HHO Guide to Rugging Properly

A

Arizahn

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 May 2011
Messages
4,297
Visit site
I was thinking today, whilst sorting out Hippo's scary wardrobe of rugs - I hate spiders:eek: - that it would be very useful to have a thread dedicated to advising what rug to use on what horse in what weather.

It's all very well for those of us who know what we are doing now, but plenty of new owners/sharers, etc could be helped by this sort of thing. After all, if you grow up owning sturdy natives then buy a thoroughbred, it's going to affect how you rug!

Anyone fancy posting a few basic guidelines/tips?

Mine would have to be:
1) Shop around - you can never have too many rugs, but they don't have to cost you a fortune!
2) Store them carefully and maintain them regularly to avoid having to replace them too often!
3) Over rugging is as bad as under rugging - check your horse at least once a day to ensure it isn't sweating up OR shivering.

Expert types feel free to step in any time...
 
If horse comes in with a wringing wet rug, leave on the horse to dry (as long as said horse is dry underneath) . . . and don't underestimate the benefits of "thatching."

P
 
If horse is cold- more rugs
If horse is hot- less rugs

Do not feel the end of your horses ears to work out if it's cold. They will always be cold.
Fell its armpits or the base of its ears. If it is shivering it is definitely too cold. If it is sweating it is definitely too hot.

:D
 
Every horse is different - as is the microclimate in individual fields/stables even on the same place - so go by the individual horse's needs
 
Agree with jesstickle, I don't think you can do a definitive guide, even in the same field very similar horses have different requirements.
 
Ohh yes thatching my TB always needed thatching ( they are wusses Jess)

I agree with others but will add, know what shivering is! Sometimes horses twitch to flick rain off, this isn't shivering X
 
I second the shopping around, got a new heavy weight masta for £40, stable rug for £5, fleece for £5 etc etc

Also if buying new and doign a 'spree' don't get all your rugs in one go, some rugs fit different horses better, I used a rug that didn't agree with my boy but was glad I hadn't bought a full wardrobe!
 
As well as armpits&base of ears,stick your hand under the rug! Over back,flank&rump-have felt alright temps in armpits&ears & then felt sweat underneath rug. In general tho,no reasonably well kept(especially if correct/near correct condition score) horse will die of a day's over or under rugging;)
 
Anymore than three rugs on a horse is way too much (and i mean fleace, long neck heavy quilt, standard neck medium/heavy for indoor and out door light weight quilt under a heavy outdoor is what mine had in -13 degree snow).....sort out the weights right then you wont need as many......
 
slightlyconfused said:
Anymore than three rugs on a horse is way too much (and i mean fleace, long neck heavy quilt, standard neck medium/heavy for indoor and out door light weight quilt under a heavy outdoor is what mine had in -13 degree snow).....sort out the weights right then you wont need as many......
Click to expand...

Unless you own a serial rug destroyer and have to keep swopping them out to mend them, lol!
 
Higher denier value, more likely to be waterproof, esp if it's a rainsheet! :)

Oh, and if you're starting a wardrobe from scratch you will generally need:
-Fleece/Waffle weave/Wicking rug
-Rainsheet
-Medium Weight (200g)

As long as the above are good quality (i.e. unlikely to leak and therefore need drying out) this is a perfectly workable wardrobe for all occasions :) (for an 'average' horse)
 
Last edited:
If you kindly go and remove your horses rug in the morning because it is warm, don't leave it over the fence or the knob head will pull it into the field and trample it into the mud :mad:

Putting a rug onto a wet horse is not the sin it once was. Most turnouts now days are breathable and your neddy will likely as not dry just fine with a rug on. Empirically tested more than once with no negative consequences :D
 
^^^^ I second higher denier=better value in long run,tho more expensive outlay. Look for 1200D turnouts. I'd only have a 600D in a v lightweight/no-fill rug,not anything that would need to withstand a rainy time of year;)
 
A clipped horse should always feel warmer than an unclipped one !! in winter they need to feel toasty under their rug if clipped:)
 
Arizahn said:
Unless you own a serial rug destroyer and have to keep swopping them out to mend them, lol!
Click to expand...

lol....mine have more than three rugs each :) they have one of each weight each, well two fleeces, two light weight quilts one for indoor and one for under rugs outdoor. i like to mix and match and have my fave combination of rugs that suit each horse but none of them have ever had more than three rugs on at a time......can you imagen how heavy that must feel:eek:

its just when wearing them that i have three as a limit.....our old pony used to have two or three of every weight as he used to get eceama (SP?) and when that happened the rug had to go in to be cleaned.....we invested in loads of summer sheets, new one on everyday then they could be washed everyday:rolleyes:
 
jesstickle said:
If horse is cold- more rugs
If horse is hot- less rugs

Do not feel the end of your horses ears to work out if it's cold. They will always be cold.
Fell its armpits or the base of its ears. If it is shivering it is definitely too cold. If it is sweating it is definitely too hot.

:D
Click to expand...

This, also would add if you past teenage years, don't embarrass your horse with garish rugs buy normal rugs so your horse does not die of shame. In fact never embarrass your horse i swear some i have seen hide in the corner all day so their friends do not mock them. YES GIRL IN STABLE NEXT TO ME IM TALKING TO YOU. Hers has fake diamonds on them.
 
jesstickle said:
If horse is cold- more rugs
If horse is hot- less rugs

Do not feel the end of your horses ears to work out if it's cold. They will always be cold.
Fell its armpits or the base of its ears. If it is shivering it is definitely too cold. If it is sweating it is definitely too hot.

:D
Click to expand...

Perfect rule of thumb.
The only other thing is to note the weather forecast - if the temperature is set to rise while you are at work remember that it is better for the horse to be a bit chilly for a couple of hours i the early morning than for it to be sweltering in the afternoon.
 
If you are on a budget (and what horsey person isn't? ;) ), don't buy stable rugs, the designs of turnout rugs these days means that they are very breathable and they won't soak up the pee like stable rugs do. Also saves you time in the evening and morning changing rugs :)
 
Don't put 800g of rugs on (3 heavyweights) in 14 degree heat and think that if you take even one of the off your horse will shiver.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top