What rugs will I need?

[mumof3]

Just bought my first horse (since i was 18! Now 31) and wondered what rugs I’ll need?

obviously a cooler, fly rug, stable and turnout rugs but wondered if I should just get a light and medium of both and then layer or what everyone does?
Advice would be appreciated

Thank you x

 

[milliepops]

What kind of horse have you bought? how exciting.

I prefer not to have too many rugs to store and clean, so for turnouts I buy a really top quality 0g outer and put liners in according to the temperature. I have Rambo outers which last for years and years. the liners are lightweight and can be washed in a domestic machine easily, they dry overnight, that way you can always be sure the bit touching the horse is clean and comfortable even if the outer gets filthy.

otherwise, yes, a lightweight sheet or cooler of some kind, a light and medium stable rug which could be combined if it was really cold, I don't actually use fly rugs as I've never been that happy with any of them so just stable during the day instead when it's bad.

the above would be plenty to get you going.

 

[mini_b]

Don’t bother with stable rugs yet.
you can leave turnout on (modern turnouts are breathable) and it helps them to dry off.

what you need depends on your horse, the clip (depending on the work they are in)

I have an ID type which I fully clip out in winter.
2x no fill rain sheets for awful summer. Dry one against the other as 0 fill sometimes leak a bit.
1x100g rug with varying thickness liners

I’ve got an assortment of stable rugs, never really used them. As long as turn out is dry underneath I leave it on horse to dry off.

before I got the liners I had 100g, 250g and I think it was 400g for very awful wet sideways wind.
I don’t use neck covers as he overheats and his mane rubs out.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I buy shires or weatherbeeta turnouts that take the liners so I tend to buy 50g turnouts with detachable necks and buy the liners to add onto them when it's cold.

I tend to buy the 100g liners and swish do a 50g liner which fit all my turnouts as well.

 

[fidleyspromise]

It depends on the breed of horse (how they cope with the weather) plus what shelter they have available to them.

I have a light weight and medium for each of mine but they are Native ponies and they have shelter so they very rarely if ever wear rugs.
I have a Highland x TB and she may need rugging (this will be my first winter with her).
One of my native ponies was very cold towards the end of the last winter so I got her a Rambo Duo - it has 100g outer and then can add liners to make it heavier/warmer if needed.

 

[mini_b]

If I was starting again with turnouts I’d have started with the rambo liner system.
the rugs are such good quality, the best really!
ive bought cheap and had them rip or leak to end up in the bin anyway.

 

[mumof3]

What kind of horse have you bought? how exciting.

I prefer not to have too many rugs to store and clean, so for turnouts I buy a really top quality 0g outer and put liners in according to the temperature. I have Rambo outers which last for years and years. the liners are lightweight and can be washed in a domestic machine easily, they dry overnight, that way you can always be sure the bit touching the horse is clean and comfortable even if the outer gets filthy.

otherwise, yes, a lightweight sheet or cooler of some kind, a light and medium stable rug which could be combined if it was really cold, I don't actually use fly rugs as I've never been that happy with any of them so just stable during the day instead when it's bad.

the above would be plenty to get you going.

Thank you very much x

 

[mumof3]

Thank you very much x

I’ve bought an Irish sports horse, 8yr old gelding. My dream horse x

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I don't own a cooler. Or a fly rug. Or a stable rug.

My horses have a 100g T/O and a 250g T/O each. That's it.

 

[irishdraft]

I have LW/MW turnouts with a couple of thin stable rugs to go underneath depending on conditions but I'm sure the liner systems are probably better . Flyrugs and flymask plus a few thin fleeces for traveling and drying off after hunting etc.

 

[SEL]

I've used my 50g more than the rest put together.

A stash of flymasks just delivered today though. They are a nightmare this year.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The fewer rugs the better. No fill turnout which takes liners and stable rugs if you want them. I have the Rhino system and other than their own outer they share liners when clipped. I have a spare outer in case one is damaged and being old fashioned and because I have the time to do so I like to change them into stable rugs at night.

 

[teddypops]

I have also started using turnouts with liners. I have the shires ones and I really like them. I have a huge number of rugs, but don’t actually use many of them, so start with the basics and add what you need as you go along. I would definitely want a stable rug even although lots of people leave turnouts on because my ponies would roast with a turnout on in their stables. A spare turnout is also useful in case of a wrecked rug on a cold/ wet day! I also don’t use fly rugs, but if your horse is sensitive or in an area with lots of flies, you may well need one. Good luck with the new horse!

 

[Polos Mum]

I have easily 50 rugs and none of my four horses have worn any of them in 2 years - I am not the right person to ask about rugs !!

There are so many variables but I would not race to buy loads until you've had him a little while and know what he's like, what it's like where you are keeping him (in an american barn style stable I find they stay much warmer than in a standard row of outside facing stables

Some shiver at a drop of rain and weight falls off others are clipped and turned out naked, happy as anything and still pile on the pounds

 

[TPO]

This thread started by another new owner might help

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/rugs-🤷🏻‍♂️.806464/#post-14648043

Congrats on your new horse. Pictures are a must!

