The main purpose of any horse rug is to provide your horse with protection. There are many different types of horse rugs available. If your horse wears a rug it is important to remove it daily so you can check for signs of rubbing or soreness and then refit or change as necessary. Put simply, don’t wait until it is too late. Act soon on this and get a new rug sooner than later.
Get a rug complete with a liner
The benefit of using a liner system is you only require one turnout or stable rug, usually a lightweight. You can then add or remove different fillers on the inside of the rug and change it also accordingly too. Thus way you can also get the rug to work in the way you want it to work too. After all, there are so many horse rugs out there so it can at times feel as though it is a minefield as to what to buy for your horse.
A very protective product
You’ll most likely find you need a number of different rugs to see you through the year and the changing weather conditions, as well as any changes to your competition or travel schedules. The correct horse rug will not only provide protection from varying weather and external conditions but also help to regulate your horses body temperature and keep them in a healthy condition.
There are lots of things to consider when deciding if your horse requires a rug. Also the type of horse rug that would be most appropriate for them. Some people argue that in the wild horses don’t require rugs and therefore domestic horses shouldn’t either. In some cases this is true, however there are a number of reasons why this isn’t always the case.
Turnout rugs
Horse turnout rugs are sold in three main weights that refer to the insulating property of the rug. This is as opposed to the physical weight of the rug. Lightweight turnout rugs usually have no fill in them at all making them the perfect choice for wet summer months. A rug with 150g -250g fill is classed as a mediumweight turnout rug. This is generally a great choice for spring and autumn. Turnout rugs 300g and over are referred to as heavyweight turnout rugs. They are only really necessary in very cold or snowy conditions.
When deciding which weight of turnout rug to put on your horse you should consider not just the ambient temperature but also the horse’s environment and physiology. Assess how exposed the field is and how much shelter there is (natural or in the form of a field shelter). Look at this alongside your horse’s natural coat type, age and whether or not they are clipped. You should also consider whether you require a neck cover for extra protection. Turnout rugs are available with a standard neckline, an integrated neck, a detachable neck and a half neck (or wug). Detachable necks are often a great solution. This is as you can add or remove the neck cover in accordance with the weather conditions.
Overall
Every horse is different so deciding when to rug a horse requires knowledge. You need this of your horse as well as an awareness of environmental factors. Just because you’re feeling hot after filling hay nets and mucking out doesn’t mean the ambient temperature and therefore your horse is hot as well. Before rugging horses we recommend considering the environment the horse is in, the horse’s exercise routine and finally the age, breed and condition of the horse. Also bear in mind that what is correct for one horse may not also be the best option for your other horse.