chex for rugs he comes out at at 6ft, but he actually needs a 6ft3 to get round his giant neck and belly

, so its not always easy (made harder by the fact some rugs are made big and others are made small

). There's usually rough guidelines for boots, done by height. the others I have guessed, sometimes right, other times wrong!

 

[Gorgeous George]

Thanks guys, there's obviously not some mysterious measuring art I'm missing then!!

I have found an absoultely gorgeous 16.3 chappy but I need to go back for a 2nd view, unfortunately someone else is going for a 3rd view before me (I can't get there any sooner as the owners are going to Badminton) so I fear I may loose him, I don't want to post about him properly in case it tempts fate.

 

[MagicMelon]

Make sure that if you do get a saddle with the horse that it actually fits! I remember getting my first pony and assuming the saddle fitted that came with it however when I had it checked, it really didnt!

It is a good idea to ask the owners for sizes etc. but just use this as a guide more than anything as some people seem to be a bit off....!