Rug guide for dummies (aka new owners)

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NewAndClueless

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Hi all,

New pony owners, so still learning the ropes!

I've asked around at the yard and everyone seems to have a bit of a different opinion on what rugs to get. Can anyone please give me a guide for dummies (aka new horse owner :D ) Pony is clipped and mostly stabled, with regular turnout

So far this is what I think covers the essentials but please correct me if I'm wrong!

- summer sheet
- fleece
- lightweight or is fleece good enough?
- mid weight - some guides say 150g some 250g - which one is the most universal? Should it have a neck?
- heavy - 300g with neck

What about turn out rugs - should i have turnout in all the types or just a thin one to go over whatever the pony is wearing like a raincoat?

Liners - can these be used as a standalone rug (lightweight, mid) or are they only for layering up?

Any advice greatly appreciated!
 
I would suggest a summer sheet, lightweight and medium weight stable rug should cover all weather options. Really cold? Put all three on - layers trap warmth. Avoid fleece for stable - all the bedding will stick to it.

Medium weight Turnout should be enough for a pony out in the day. You may need two so that one can dry. Personally I hate neck covers - they destroy manes. Yes they keep the neck clean bat a what cost?

As you have found, there is no one answer satisfies everyone!
 
Did the previous owners of the pony give any indication on what the pony needs (eg “she feels the cold” or “he runs hot”)
No, you can’t use liners as a rug on their own, they usually don’t have surcingles so would not stay in place.

Personally I don’t bother with fleeces or summer sheets.
I also don’t bother switching between turnout and stable rugs. They wear their turnout rugs in the stables if they need a rug on.

For now I’d get the minimum of what you need for the current season, then you can asses whether you think you need warmer rugs for winter or whether your pony actually doesn’t need much.

For the moment I’d suggest a 50g turnout rug, I like ones with detachable necks but that’s personal preference.
If you find the pony is getting too cold then you can either get liners to go with your rug (if that’s the way you want to go…check that your original rug is liner compatible) or buy a warmer turnout (say 250g).

My guys are currently in no fill turnouts but through spring and autumn they spend a lot of time in their 50g rugs.
250g covers my sporthorse for most of winter except for when it gets really Baltic then I dust off the 400g but that’s only been used a handful of times.

Exciting as it will be, I know you want to go shopping for kit for your new horse, but don’t spend a fortune on a full wardrobe yet. You may be wasting money on rugs you’ll never need. You can buy as you go as you discover what your pony needs.

I bet most people here have a tack room full of rugs, but they keep going back to use the same old 2 or 3….the rest are gathering dust and being held on to just in case 😉 (I know I have rugs that rarely see the light of day….but might come in handy one day…)

Enjoy!!
 
little_critter said:
Did the previous owners of the pony give any indication on what the pony needs (eg “she feels the cold” or “he runs hot”)
No, you can’t use liners as a rug on their own, they usually don’t have surcingles so would not stay in place.

Personally I don’t bother with fleeces or summer sheets.
I also don’t bother switching between turnout and stable rugs. They wear their turnout rugs in the stables if they need a rug on.

For now I’d get the minimum of what you need for the current season, then you can asses whether you think you need warmer rugs for winter or whether your pony actually doesn’t need much.

For the moment I’d suggest a 50g turnout rug, I like ones with detachable necks but that’s personal preference.
If you find the pony is getting too cold then you can either get liners to go with your rug (if that’s the way you want to go…check that your original rug is liner compatible) or buy a warmer turnout (say 250g).

My guys are currently in no fill turnouts but through spring and autumn they spend a lot of time in their 50g rugs.
250g covers my sporthorse for most of winter except for when it gets really Baltic then I dust off the 400g but that’s only been used a handful of times.

Exciting as it will be, I know you want to go shopping for kit for your new horse, but don’t spend a fortune on a full wardrobe yet. You may be wasting money on rugs you’ll never need. You can buy as you go as you discover what your pony needs.

