Horse rugs for every season

Horse rugs at a glance: which rug for what?

Not every horse rug suits every situation. What matters is the weather, how your horse is kept, its coat and what you're planning to do with your horse. These are the types of rug you should know:

Rain rugs and turnout rugs for the field and paddock

Turnout rugs – also called field rugs or outdoor rugs – are waterproof, windproof and breathable. A rain rug for your horse usually has no fill (0 g) and protects against wet and wind without adding warmth. The denier rating (e.g. 600 D, 1200 D or 1680 D) tells you how tough the outer fabric is: the higher the number, the more tear-resistant the fabric – handy for horses that like to play rough in the herd.

Winter rugs: what does the fill weight mean?

Winter rugs are filled turnout or stable rugs. The weight in grams describes how much fill is used per square metre – and therefore how warm the rug is:

• 0 g: rain rug without fill, pure protection from wet and wind
• 50 g: light fill for spring and autumn
• 100–150 g: medium fill for cool, wet days
• 200–250 g: warm winter rug for frost and cold, wet weather
• 300 g and more: heavyweight, especially for clipped horses or horses that feel the cold

Many brands also give their own temperature ranges. You can find out how Bucas does it in our guide Bucas horse rugs – the differences explained.

Stable rugs and under rugs

Stable rugs are not waterproof and are meant for the stable. A 50 g stable rug is great for spring and autumn or as a light warm layer, thicker versions for clipped horses in winter. You combine under rugs (liners) with a turnout rug to adjust the warmth flexibly – you'll find suitable models in our horse rug accessories.

Coolers

After riding, washing or at a show, coolers wick moisture away from the coat and stop your horse from getting cold. Classic materials are fleece, waffle fabric and wool or wool blends. Popular choices include the coolers from Eskadron and Kentucky Horsewear.

Fly rugs and sweet itch rugs

A fly rug for your horse is made of fine, breathable mesh and keeps flies, horseflies and midges away. There are fly rugs with and without neck covers, rain fly rugs with a water-repellent back and sweet itch rugs with a belly flap for sensitive horses. Everything about types and uses is in Fly rugs explained.

Quarter sheets and exercise sheets

Quarter sheets and exercise sheets sit under or around the saddle while you ride and keep the back muscles warm during warm-up, cool-down and out hacking – in fleece, rain or fly versions. For the horse walker, there are special horse walker rugs.

Measuring the right rug size

A well-fitting rug doesn't slip, doesn't rub and gives your horse freedom of movement. With many European brands, the size in centimetres corresponds to the back length: place the tape measure in front of the withers and run it along the spine to the base of the tail. British and Irish brands often use the total length from the centre of the chest over the shoulder to the hindquarters and give the size in feet and inches (e.g. 6'3"). It's best to take both measurements and compare them with the size chart of the respective manufacturer. If you're between two sizes, look at your horse's build: a broad, well-muscled horse often needs the bigger rug.

When should you rug your horse?

Healthy, unclipped horses with a thick winter coat and access to shelter often manage well without a rug – their coat is excellent insulation. A rug makes sense above all if your horse is clipped, has little winter coat, is older or unwell, or can't find shelter in persistent rain and wind.

As a rough guide for unclipped horses: in wet and windy weather above about 10 °C, a 0 g rain rug is usually enough; between about 5 and 10 °C a light fill; around freezing a medium fill; and in hard frost a warm winter rug. Clipped horses usually need one level warmer. These are only guidelines – breed, age, feeding and exercise all play a part. Regularly slide your hand under the rug at the shoulder and chest: if it feels damp or hot there, the rug is too warm. You'll find more tips for the cold season under Riding in winter.

Horse rug brands at Lepona

We stock horse rugs from well-known manufacturers: Bucas stands for well-designed turnout rugs with temperature ratings, Eskadron for coolers, fly rugs and stable rugs in the current collection colours. Kentucky Horsewear offers stable, turnout and cooler rugs, Horseware the Amigo and Rambo lines, among others. There are also QHP turnout rugs, Waldhausen, Busse and other brands such as BR, Kavalkade and Premiere. You'll find reduced models in our horse rug sale.

Caring for horse rugs properly

With the right care, your horse rug will last much longer:

• Brush off coarse dirt and hair while dry before washing.
• Close all fastenings and wash removable straps in a laundry bag.
• Wash according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually at a maximum of 30–40 °C, with a special rug wash and without fabric softener.
• Re-proof waterproof rugs after washing and let them air-dry.
• Repair small tears early and store rugs clean and dry.

You'll find reproofing products, repair kits, neck covers, chest protectors and replacement straps in our horse rug accessories.