| Protection from Rain | | | | If you aren't sure which weight will best suit your |
| Horses don't mind rain showers. The problems begin | | | | horse, err on the lighter side. It's easier and less |
| during prolonged wet weather, which creates the | | | | expensive to add layers under thinner rugs than |
| ideal environment for conditions such as rain scald and | | | | waste money buying heavy rugs which you then |
| mud fever. | | | | can't use because they're too thick. Keep adding |
| If there is no access to shelter from the rain, | | | | layers until your horse's body and ears stay warm to |
| lightweight horse rugs made of waterproof and | | | | your touch but he's not sweating. |
| breathable material are perfect for keeping equine | | | | Horse equipment manufacturers have designed a |
| coats dry without overheating them. | | | | three piece layering system. It comes with a fleece |
| Horses accustomed to a warm stable part of the | | | | rug liner which can be used alone or as an under layer |
| time will benefit from this type of rug when turned | | | | for the medium weight stable rug. The lightweight |
| out in even light rain, as they get cold more easily | | | | turnout sheet placed on top of this turns the whole |
| than animals which stay out all the time. | | | | into a turnout rug. |
| Protection from the Cold | | | | The only danger of using this arrangement is the |
| Two factors dictate what type of turnout rug is | | | | temptation of leaving the under layers on the horse |
| needed in cold weather: the condition of the horse | | | | throughout the whole winter, while removing and |
| (including his age) and his coat. Together these | | | | replacing just the top rug before and after turnout. |
| determine his critical temperature - the temperature | | | | I've witnessed such laziness many times. |
| below which he has to increase his metabolism to | | | | This is the equivalent of wearing your pyjamas for |
| stay warm. | | | | months on end, without taking them off, and having |
| If the horse is clipped, it's a good idea to rug him up | | | | an overcoat thrown over them every day. You'd get |
| at around 60° F (15.5° C). Generally speaking, old | | | | itchy, sweaty and very uncomfortable! |
| horses, thin horses, youngsters and those with short | | | | If you adopt this system remove all the layers often |
| coats need horse rugs at around the 40 - 45° F (4 | | | | and groom your horse to stimulate his circulation |
| - 7° C) mark. But a horse carrying enough flesh to | | | | before replacing the rugs. |
| cover his ribs won't need one until a drop to 30° F | | | | Additional Horse Equipment |
| (-1° C). | | | | Hoods and Neck Covers |
| That same horse with a full winter coat has a critical | | | | If you're able to ride during the winter and your |
| temperature of 15° F (-9° C) and my experience | | | | horse is turned out during the day, use neck covers |
| supports this. Used to being outside all the time, my | | | | and hoods for extra protection. |
| horses grow heavy coats and go into the winter | | | | Make sure they attach to your rug properly and be |
| months with a modest layer of fat. The temperature | | | | prepared for your horses to look at each other |
| drops to the mid-teens before they get cold and | | | | anxiously when they're turned out with hoods on. |
| need horse rugs. | | | | They drastically alter the horses' appearance! |
| Protection from Rain, Wind and Cold Combined | | | | Brushing Boots |
| The criteria change when it's windy, cold and raining. | | | | In general it's a good idea to use protective boots if |
| The horse's winter coat traps a layer of warm air on | | | | you turn your horse out for a few hours a day. |
| the skin's surface, which insulates the horse. So long | | | | Besides shielding the horse from tendon injuries and |
| as he remains dry and his coat is not flattened, this is | | | | splints, an additional benefit to the rider is keeping the |
| an excellent system. | | | | horse's legs clean for applying exercise boots. |
| Once his coat is flattened by driving wind and/or rain, | | | | Keep the two sets of boots separate: field boots will |
| the horse no longer has an effective barrier against | | | | get muddy, and the horse shouldn't be turned out in |
| the cold. As a result he can lose up to twenty times | | | | the same sweaty boots he wore when working. |
| more body heat than when dry, and uses much | | | | Rug Holders |
| more energy to stay warm. | | | | Rugs are bulky pieces of horse equipment which |
| Now he needs a rug even if the outside temperature | | | | need to be dried and stored out of the way. |
| is above his normal critical temperature. | | | | A good system for drying and storing rugs is the |
| What Weight Horse Rugs Should You Use? | | | | swinging metal 'arm' attached to the wall. The rug is |
| Some horses need heavier rugs than others. There | | | | draped over the arm and dries out quickly, before |
| are two weights you can choose from in addition to | | | | the rail is laid flush against the wall. |
| the lightweight rug mentioned earlier. These are the | | | | One convenient storage method is a rail on the |
| medium and heavy horse rugs, insulated to keep | | | | horse's stable door. But unless there's a grille over the |
| warmth in. The best ones are breathable and | | | | top half, your average horse will tug at the rug with |
| waterproof so you can use them in all winter | | | | inquisitive teeth before dragging it into his stable and |
| weather conditions. | | | | ruining it. If you use this type of rail, put it out of |
| A medium rug will usually have around 180 to 200 | | | | equine reach. |
| grams of fill and a heavy rug contains between 340 | | | | Turnouts are vital items of horse equipment, |
| to 370 grams. The difference to the horse is | | | | together with their accessories, but there are easy |
| appreciable. | | | | ways to find the most cost and time effective |
| Using Layers | | | | rugging system for your horse. |