I bet most people here have a tack room full of rugs, but they keep going back to use the same old 2 or 3….the rest are gathering dust and being held on to just in case 😉 (I know I have rugs that rarely see the light of day….but might come in handy one day…)

Enjoy!!
Click to expand...
I also don't bother with stable rugs and use turnout rugs in the stables. I would recommend 2 x 50g turnouts with a liner system. As high denier as possible. (Saying 2 in case one gets ripped)
 
little_critter said:
Did the previous owners of the pony give any indication on what the pony needs (eg “she feels the cold” or “he runs hot”)
No, you can’t use liners as a rug on their own, they usually don’t have surcingles so would not stay in place.

Personally I don’t bother with fleeces or summer sheets.
I also don’t bother switching between turnout and stable rugs. They wear their turnout rugs in the stables if they need a rug on.

For now I’d get the minimum of what you need for the current season, then you can asses whether you think you need warmer rugs for winter or whether your pony actually doesn’t need much.

For the moment I’d suggest a 50g turnout rug, I like ones with detachable necks but that’s personal preference.
If you find the pony is getting too cold then you can either get liners to go with your rug (if that’s the way you want to go…check that your original rug is liner compatible) or buy a warmer turnout (say 250g).

My guys are currently in no fill turnouts but through spring and autumn they spend a lot of time in their 50g rugs.
250g covers my sporthorse for most of winter except for when it gets really Baltic then I dust off the 400g but that’s only been used a handful of times.

Exciting as it will be, I know you want to go shopping for kit for your new horse, but don’t spend a fortune on a full wardrobe yet. You may be wasting money on rugs you’ll never need. You can buy as you go as you discover what your pony needs.

I bet most people here have a tack room full of rugs, but they keep going back to use the same old 2 or 3….the rest are gathering dust and being held on to just in case 😉 (I know I have rugs that rarely see the light of day….but might come in handy one day…)

Enjoy!!
Click to expand...
Yes - definitely don't want to go crazy and buy unnecessary rugs, I've seen lockers of some of the other liveries filled to the brim with stuff they never use and I'd like to avoid that!

Will just get mid and lightweight waterproof for now and will see how it goes! thank you :)
 
Orangina said:
I also don't bother with stable rugs and use turnout rugs in the stables. I would recommend 2 x 50g turnouts with a liner system. As high denier as possible. (Saying 2 in case one gets ripped)
Click to expand...
So do you layer up for turnout? What would your horse have on now? Lightweight in the stable and then the turnout on top for when out?
 
a lot depends on what type your pony is - even clipped my welshies are only in lightweight rugs usually.

mine have nothing on this time of year, maybe a 0g if i’m riding.

i’m clipping 2nd week of oct and will then whip out the rugs! they spend most of the time in 50g stables and turnouts, they don’t have anything heavier than a 200g in either.

i like 50g when they’re clipped in rain, 0g just to keep them clean and the wind off their back if it’s not raining.

100g when it starts to drop, and it has to be really cold for them to be in 200g!
 
I echo the others is saying wait and see what you actually need, just like humans horses can run at completely different temperatures. I bought a 400g turnout for my TB when I first got her, in the past 2yrs she’s been in nothing more than a 200g!

I prefer different stable & turnout rugs, partly so the wet turnouts can be hung up to dry and partly because I like necks for turnout and no neck for stable. I do find liners handy but also fiddly so I’m on the fence about them.

Right now mine is in a zero fill rain sheet for wet days and a sheet or naked at night when stabled.
 
sport horse said:
I would suggest a summer sheet, lightweight and medium weight stable rug should cover all weather options. Really cold? Put all three on - layers trap warmth. Avoid fleece for stable - all the bedding will stick to it.

Medium weight Turnout should be enough for a pony out in the day. You may need two so that one can dry. Personally I hate neck covers - they destroy manes. Yes they keep the neck clean bat a what cost?

