Waffle rugs and fleeces

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equestriansports

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Quick question on waffle rugs / fleeces: What's the difference? I know the material is different but other than that, what are their purposes? Can you put them on a wet horse to dry them off and keep them warm? Brought pony in this morning and he was absolutely dithering. He's a big old sissy when it comes to rain. Sadly there's no field shelter but didn't rug him as was still about 17c. Didn't bother with fly mask either. He's now in his stable looking like a drowned rat. Other liveries suggested to get a waffle rug or a fleece to pop on him when I've brought him in but didn't know whether this would be any better for him? We borrowed a fleece and he's currently just got that on. Wouldn't he just end up with a wet rug on him though? I know you use a waffle rug to cool off a horse but can you use it to dry them off too? Sorry for the questions aha. :)
 
I use a thermatex rug - expensive but brilliant and last for years. It wicks the wet away, leaving the horse dry underneath.
My horse is also a wuss - hates being wet, so this rug has been brilliant. It also works on a sweaty horse. :)
I only use a fleece on a dry horse and the same with a waffle rug - that's my own personal preference though.
 
I have used both on wet horses, both help wick moisture away.

Some fleece rugs are MUCH thicker, so not really good in warm weather - IMO a waffle is better on a washed sweaty horse when it's warm.

For warming a chilled horse I have one of those shredded tinfoil rugs - can't remember its name - but it's brilliant when my old TB comes in wet and shivering. It warms her up in minutes, and she dries quickly.
 
I wouldn't worry. Shivering won't harm the horse. If its 17 degrees and the horse is now out of the rain he will dry off naturally soon enough. If he's eating fibre a by product of digesting it is heat, so that will help him warm up too. I don't rug in summer.

I have used both fleece and waffle rugs to dry off a wet horse in cooler weather and both work fine. The fleece or waffle rug is the stable rug. The water is taken off the horse and moves to the outside of the rug where it evaporates with the horses body heat.

In winter the horse wears the turnout rug in the stable too and doesn't have a stable rug. I don't wash sweaty horses in winter, they are clipped to reduce sweating and walked until dry at the end of a ride. I dont bath in winter either. But if I did I would use a thermatex rug for the stable rug as its warmer than a fleece or a waffle rug but does the same job.
 
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