How to measure for horse tack
We show you how to measure for horse tack, what those measurements mean and how to find the right size horse tack for your horse or pony.
Click on the horse tack headings to view the sizes you require information on.
- Bit to Bit – This measurement is taken from one side of the horses head, from the top of the bit ring (where the cheekpieces attach) – over the head (where the headpiece normally goes)- down to the bit ring on the other side.
- Noseband – This measurement is taken around the horses nose where a standard noseband normally fit. Where you need a grackle or drop noseband, please still measure it the same way, as those sizes have been worked out relative to the standard noseband sizes below.
- Browband – This measurement is taken from one side of the horses head, across the horses brow and allowing for two fingers width behind the ear each side for clearance. If you have a current browband that fits nicely, you can just measure that from end to end.
Once you have these three measurements, compare them to our chart to get the best fit overall. For the Bit to Bit and Noseband Opening measurements, ensure your measurement is between the smallest and largest sizes shown in the table below. You will see overlap on all sizes which allows for adjustment for inbetween horses.
- Browband – This measurement is taken from one side of the horses head, across the horses brow and allowing for two fingers width behind the ear each side for clearance. If you have a current brow band that fits nicely, you can just measure that from end to end.
- Neck – This measurement is taken from around your dogs neck, where the collar would fit.
Once you have this measurement, compare this to our chart to get the best fit overall. The stated size is the length of the collar to the middle hole. For each size, there is adjustment of +/- 4cm, but for ease of working out, as long as your dogs measurement is between the smallest and largest neck fitting of a size, then choose that size.
- Girth Length – This may seem simple, but when purchasing a girth, especially an expensive one, you will want to make sure the it still fits your horse through certain weight changes over summer and winter. Therefore you need to enlist some help and measure from the middle hole on the saddle straps, under the horses stomach and up to the middle hole of the saddle strap the other side. This will give you a few holes either side for seasonal adjustments. Always ensure that the girth buckles are clear from the horses shoulder when choosing a short girth.
If you are in between sizes, and are unsure, simply measure out the nearest girth size and see where this sits on the saddle strap holes, ensuring there is still a good level of adjustment. If this is not workable and you definitely require a different size, please contact us via our contact form and we will advise you personally. Girths are available in 5cm increments.
- Girth Length – This may seem simple, but when purchasing a girth, especially an expensive one, you will want to make sure the it still fits your horse through certain weight changes over summer and winter. Therefore you need to enlist some help and measure from the middle hole on the saddle straps, under the horses stomach and up to the middle hole of the saddle strap the other side. This will give you a few holes either side for seasonal adjustments. Always ensure that the girth buckles are clear from the horses shoulder when choosing a short girth.
If you are in between sizes, and are unsure, simply measure out the nearest girth size and see where this sits on the saddle strap holes, ensuring there is still a good level of adjustment. If this is not workable and you definitely require a different size, please contact us via our contact form and we will advise you personally. Girths are available in 5cm increments.
- D Ring to D Ring – This measurement is the buckled measurement, from the top of the D ring at one side of the noseband – over the headpiece – to the top of the D Ring on the other side of the noseband. So long as your measurement is between the smallest and largest of our measurements your headcollar will fit fine.
- Around the Noseband – This measurement is the entire circled measurement of the noseband opening, nosebands are designed to be looser fitting, so its best to use your current headcollar and starting from one side, measure back around until your tape measure meets. Again so long as your noseband fits in between our smallest and largest measurements, the headcollar will fit as its fully adjustable.
- Cannon Bone/Fetlock Combined Length – measure the horses cannon bone length, allowing enough clearance so that when the horses leg is flexed upwards the boot would not intefere with free movement of the knee.
- Fetlock width– measure a U shape from the front side of the fetlock, round the back of it and back to the front, ensuring that the start and end of the U is where the boot would sit.
- Coronet Band – measure around the top of the Coronet until your tape measure completes a circle, choose the closest match to your required size, as there is small adjustment for best fit on the velcro fastenings.
- Hoof Base – measure around the bottom of your horses hoof until your tape measure completes a circle, choose the closest match to your required size, as there is small adjustment for best fit on the velcro fastenings.
- Coronet Band to Hoof Base – measure the depth from the coronet band where the top of the boot will fit to the base of the hoof. Ensure there is enough depth for your chosen size without the boot scraping the floor.
Pink Equine Martingale/BreastplateThere is only one measurement you need to take in CENTIMETRES for the martingale/breastplate as the main strap that connects to the girth has such a significant level of adjustment it will fit all sizes relative to the breastplate parts:
- Centre of Chest to D Ring on Saddle – View the horse from the front and find the centre point of the chest. Measure from this point to the D ring on your saddle. As long as your measurement fits between our smallest and largest, thats the size you should choose.
Pink Equine Stirrup LeathersWhen looking at purchasing Stirrup Leathers it’s important to choose a size where there is not too much excess strap once you have the leathers to your riding length, nor that you require a roll around the stirrup irons (a problem sometimes seen when small children are in the saddle).
Our Stirrups are extremely adjustable with 12 holes each at 3cm Intervals. Holes start at 2/3rds along the length of the Stirrup Leathers, with room to add more if required, so if you have smaller and larger children riding the same pony add all their measurements up and divide by the number of children to get an average size that will work for all of them.
- Circumference (Base of Ears) – Measure around the base of the ears
- Ear Length – Measure from the tip of the ear to the base of the ear.
- Distance Between Ears – This is the measurement across the poll, between the ears.
- Back Length – Along the Spine of the Pad, from Front to Back (allow 4cm extra for sheepskin trim (per part, e.g front 4cm, rear 4cm) if you are having this on your pad)
- Depth – From Top to Bottom of the Pad.
- Length – Top to Bottom
- Width – Around the Leg where the boot will sit
- Back Length – Along the Spine of the Pad, from Front to Back (allow 4cm extra for sheepskin trim (per part, e.g front 4cm, rear 4cm) if you are having this on your pad)
- Depth – From Top to Bottom of the Pad (widest part at front, where the points of your saddle sit).
- Circumference (Base of Ears) – Measure around the base of the ears
- Ear Length – Measure from the tip of the ear to the base of the ear.
- Distance Between Ears – This is the measurement across the poll, between the ears.
- Back Length – Along the Spine of the Pad, from Front to Back
- Depth – From Top to Bottom of the Pad.