As you have found, there is no one answer satisfies everyone!
Click to expand...
I would agree with all of the above points but would also have a fleece to use for drying off after exercise or as an under layer in cold weather … and I would also have a light weight or no fill turn out rug for spring and autumn ….also you will probably need a fly rug for summer and maybe a fly mask too .
 
NewAndClueless said:
Yes - definitely don't want to go crazy and buy unnecessary rugs, I've seen lockers of some of the other liveries filled to the brim with stuff they never use and I'd like to avoid that!

Will just get mid and lightweight waterproof for now and will see how it goes! thank you :)
Click to expand...
This time next year you will have 20 rugs ! 😀
 
I really think it depends on the horse.

Mine are generally in 50g turnouts both in and out of the stable for most of the winter but they're cobby types. I might add a liner or stable rug if it's ' yellow weather warning' level of cold. I'm more concerned when they're just stood in the stable than when they're out and moving but we do have plenty of natural shelter and a herd to huddle with.

I do like integrated necks on rugs, they stop the rain running into the rug.

One of mine drops weight quickly during coat change so I have to ramp up the rugging and feed for a few weeks but once done he's back in a 50g - he's weird!
 
I like to have a wicking rug to put on if they get soaked whilst riding. If it is cold I put a thin stable rug over the top.
I agree that 50g turnout get the most use.
 
I have always been super frugal with rugs.

I don't bother with stable rugs.

Mine have always got by with a lightweight. Just a 50g or so ideally. Plus a mediumweight, about 200g.

Ive never needed to put a heavier rug on, even on a full clipped horse living out.

I do keep native types though.
 
I'm not a fan of fleeces, everything sticks to them, I would get some sort of cooler instead.

My most used rugs are a 100g LW stable rug and a 200g turnout, followed by a rainsheet and a warmer stable rug. Even with a tb, I don't need hw turnouts except on the coldest days when clipped. But I have 2 100g weatherbeeta Jaspers and they get more use than anything else.
 
Agree with just using turnout as a stable rug. As long as horse is dry underneath no need to change.

All I’d do is just undo to check underneath and put back on just so you can ensure it’s comfy.
 
I wouldn’t buy a 300g until you live somewhere where the temperature is below 0 for a lot of the winter. If you do decide you want one buy second hand as everyone sells theirs when they realise they never use them!
 
Jenko109 said:
I have always been super frugal with rugs.

I don't bother with stable rugs.

Mine have always got by with a lightweight. Just a 50g or so ideally. Plus a mediumweight, about 200g.

Ive never needed to put a heavier rug on, even on a full clipped horse living out.

I do keep native types though.
Click to expand...

Same here. My Fell is fully clipped and only needs a rainsheet when it's absolutely chucking it down. Even when we're under snow he wouldn't need more than a 50gm or 100gm.

I don't bother with stable rugs either, they're warm enough if they have a good thick bed.

A lot does depend on the breed.
 
My TB is in a 250g … ISH just a waterproof fly sheet … currently.

If you want to figure it out first, buy a decent quality 0g and then some cheap stable rugs off market place.
 
It entirely depends on the type of horse and its routine. And as you’ve found you’ll get a different answer from anyone you speak to.

Personally I wouldn’t waste your money on stable rugs. Assuming a turnout rug is waterproof, the quickest way to dry the outside is to leave it on the horse. And they don’t absorb wee/poo if horse lies down in its stable.

Mine live out with plenty of natural and field shelters, and are only rugged in minus temperatures or when it’s totally horrendous weather for a prolonged period.

One has a rain sheet, 100g with neck and a heavyweight with neck. He’ll rarely wear the rain sheet, 100g when it snows. Has had the HW on once on 10 years.

The other has two 50g without neck, I think she had it on for maybe 3 days last winter.

