PLN
Choosing a horse rug to suit the temperature is one of those questions that comes back every year with the first cold snap, and every year brings the same dilemma. Which rug at –5°C? When do you move from 150 g to 300 g? Does a stabled horse need the same fill as one living out around the clock?
The answer is: it depends. On the temperature – yes, but also on whether the horse is clipped, where it lives and how it copes with the cold. This article sorts out all of those variables and translates them into specific models from the BUCAS rug collection at Equishop.
Key points at a glance
- You choose a rug on four factors, not just temperature. It also matters whether the horse is clipped, where it lives (stable or paddock) and how it individually tolerates cold.
- A healthy, unclipped horse often doesn't need a rug in winter. Its coat insulates effectively, as long as it has shelter from wind and rain.
- A clipped horse loses its natural insulation. It needs a rug earlier and with a heavier fill.
- Turnout, stable, fleece and fly rugs are different tools. Each category has its own job and they are not interchangeable.
- BUCAS ranges differ mainly in outer fabric strength and lining. From Freedom in 600D to Power in 1680D ballistic nylon.
Contents
- When does a horse need a rug, and when can it cope alone?
- What types of horse rug are there?
- Rug chart by temperature
- Which BUCAS range should you choose?
- How do you adjust warmth with a neck cover and liner?
- How do you measure a horse for a rug?
- Caring for and washing BUCAS rugs
- Common mistakes when choosing and using a rug
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Summary
When does a horse need a rug, and when can it cope alone?
The horse is exceptionally well adapted to cold. A healthy, unclipped horse with access to shelter copes without a rug even at well below freezing. Its coat works like a padded jacket: it stands up in the cold and traps an insulating layer of air next to the skin.
Things change when a horse is clipped, soaked or ill. Clipping removes the natural insulation, and a rug has to replace it. The heavier the clip, the earlier – and at a higher temperature – you put on a rug with more fill.
A rule worth sticking to: decide whether to rug by looking at the horse, not just at the thermometer. Shivering, a tense stance and hiding under the shelter are signs it's too cold. A sweaty neck and damp coat under the rug mean it's too warm.
What types of horse rug are there?
Rugs fall into turnout, stable, fleece and fly rugs. Each has its own job and they are not interchangeable. Before you reach for the temperature chart, this distinction is key: the category matters at least as much as the fill weight. You'll find the full range under horse rugs.
Turnout rugs
Made to be worn outside: in the paddock, on turnout and at pasture. The outer layer is waterproof and breathable. For example, for the Irish Turnout the manufacturer states waterproofing above 5,000 mm and breathability above 3,000 g/24h/m². BUCAS ranges differ in outer fabric strength (from 600D in Freedom and Anniversary, through 1200D in Irish, to ballistic nylon in Atlantic and 1680D in Power) and in the type of lining.
Stable rugs
They aren't waterproof and don't need to be. They are made for the stable, the box and the indoor school only. They provide warmth and protect against draughts, but in the rain they soak through and won't protect the horse. If the horse goes out to the paddock, it needs a turnout rug.
Fleece rugs
Used after work, when the horse is wet and sweaty. They wick moisture away from the skin while preventing a chill. They are neither a winter rug nor a turnout rug.
Fly rugs
Used in summer to protect against insects. They have no fill, let air through and allow the horse to stay out safely on warm days.
Rug chart by temperature
The chart below is a starting point, not the final answer. Adjust it to your horse: its workload, condition, type of clip and living conditions. Wind and damp make the felt temperature lower than the thermometer shows.
| Temperature | Unclipped, stabled | Unclipped, out 24/7 | Clipped, stabled | Clipped, turned out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| above +15°C | no rug | no rug or fly rug | no rug | no rug or fly rug |
| +10°C to +15°C | no rug | no rug | 0 g or light stable rug | 0 g turnout |
| +5°C to +10°C | no rug, or 0 g in wind | 0 g turnout | 50 g stable rug | 50–100 g turnout |
| 0°C to +5°C | 0 g stable rug | 0–50 g turnout | 50–100 g stable rug | 100–150 g turnout |
| –5°C to 0°C | 50–100 g stable rug | 100–200 g turnout | 100–200 g stable rug | 200–300 g turnout |
| below –5°C | 100–200 g stable rug | 150–300 g turnout | 150–300 g stable rug | 300 g turnout + liner |
In strong wind and rain, go for a warmer rug than the temperature alone suggests.
Which BUCAS range should you choose?
BUCAS has been making rugs since 1981. The ranges differ in outer fabric strength, lining and cut. Freedom and Irish are the entry-level and core ranges, while Atlantic and Power are designed for horses living in harsh conditions or out around the clock.
Freedom Turnout Light
The BUCAS entry-level range. A 600D ripstop outer and a silky lining. Equishop stocks the lightweight Freedom Turnout Light, a good choice for wet in-between days and for unclipped horses.
Irish Turnout: the classic with an optional neck cover
One of the most popular BUCAS ranges. A 1200D ripstop outer and Dermo-care lining. Available as Light 50 g, 150 g and 300 g. Its stand-out feature: the Irish Turnout neck cover, sold separately. You add it in strong wind or frost and take it off on milder days.
Anniversary Turnout Stay Dry
A rug with a Stay-dry lining, 150 g fill and a 600D ripstop outer. The Anniversary Turnout Stay Dry is a good choice for horses that often go under a rug damp after rain or work, because the Stay-dry lining wicks moisture away from the skin.
Atlantic Turnout: for harsh weather
A range designed for horses living out 24/7. A ballistic nylon outer that is highly resistant to tears, 200 g fill and Click'n Go fastenings. The Atlantic Turnout is compatible with BUCAS liners, and the neck cover is sold separately.