 

[AUB]

I’ve never really used coolers, fly rugs etc.

I have a 0 g rain sheet with liners from 100 to 400 grams. That’s all I need. I have a trakehner that’s full clipped in winter and turned out 6am-4pm everyday regardless of the weather.

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Congrats on the new horse.

In terms of rugs:
* 50g turnouts are great - really useful.
* If you need a fly rug will depend on the yard / horse
* I use my fleece cooler as a travel rug and cooler
* My horse lives out so have full range of turnouts - rugs and liners can be a good option

Rugs seem to quickly multiply…

 

[black and brown]

The turnout rugs I use most are a 50g standard neck and a 50g combo, I don't like no-fill rugs and find a little bit of padding works much better

 

[EmmaC78]

As others have said the rugs I use most are the 50g or 100g turnouts and then I just add a liner if it gets colder. I have loads of stable rugs and heavy turnouts that I rarely if ever use.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Good quality turn-outs are where I’d invest my money. I’ve not really needed to use more than a 200g over the last few years on a fit healthy young horse as it’s usually so mild these days certainly in the south. They can be used as stable rugs too. I’m a fan or Horseware rugs with Rambo top of the range for t/o but I also like Amigo and Rhino. Stable rugs don’t need to be so hard wearing and mid range ones have lasted me decades. I don’t use them much so I bought some second hand ones off a friend. I find a cooler very useful and my two would not be happy without their Amigo Bug busters with belly flap this time of year. The fly / shower combi rugs are pretty useful too.

I use no fill T/o a lot and never had any issues.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I used to be a rug collector/hoarder when I had 1 & he was stabled overnight, but now I have 2 & 24/7 turnout I'm reformed with the obvious no need for stable rugs! I still have a good stash I need to get around to selling but literally now just operate with a few staple ones.
Also I never buy anything waterproof under 1200d now as they just get trashed - P.E, Rambo, Shires & Weatherbeeta are my go to.

Each has to hand . . . .
A fleece/cooler
40g turnout with liners so I can make them anything up to 350g & detachable neck
A 0g Turnout
A fly sheet

Thats it! I buy a lot of mine off Ebay & FB marketplace.

 

[MuddyMonster]

My most used rugs are coolers, personally.

I own

Mesh cooler with fleece covering the back
Lightweight Thermatex
Standard Thermatex
0g turn out rug
50g turn out rug

My most used rugs are probably the cooler and Thermatex's as they get used as coolers, as stable rugs and as a rug under a turn out. I use the 0g turn out most of winter & only go up to 50g if particularly cold.

 

[Winters100]

I buy good quality turnouts and cheaper stable rugs. Personally I like to change for stable rugs at night, to me they seem lighter and more comfortable, and also means that I don't have to put a heavy turnout back on after checking the horse. It does present some problems in trying the turnouts, so I like to have spares. I pop wet rugs in the boiler room to dry and then pray that no one else goes in there and finds them!

My most used are probably the 50g turnouts, but the horses vary, and if the geldings are in 50g rugs then my older mare is usually in 100g as she feels the cold. I also like the detachable necks.

I would say that my 'essentials' for each horse are:

Cotton sheet
Fleece
50g turnout
100g turnout
200g turnout
100g stable
200g stable

I also have 300g rugs for them, which I seldom use, but it is colder than the UK where we are, so when I need them they are really badly needed. At the end of each winter I do an inventory of rugs and replace as necessary in the sales.

Of course all of this is highly dependant upon the horse and the conditions. Mine are out dawn to dusk every day whatever the weather, but they have a shelter and plenty of trees. They are only kept in if we have something extraordinary (high winds and risk of trees coming down), but I don't remember when that last happened.

Do be careful of the sites which give advice on what rug for what temperature. All the ones I have seen seem to recommend much heavier rugs than I would use, which of course may be appropriate for some horses, but by no means all.

 

[mumof3]

I buy good quality turnouts and cheaper stable rugs. Personally I like to change for stable rugs at night, to me they seem lighter and more comfortable, and also means that I don't have to put a heavy turnout back on after checking the horse. It does present some problems in trying the turnouts, so I like to have spares. I pop wet rugs in the boiler room to dry and then pray that no one else goes in there and finds them!

My most used are probably the 50g turnouts, but the horses vary, and if the geldings are in 50g rugs then my older mare is usually in 100g as she feels the cold. I also like the detachable necks.

I would say that my 'essentials' for each horse are:

Cotton sheet
Fleece
50g turnout
100g turnout
200g turnout
100g stable
200g stable

I also have 300g rugs for them, which I seldom use, but it is colder than the UK where we are, so when I need them they are really badly needed. At the end of each winter I do an inventory of rugs and replace as necessary in the sales.

Of course all of this is highly dependant upon the horse and the conditions. Mine are out dawn to dusk every day whatever the weather, but they have a shelter and plenty of trees. They are only kept in if we have something extraordinary (high winds and risk of trees coming down), but I don't remember when that last happened.

Do be careful of the sites which give advice on what rug for what temperature. All the ones I have seen seem to recommend much heavier rugs than I would use, which of course may be appropriate for some horses, but by no means all.

Thank your so much x