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Horse owners want only the best for their beloved pets. This usually means buying equipment that provides your horse with comfort and health. However, it is difficult to make up your mind when you have hundreds of options! Today, we will focus on rugs - their types and which ones may be useful for your horse.
We usually see a rug as a thing that should protect your horse from cold and difficult weather conditions. However, it turns out they have many functions. On the market, you will find rugs of various kinds, made of different materials. They also come in various shapes - usually covering the horse's back, chest, and croup, sometimes also the neck. What are rugs used for?
The most popular types of horse rugs and their functions
1. Turnout rug
1. B Vertigo Theo Thermo horse rug 2. B Vertigo turnout horse rug with detachable hood Georgina 250g
It is usually made of waterproof material and lined with fleece. It protects from rain, snow, and wind, draining moisture (sweat) to the outside from the horse's coat. At the same time, it prevents us from cleaning the horse if he rolls around in the mud. Pay attention to the rug's thickness and properly pick it for your horse. A turnout rug should be durable and fit the horse perfectly to provide him or her with comfort. Otherwise, the horse may destroy the rug, and some horses have truly mastered this art.
2. Stable rug
1. Eskadron Pro Comfort stable rug 2. Eskadron stable rug 300G
Its purpose is to protect the horse from cold when he or she spends time in the stable. At the same time, it prevents the coat from getting dirty (owners of gray horses will surely appreciate this function!). This type of rug is made of breathable material and is usually more delicate than a turnout one. We use it for shaved horses, and e.g. before competitions when you want to avoid your horse's coat getting dirty.
3. Exercise sheet
Eskadron softshell exercise sheet with fleece lining
It is a short type of rug, adjusted to go over the saddle or under it. It is perfect for colder days and you may use it for training (or just for trotting the horse before or after a ride). Some rugs have reflective elements, which are perfect outdoors, others protect from rain, or allow you to fasten them in a way that they protect the horse's croup and rider's legs from cold.
4. Sweat rug (drying)
Its purpose is to drain sweat after an intense training session or water from the horse's coat (e.g. after a bath or getting wet in the rain). The material absorbs moisture and prevents the organism from chilling.
Mesh rug (fly rug)
Eskadron fly rug Dura Pro Cover
It is the perfect way to protect your horse from insects in the spring and summer. The rug moves and shifts with every horse's movement, preventing insects from landing on and biting your horse. It is made of breathable material, so there is no danger that your horse will get overheated even on hot days. Some fly rugs have fringe, which additionally protects the horse's legs and belly.
Which rug would be perfect for your horse?
Some horses spend their lives never wearing a rug and they're perfectly fine. Others clearly need this type of protection. The most important thing is to observe your horse and properly react to what you see. Both a lack of a rug, and a too thick rug may turn out to be a terrible idea - rugging a horse with a winter coat may lead to overheating and illness, and a shaved horse with no protection will freeze.
You can read more about how to rug a horse in this article. You will learn when and how to rug your horse.
Everything depends on the individual needs: conditions of your horse's surroundings, his or her health state, age, and possible allergies (e.g. to insects). Before you decide on buying a rug, it is good to answer a few questions:
- What would the rug's purpose be?
- Is your horse shaved?
- Was he or she ever rugged before?
If you lack experience, it is good to make that decision after consulting someone more experienced or asking the shop's staff. The equestrian store Equishop's team is at your service!