Power Turnout: the top of the turnout range
The most technically advanced BUCAS turnout rug. 1680D ballistic nylon, an antibacterial Stay-dry lining and special shoulder seams for freedom of movement. Available in Light (0 g) and Medium.
Oasis Turnout: neck cover included
The Oasis Turnout is a 100 g turnout rug sold together with a neck cover. It works as a transitional rug for early winter and late spring, when temperatures hover between 0 and +10°C, and for horses that feel the wind.
Stable rugs: Freedom Stable and Quilt Stay Dry
For the stable, BUCAS offers the Freedom Stable in 150 g and 300 g and the Quilt Stay Dry in 150 g and 300 g. The Quilt Stay Dry suits horses that come in slightly damp from the paddock and go straight into the box, because the Stay-dry lining wicks away the remaining moisture.
How do you adjust warmth with a neck cover and liner?
Some BUCAS turnout rugs have attachment points for a neck cover and a liner. According to the product pages, this applies to the Irish and Atlantic ranges. That lets you adapt one rug to changing weather instead of buying several separate models.
In practice: you have a 150 g turnout rug and the temperature suddenly drops to –10°C. Instead of buying a warmer model straight away, you clip in a liner that adds a layer of warmth, and in the wind a neck cover too. How much warmer it gets depends on the liner's fill. Before buying, check on the product page whether the model has attachment points.
How do you measure a horse for a rug?
Measure from the centre of the chest (point A) to the point of the buttock (point B), along the horse's side. The result in centimetres is the rug size. The size range depends on the model: for example, Freedom, Atlantic and Quilt start at 85 cm, Irish, Anniversary, Oasis and Power at 115 cm, and Power and Quilt go up to 170 cm. You'll find the exact chart on each product page.
A rug that is too small restricts movement and rubs. One that is too big slips and can tangle the horse in its straps. Broad-chested horses (cobs, cold-bloods) may need one size up from their measurement, and narrow ones (Thoroughbreds, Arabs) sometimes one size down. With an unusual build, it's best to try the rug on in store.
Caring for and washing BUCAS rugs
Machine-wash a BUCAS rug at no more than 30°C, using only BUCAS Rug Wash. Ordinary detergents and softeners destroy the waterproof layer. Brush off heavy dirt before washing, and air-dry the rug afterwards – never in a tumble dryer.
Every so often, at least once a season, it's worth renewing the waterproofing with BUCAS Rug Conditioner. Without it the outer fabric gradually starts to let water through, and a wet rug stops protecting the horse from the cold.
Common mistakes when choosing and using a rug
A stable rug in the paddock. A stable rug isn't waterproof: in the rain it soaks through and chills the horse instead of keeping it warm. Solution: outside, always a turnout rug.
A rug that's too warm “just in case”. An overheated horse sweats under the rug, and a damp coat underneath chills it more than no rug at all. Solution: match the fill to the temperature and slide a hand under the rug at the shoulder to check it isn't damp.
Rugging a wet horse. A warm rug put on a sweaty horse traps moisture against the skin. Solution: after work, a fleece first, then the proper rug once the horse is dry.
Guessing the size. A rug that's too small rubs the withers and shoulders; one that's too big slips and can tangle the horse. Solution: measure the horse with a tape and compare the result with the size chart on the product page.
Washing with ordinary powder. Detergents and softeners destroy the waterproofing. Solution: Rug Wash only, plus regular reproofing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does an unclipped horse need a rug in winter?
Not always. A healthy, unclipped horse with shelter (a field shelter or overhang) usually copes with frost without a rug, because its coat insulates well in the absence of wind and wet. A turnout rug is mainly useful as protection from rain and wind.
What's the difference between a turnout rug and a stable rug?
A turnout rug has a waterproof, breathable outer layer and can be worn in rain and wind. A stable rug isn't waterproof and is designed only for the box or indoor school. In the rain it soaks through and won't protect the horse.
How does Dermo-care lining differ from Stay-dry?
Dermo-care (for example in the Irish range) is a smooth lining that wicks moisture and lays the coat flat. Stay-dry (in the Anniversary, Power and Quilt ranges) has stronger moisture-wicking properties. A horse that goes under the rug damp dries faster under Stay-dry.
How do you use a BUCAS neck cover and liner?
On models with attachment points (according to the product pages: Irish and Atlantic) you clip in a neck cover and a liner as an extra layer. This lets you adjust the rug's warmth to the weather without buying several separate models. How much warmth you add depends on the liner's fill.
How should you wash a BUCAS rug?
In the machine at no more than 30°C, with BUCAS Rug Wash only, no ordinary detergent or softener. Air-dry, never in a tumble dryer. Once a season, reproof with BUCAS Rug Conditioner.
How do you measure a horse for a rug?
Measure from the centre of the chest to the point of the buttock, along the horse's side. The result in centimetres is the rug size. Size ranges vary by model, so check the chart on the product page, and consider one size up for broad-chested horses.
Summary
A good rug is an investment for years, but only if it is properly chosen and cared for. Temperature is the starting point; the final decision comes from looking at the horse: whether it's clipped, where it lives and how it reacts to the cold.
The essentials:
- Outside, always a turnout rug; in the box, a stable rug; after work, a fleece.
- A clipped horse needs a rug earlier, and a warmer one, than an unclipped horse.
- The neck cover and liner on the Irish and Atlantic ranges let one rug adapt to changeable weather.
- Wash in Rug Wash only and reproof once a season.
If you're unsure which model and size to choose, browse the BUCAS collection or visit us in store at ul. Oświęcimska 9 in Ruda Śląska. The quickest way to reach us with questions is the contact page. We'll be glad to help you choose a rug.