Excuse the pun but it’s very much horses for courses.
 
sport horse said:
I would suggest a summer sheet, lightweight and medium weight stable rug should cover all weather options. Really cold? Put all three on - layers trap warmth. Avoid fleece for stable - all the bedding will stick to it.

Medium weight Turnout should be enough for a pony out in the day. You may need two so that one can dry. Personally I hate neck covers - they destroy manes. Yes they keep the neck clean bat a what cost?

As you have found, there is no one answer satisfies everyone!
Click to expand...
My current cob hates having her mane trapped under a neck rug. My previous mare hated getting her neck wet, so always wanted every rug to have a neck. It really does depend on the horse.
 
So much depends on the horse/pony. Mine gets cold quickly and is naturally a skinny however I have never used anything heavier than a 220g blanket here. Atm he is in a 50g as I dont want him shivering off any off any of his fat (he hasn't got a lot) and I would rather him a touch warm than cold (and he would prefer the same).

I wouldnt waste money on a stable rug. As long as pony is dry on the underside, I keep in the turnout. I did once think he would like a stable blanket and especially if he came in wet but somehow, the monster wrecked it. I would just get a 2nd turnout!

I have a 50g, 100g, and 220g which fits our needs. All with hoods but he won't always go out with a hood - depends on the weather.
 
Fit varies across the brands so when you have chosen just do a check on here to see it is suitable for your build of pony.

Older secondhand Rambo/Rhino turnouts are a good buy.
I bought a secondhand 200g Rambo Wug in perfect condition for £45 last year.
I have a Rambo heavyweight turnout that is over 20 years old and still going strong.
I don't bother with stable rugs any more.

Wicking rugs are very useful.
 
Mine usually spends winter in a 50 gram , has a few days in a 100 gram, wore the 200 once so doubt you’ll need a 300. If you have a native pony get a 50gram and 100 gram decent turnout , they are breathable so can be worn in stables and out. I find fleeces annoying so don’t bother. You probably won’t need a fly rug till next year.
 
Mine have only ever needed a zero-fill turnout sheet for sub-5°c temps in wind and/or heavy rain, and a 150g middleweight turnout for sub-zero temps. I have 2 zero-fill rugs per pony so I can swap if needed, and 1 middleweight per pony because it’s not normally cold enough for long enough that I’ll need to swap.

You don’t want your horses to freeze, but often they don’t need rugging as much as people think they do and likely prefer nakedness 🤣

If yours are stabled a lot (I’m not really a fan of “proper” stabling, so less expertise there) I’d say get a 50g stable rug for cold days when they’ll be stood still a lot?

Mine are both natives who fluff up well and produce lots of waterproof grease in winter, I find rugging usually leads to greasy ponies who feel vaguely uncomfortable. Saus will let you know if she wants a rug or not when you show it to her, and cob will destroy rugs if she doesn’t want to wear one 😂
 
I agree you don't need too many rugs, especially heavyweight ones; layering is your friend!

Mine have a fleece each for drying off when damp and one cheap 50g stable rug each for chilly nights. These can be layered over the fleece if needed. I try to get the stable rugs that have a tough outer rather than the duvet type as these stain and absorb wee more...

Once we get into proper rain and mud season, they more or less live in their turnouts. They each have a zero fill for warmish but rainy days in Spring and Autumn. Then they have a 100g turnout with neck, which I usually leave on in the stable overnight (much easier to dry on the horse than off!) Then if it's really cold, the stable rug goes over the top. If it's too warm, I fold back the neck.

The one who's in work (Connie) gets clipped out in Winter so she has a liner for her turnout to add another 50g. The retired one (standardbred) doesn't need a liner as she's not clipped.

And additional layers can be added on top if needed. It's also much easier to take a layer off than be swapping rugs all the time.

I also try and let them have a naked day wherever possible if the sun's shining, especially my retired mare: although it makes more work for you chiselling the mud off! 😂
 
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