Submitted by: Ontionio Karidesianis

Horse rugs are important in providing extra protection in both the winter and summer months from the weather.

Horse rugs are important in providing extra protection in both the winter and summer months from the weather. A winter horse rug will often be much thicker and warmer than summer horse rugs which often only need to provide protection from the rain.

As winter approaches, we all need to protect our horses from the cold and it?s vital to plan winter preparations. An easy way to do this is to use a good stable rug when in the stable and of course turnout rug when out in the elements. The extra insulation provided by a good stable rug will help to keep your horse warm, therefore protecting against loss of body fat through heat loss.

Here are just a few different types of horse rugs:

Stable Rugs

These are designed to warm your horse whilst they are in the stable. A stable rug is not for use outside as it is not waterproof. Most rugs are made from quilted or padded synthetic fabrics and come in different thicknesses for different warmth covers.

Turnout Rugs

Designed to keep your horse clean and dry when out in the field, and also warm during the winter. Turnout rugs have a waterproof synthetic outer material and are available in different thicknesses/weights of filling measured in grams that offer varying degrees of warmth for your horse.

Under Rugs

If your horse has been clipped or has a naturally thinner winter coat, they may need a little more warmth from their rug, as may the more elderly horse. These under rugs can be used as extra layers on colder nights.

Fleeces & Coolers

Coolers are used after your horse has exercised and will ?wick? moisture away from his skin ? similar to wrapping yourself in a towel after a bath! They can be put on underneath a turnout or stable rug on cold days.

Fleeces are incredibly versatile and come in gorgeous colours and designs. Used as a substitute to a cooler they can also be worn as a light stable rug or for travel and can be put under a turnout or stable rug for added warmth; no horse should be without one!

What types of styles are available?

Standard Neck

A standard rug has a neck that stops at the horses wither, leaving the neck exposed. Sometimes a separate matching neck cover may be available to buy giving you flexibility to add or take off when needed.

High Neck

A high neck extends beyond the withers, but does not cover the whole of the neck. This style is a good choice if your horse has prominent withers or has a problem with rugs rubbing in other styles.

Combo

A combo style rug has a permanently fixed neck which covers your horse all the way up to the ears. This style is a popular choice as it offers increased warmth and protection. There is also no direct pressure on the wither area, which can help to prevent rubbing of the mane. Your horse will also stay much cleaner when he?s covered from head to tail!

Rug Facts

Light weight ? These rugs have no filling, so are ideal for when the weather is milder.

Medium weight ? These rugs have fillings between 0-200gms, just what you need during autumn and spring months.

Heavy weight ? have fillings between 201-450gms, designed to keep your horse cosy through the depths of winter.

Denier ? A fabric?s denier rating relates to the weight of the yarn in the fabric, the higher the denier, the heavier & tougher the fabric.

Waterproof & Breathable ? This mostly relates to the outer fabric of turnouts which needs to be 100% waterproof but also needs to allow sweat and excess moisture to pass through.

Remember before you buy any sort of horse rug, you need to correctly measure your horse. An ill-fitting rug can cause problems for horses. If a horse rug is too small, it will restrict movement and cause sores, while horse rugs that are too large can fall off and could become tangled around the horse?s legs.

About the Author: Santionio karidesianis is author of this article on Horse Rugs and Turnout Rugs.Santionio has been working with equestrian industry for over 35 years.Visit

robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/rugs.html

for more information.

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