What Type of Rug Does a Horse Need?

To ensure the comfort and well-being of your horse, you should have different rugs on hand to deal with the variety of situations in which a rug is needed. The type of rug will depend on the breed of your horse and the environment in which it is kept, and by having a number of different rugs available, you will be able to keep your horse contented whatever the conditions.

  1. Turnout Rugs

    • Turnout rugs are what the horse wears when it is in the paddock or the field, depending on the weather conditions. They are intended to keep your horse dry, warm and clean. They are usually made of a synthetic, breathable material, allowing the horse's sweat to evaporate, and they will often have padding for the bonier parts of your horse's body, such as the shoulders. Turnout rugs come in a variety of thicknesses for different degrees of warmth.

    New Zealand Rugs

    • The most sturdy of horse coverings, a New Zealand rug is a turnout rug made from canvas and covered in wax, thus making it waterproof. Strong and durable, New Zealand rugs can be rewaxed as required, and, if treated well, they can last for many years.

    Summer Sheets

    • While summer might seem the time to put your horse rugs away, many horses will appreciate a summer sheet. These lightweight coverings help to keep dirt and dust from irritating your horse's skin, and they also discourage flies, which horses can find intensely annoying.

    Stable Rugs

    • Stable rugs are designed to keep your horse warm at night after it is brought in from the paddock. Just as with humans, it is more difficult to keep warn when standing still than when moving around, a fact that is compounded by the drop in temperature during the night. On warm nights a lightweight, breathable rug should be used, allowing the horse's sweat to evaporate. In the depths of winter, a fleece or underblanket can be added to provide extra warmth.

    Coolers

    • Coolers are lightweight rugs that you should put on your horse after it has been exercised. It is designed to draw the sweat away from the horse's skin, making your horse more comfortable. Coolers can be used underneath a stable or turnout rug if the weather is cold.

    Fleeces

    • Fleeces are perhaps the most versatile of horse rugs. They can be used as a makeshift cooler or a lightweight stable rug, or they can be placed underneath a stable or turnout rug in order to provide extra insulation. Fleeces, and other types of under-sheets, are also useful in preventing the heavier rugs from rubbing and irritating your horse's skin.