A Quick Guide to Winter Horse Rugs

Choosing the right Winter Horse Rugs can be difficult and confusing so we’ve put together some hints and tips that may help you decide which rug best suits you and your horses’ needs. Choosing the right Winter Horse Rugs for your horse will ensure they are comfortable and therefore happy. A badly fitting rug will encourage them to try and remove it, often causing damage to it. When choosing a rug you will need to consider when you hope to use it, the breed of horse, fabric strength, filling weight, style, size, and the environment it’ll be used in.

Winter Horse Rugs

Measuring Your Horse

Horses come in all different shapes and sizes, so its important to make sure their rug fits well. Most horse rugs are measured in feet and inches, with each rug going up in size usually by 3 inches (e.g. 6’0″, 6’3″, 6’6″). To take a measurement of your horse for a new rug, simply use a soft tape measure and take note of the length from the center of the chest, along the side of the body, to the rear of the quarters.

It is always better to go up a size if your horse measures up to be between sizes for a horse rug, (e.g. if your horse is 5’1″, get a 5’3″ rug rather than a 5’0″ one). When trying on the rug for the first time be sure to place down a thin, clean sheet first so that if you change your mind about the rug, it is still clean and can be taken back to the store.

Rug Weights

Denier is the weight of the outer fabric used to make up the rug. The higher the denier, the thicker, warmer, and stronger the rug will be. When looking for a rug in winter we’d recommend 1200D or above. GSM is the measurement of filling in the rug. The higher the GSM, the warmer the rug will be. When looking for a rug in winter we’d recommend 360gsm or above.

Styles of Rugs

There are many kinds of styles that describe the features of the rug –

• Standard – The rug doesn’t cover the horse’s neck, stopping at the withers. This is usually a good option for lighter-weight rugs for warmer weather and not so much for winter periods.
• Combo – The rug covers the neck, reaching almost to the ears. This style offers the most warmth and protection for your horse in those cold winter months.

Always bear in mind your horse’s requirements, a Thoroughbred horse who is stabled most of the year will need warmer rugs than a hardy cob who lives out in the fields most of the time.

Features

Waterproof means exactly that, rugs that will not soak up the water but instead, the droplets will runoff. However, it is important to choose rugs that are also breathable. This means they have been treated with a special hydrophilic coating. That works at drawing moisture away from the horse and towards the outer rug, meaning it can evaporate. Ripstop is a special reinforcing technique that makes the fabric more resistant to tearing or ripping. The weave is done in a crosshatch pattern and won’t tear as easily due to the threads running in two different directions. The front straps of a rug are important, as these come into close contact with the horse. Usually, two straps are best, as they are tough enough for the weight of the rug but flexible enough to be easy to use. They should fit snugly, to keep the rug in place.