Rug shopping for your horse can be confusing, regardless of your experience level with horses. Choosing a horse rug might be a challenge because of the variety of styles, fabrics, and weights that are now available. Horse rugs come in various styles, colours, and sizes. This post discussed the rugs and when the horse needs a heavy weight turnout rugs, fly rugs or others.
What Is the Purpose of Horse Rugs?
Because of advancements in technology, horse rugs have increased in popularity significantly in recent years. Horse rugs come in a wide range of designs intended to keep your horse dry, warm, free of mud and filth, and protected from pesky flies.
As the seasons change, so will your competition and travel schedules, so you’ll need a variety of rugs to keep up with all of these variables. The right horse rug will shield your horse from the elements, but it will also help regulate their temperature and keep them in good health.
When to Rug a Horse
There are several factors to consider when considering whether or not your horse needs a rug and which sort of rug is best for them. Domestic horses, some belief, should not wear carpets because wild horses don’t. Sometimes, this is true, but there are several reasons why this isn’t always.
The internal body temperature of a horse should be maintained at 38oc. A horse’s internal body temperature can be affected by various factors, some of which are specific to domestication.
Making a Turn With Your Horse
Turning a horse out can affect its internal body temperature depending on the weather, time of year, and shelter availability. Some breeds are more susceptible to feeling the rain and cold than others, so they are more likely to like being roughed up than some more hardy varieties. Using a fly rug will keep flies away from your horse or pony, ensuring they are more comfortable throughout the hot summer months.
Stabling Your Horse
Moving less freely in stable results in a horse’s body producing less heat. For your horse’s health and comfort, a heavyweight turnout rug may be necessary for the winter months when air temperature drops and ventilation in the stables becomes more difficult.
How to Clean Your Equine Companion
Your horse’s coat will be stripped of its natural water-repelling oils if you wash them before a competition or after a workout. Using a wicking rug when your horse is wet can better control the horse’s body temperature while it dries.
Trimming Your Horse’s Mane and Tail
During the winter, horses who are frequently exercised are frequently cut. A horse rug is utilized to keep your horse warm when it is not being used for riding to make up for the loss of the horse’s natural insulation.
Taking a Ride on a Horse
Horses, like humans, warm up while being ridden, and it can take a long time for your horse to cool down comfortably after exercise, depending on the outside temperature. Using a wicking rug after a workout or a bath is ideal for absorbing any remaining perspiration.
Horses’ Average Years
In comparison to domestic horses, wild horses have a shorter lifespan. A cosy horse rug is an ideal method to provide your ageing horse with the extra warmth they need to remain happy and healthy.
Choosing the right time to rug your horse depends on your understanding of your horse and the surrounding environment. It’s a common misconception that the temperature outside is high just because you’re sweating after filling hay nets and mucking out. Consider the horse’s surroundings, exercise routine, age, breed, and condition before rugging. It’s essential to keep in mind that what works for one horse might not be the ideal choice for the other one.
