Choosing a Turnout Rug

For many horse owners, it is now time to start rugging our horses and ponies. But before you go shopping for turnout rugs decided what you require the rug to offer. Most of us require our equine's rugs to provide warmth and protection, but you may also need a turnout rug to keep the horse clean, or the rug itself may need a tough outer shell or specific fastenings to suit your horse’s foibles! In addition consider environmental factors, e.g. whether your horse is stabled at night, and whether his field provides protection in the form of a wind-breaking hedge or shelter. If you are not going to be doing much riding over the winter and your horse doesn’t need an extensive clip, you can of course let his natural coat grow, and can therefore avoid over-rugging. Different breeds and types of horses may require heavier or lighter types of rugs; for example a sensitive, thin skinned Thoroughbred is likely to require a thicker rug than a hardy, native breed; some horses manage without rugs at all, as long as they have adequate shelter. The first task when selecting a turnout rug is to measure your horse, so you can choose a rug which will offer comfort and protection. Sizes for rugs are presented in feet and inches, for example a 5' 9" or 6’ 3". Tie your horse up safely and using a tape measure, measure your horse from the centre of his chest, horizontally along his side, finishing at the point of his tail. Remember if your horse is between sizes, you’re usually better to go up a size than down, as rugs that are too small can rub. Innovative manufacturers stocked by The Saddlery Shop offer a huge range of autumn and winter rugs, including a variety of different materials and styles. A basic rug shape that stops at the horse’s withers, covering the body with no neck cover, is usually described as Standard. A rug that covers the horse’s neck is often referred to as a Combo Rug or Integrated Neck. It is also possible to purchase turnout and stable rugs with Detachable Neck Covers. If you are only looking for something to keep your horse clean and dry whilst he turned out and you are not too concerned about your horse laying down a thick coat, a lightweight rug with no filling, or a light filling up to around 150g, would suffice. Many people find that a medium weight rug, which usually has a filling of between150 - 250g, is useful to start the winter off with; however some horses can manage with a medium weight rug right through winter-time. If you have a fully clipped horse, or one that feels the cold, then you are probably going to need a heavyweight rug, which will have 250g-400g filling. For more information about the wide range of equine rugs, suitable for all different budgets why not visit The Saddlery Shop? With brands such as Horseware, Mark Todd, Weatherbeeta and Rambo all available at discounted prices The Saddlery Shop should be your first stop for all your rugging needs!