Turnout rugs are designed to be sturdy and last a while, but over time they can become damaged, or otherwise unsuitable for your horse for a range of reasons. When choosing a turnout rug there are lots of different factors to consider, including the time of year, the weather conditions, temperature, type of horse, whether or not your horse is clipped, and more. With a huge choice of rugs available, choosing the right one for your horse can be quite daunting.
Your Horse’s Routine
The first thing to consider is your horse’s routine; this will help you establish which kind of rug they are going to need for the winter. If your horse tends to live in most of the time over the winter, then you will only need to get a medium or lightweight stable rug. If your horse is turned out in winter for some or all of the day, then you will definitely need to get a turnout rug. Most horses will be warm enough in a medium weight turnout rug.
Clipping
While horses grow a winter coat to help keep them warm during the winter, the domestication of these animals has made it difficult for them to have it. If you ride a lot during the winter then it may not be practical to keep your horse with their full, thick natural winter coat as it’s going to quickly get sweaty and uncomfortable. Most horse owners get around this by clipping – a blanket clip or hunter clip is a popular choice, although some horses might need a full clip depending on how much work they are doing.
If your horse is clipped, then you might want to go for a heavier turnout rug and horse hoods to keep the neck warm. Horse hoods can be attached to most turnout rugs easily and you can also buy rugs that come with one. Check out the range of horse hoods, rugs and more at Horseware to find something suitable for your horse.
Breed
There are a few breed-related factors that you will need to think about before deciding which turnout rug to invest in for your horse. If your horse is a lightweight type, then a rug with a deep cut is probably not going to be the best option for them as it’s likely to drown them, while on the other hand, an extra deep rug might be needed if they are a round, cob type. Different breeds of horse will also have different requirements when it comes to the rug weight, too – a thoroughbred is more likely to feel the cold compared to a hardy native Welsh pony, for example, who has evolved to live out with no rug on in all weathers.
While there’s probably more to think about based on your individual horse, these are just some of the three main things to consider before buying the right turnout rug. It’s also worth thinking about how your horse behaves in the field – an active, boisterous youngster is probably more likely to damage their rug so a sturdier material will be a good idea.
