Equestrian Interests - Fast Tack Direct Blog

Rugs - Helpful hints

Description:

High quality, practical, well fitting rugs are an essential part of any horse owners equipment.

They can protect against the rain, wind and cold, against mud and dust and against flies and other biting insects.

Yet it has to be said that; perhaps as a consequence of their many uses; there are a huge number of different rugs out there and it can be difficult, even for an experienced horse owner, to make the right choice when it comes to buying something new.

Fortunately, Fast Tack Direct are here to help! Below are some hints and tips aimed at helping you understand the different types of rugs available, the jargon used to describe these rugs, plus some guidance to help you make sure you buy a rug which will fit your horse comfortably.

What types of rug are available?

TURNOUT RUGS -These are meant to be worn by a horse whilst living outside and they come in different weights to suit different horses and seasons (see below). Winter turnout rugs also come in full or half “combo” styles. This means that they have a higher neckline than a normal rug (half combo) or a full neck cover which comes almost to the horses ears (full combo). These offer extra warmth.

STABLE RUGS – for horses to wear in stables! Again these come in different weights to suit different horses and living conditions.

SUMMER SHEETS – thin rugs which are not usually waterproof. These can be used to keep a horse clean whilst outside or travelling and they offer some protection against flies.

FLY RUGS – a light rug or sheet used to protect horses against biting insects. If you horse has a particular problem with biting insects then you can buy a rug which covers almost the whole body including the neck and head.

FLEECE RUGS AND COOLERS – generally used whilst a horse cools down after exercise, these are particularly good at allowing moisture to move away from the skin, through the rug, to the outside where it evaporates.

TRAVEL RUGS – again thin and often not waterproof these are used to keep your horse clean and tidy whilst travelling to a show. Remember many rugs can be multi-purpose, for example a summer sheet or fleece rug can serve as an extra layer under a turnout rug or as a rug for travelling.

What is meant by the weight of a rug?

Turnout rugs are generally described as heavy, medium or lightweight. This “weight” refers to the amount of polyester filling (sometimes called polyfill or duvet filling) found between the inner and outer linings of the rug and it determines the rug’s thickness and hence it’s warmth. The weight of the filling in a rug is actually measured as grams of filling per metre square of rug (e.g. 300 gm-2 ) but to make things easier it is often given simply as a number of grams (e.g. 300 g).

What you need to know is that in general:-

an ultra heavyweight rugcontains more than 350g of polyfill

a heavyweight rug contains 300 – 350 g of polyfill

a mediumweight rugcontains 200 – 250g of polyfill

a lightweight rug contains no filling or 40 – 150g of polyfill

Sometimes rugs may be described as heavy/medium weight, or medium/light weight these tend to have filling at the borders of the ranges given above. It is also good to note that the numbers above are only guidelines and that different manufacturers may use slightly different terminology to describe rugs with the same amount of fill.

What weight of rug do I need for my horse?

Imagine the winter wind howling and the pouring rain pelting against the window. Outside it is cold and dark. Now imagine you are lying in your nice warm bed but you are thinking about your equine friend out there in his draughty stable or perhaps the open field. Isn't it easy to see why many people opt for the thickest, warmest rug they can afford. However, this may not always be the right decision and you need to remember that in additon to providing you with peace of mind, the main purpose of a rug is to keep you horse as comfortable as possible for as much of the time as possible.

So before you buy try and consider the following:-

Your horse or pony's living conditions

Is your horse out all year? Is he out during the night as well as during the day? Is it possible for you to bring him in during severe weather conditions? Does he have access to much shelter? If he is stabled is he in a nice warm, state of the art, equine palace or a drafty outbuilding at the end of the field?

The characteristics of your horse or pony

Do you have a fine thoroughbred or a stocky cob? Is his coat thick or not? Is he clipped out at all? Is he particularly old or particularly young? Is he ill in anyway?

Your lifestyle and access to your horse or pony

Is it possible for you to get to your horse tochange or remove a rug if the weather conditions change? Or will they need to stay in a rug for at least the duration of the day?

Now combine the above information and try and buy a rug which will keep your horse comfortable for the majority of the time.

For example a fine bred horse with a short coat, a fully clipped horse, or a horse which is particularly old or in poor condition may need a heavyweight or perhaps an ultra-heavyweight turnout rug if he is to be out in the winter especially during the night. He may also need a lighter turnout rug for the spring and autumn seasons and perhaps even a heavier weight stable rug for when he is in.

On the other hand a hardy, hairy cob or tough little Shetland pony may only need a medium weight rug even if he is out on the coldest nights of the year, unless he is old or ill. Even then you may need to make sure you can get to him and remove the rug if you get a particularly warm afternoon!

Remember that for a horse being too hot is often more dangerous than being cold. Also, consider that whereas you can not make a heavyweight rug lighter you can layer lighter rugs to make a heavier overall layer if there is a particularly cold spell.

What type of material should I choose?

For wearing outside

The original rug made to keep a horse warm when out in the winter, is of course the New Zealand (NZ) rug. These are made from canvas or waxed cotton and are often green in colour. NZ rugs although very warm, are very heavy and can be cumbersome and cause rubbing. So if you go for one of these then think about buying one which is lined or padded in areas where rubbing is likely to occur such as the chest, shoulder and withers. Alternatively you could buy a separate shoulder liner to use with the rug.

More modern and now very popular turnout rugs are made not of canvas but of synthetic materials lined with cotton (mainly summer rugs) or nylon (mainly winter rugs) and filled with a weight of polyfill as described above. These materials can have a number of different features as described below:-

Denier:- This is a unit of measurement which relates to the thickness of the yarn or thread used to make the outer lining of a turnout rug. The higher the denier number, the thicker the yarn and hence the more hardwearing the rug. For turnout rugs, 600, 1200 or 2000 denier values are common. Before buying you may need to consider how hard wearing you need your rug to be. For example, if you horse lives alone, or is old or fairly tranquil, or if he wears the rug infrequently it may be less important to look for a high denier rating. On the other hand if he spends a lot of time in his rug and enjoys racing around the field with other horses, snagging his rug on every branch or other obstacle, it may be more important to look for a rug with a high denier rating. Generally a denier rating of 1200 or more is consider ideal for a rug which is to be used regularly.

Ripstop:- Despite their many advantages, modern turnout rugs tend to have an outer layer which is less thick (and therefore lighter) than the canvas used for traditional NZ rugs. Thus they have a tendency to tear more easily and it may be a good idea to look for a rug made of a fabric which incorporates rip-stop quality. Such fabrics have reinforced threads arranged in a square design which does not stop the rug from tearing but does contain any tears and stops them from extending before you are able to repair them.

Waterproofing :- This is an essential quality for any rug which is to be worn outside for any length of time. So a winter turnout rug will have a waterproof outer and a filled warm lining. A summer turnout rug, although unlined, will also have an outer treated such that is it waterproof. Unlike NZ rugs, modern turnout rugs do not usually have to be treated by the user to re-waterproof them.

Breathable:- Whilst you want your horse to be protected from moisture from outside if he sweats under his rug then it is preferable that the moisture inside is lost. Many rugs are therefore made of breathable fabrics which allow moisture to pass through the rug. Some manufactures also offer rugsmade from "wick away" fabrics which perform this function particularly effectively. Such a “wick away” feature would be common in a cooler rug. For stable rugs:- Stable rugs are generally made of a padded or quilted material. As they are not worn outside (unless under a waterproof outer) then they tend not to be waterproof and of a lower denier (300 is common) rating without ripstop. However, it is probably a good idea to look for one which is breathable and remember to think carefully about the weight of rug you require. This will be dependent upon the characteristics of your horse and his stabling.

Other features you may like to look out for when buying a rug are:-

Taped or no seams:- Many rugs have seams which are taped – ie. a tape over the areas where two pieces of fabric join. This prevents rain entering through these vulnerable areas and so enhances the waterproof quality of a turnout rug. You may also consider looking for a rug which does not have a centre back seam at all, thus eliminating this problem altogether.

Machine washing :- Machine washable means a rug can be washed at 30 degrees in a standard washing machine. This tends to be a feature of fleece rugs which may be used for travelling and shows and so need to look nice and other thinner rugs such as summer sheets or under blankets. Most turnout rugs especially heavier winter ones will be too big to fit in an ordinary washing machine anyway. So it’s back to the yard brush!

How do I ensure that a rug fits? The fit of a rug is all important. If a rug does not fit properly it will slip and will be strained to breaking point. Worse still, your horse may become tangled in the rug and injure him or herself. So before and after buying follow the steps below:- ·

• Use a rug size chart to help you work out what size of rug you need to buy. These charts usually incorporate a drawing which shows you how to measure your horse (or an existing rug) in length either from the withers to the tail (to give a European size in cms) or along the bottom of the horse form the centre of the chest to the rear in a line level with the top of the tail (to give a UK size in inches, feet and inches, cms). The width of the rug will then correspond to this length (it may differ in a turnout rug or a stable rug of the same length) and may also be given in the table. The usual height (in hands) of a horse which is this length may also be given. (NOTE - If you have a horse which is exceptionally broad in the back you may consider buying the next size up in relation to his length and height or trying a number of different styles). ·
• Don’t assume that because you have taken measurements the rug will fit. Rather before you buy check with your retailer that they will exchange the rug if it does not fit. Once you have the rug treat it carefully whilst trying it on. That way you will be able to return the rug clean and suitable for re-sale if necessary. The latter would involve trying the rug on over a thin summer sheet or something similar. ·
• To see if the rug fits, fold your rug in half with the front half underneath the back half, put is on the horse's back and fasten the front buckles around the neck. A good fit around the shoulders and withers is important so check that the horse can move freely underneath the fabric without the rug slipping back. If this happens it can put a strain on the rug and cause rubbing. It is worth noting that in a horse or pony with particularly light shoulders where slipping back is a particular problem, a rug with a full neck (combo) or high neckline (half combo) may fit better and prevent this. Once you are sure the rug fits well around the neck, extend it along the horses back so that the horse’s coat lies flat. Then take the left leg strap, pass between the hind legs and fasten it to the left hand side. Next take the right leg strap, pass it between the hind legs and through the loop made by the first strap and fasten it to the right hand side. Adjust the straps equally until there is room for one hand (4 – 5 inches) between each strap and the horse’s thigh. This is to hold the rug in place whilst allowing freedom of movement. When the horse is grazing the leg straps should be close to the thighs to keep the rug in position. Finally if you are using a rug with cross surcingles, care should be taken to make sure that the surcingles cross in the centre of the horse’s body (on the roundest part). Again there should be a hands breath between the straps and the horse.