Our love affair with horses began more than 5,000 years ago. The partnership that was created by domestication requires that we provide a safe and healthy environment for them. This includes proper diet, adequate exercise and protection from the elements.
The different types of horse rugs that are available on the market today play an important role in providing for their comfort and care. The horse rug is classified according to function and the following is a brief summary of the more common styles:
- Turnout Rugs – this rug is designed for protection during cold weather for animals that may be older or sick and for those not having had sufficient time to adjust from being relocated from a warmer climate. Horses that are stabled in a climate-controlled environment may also benefit from the warmth of one of these rugs when they are exercised. Typically, horse turnout rugs are measured according to weight instead of by the actual thickness of the material. Many are now also waterproof.
- Fly Rugs – horse flies, as opposed to their annoying cousins, do more than buzz around making a nuisance of themselves. These flies bite and sting. The fly rug, or fly sheet as it’s commonly referred to, is a thin sheet of plastic or mesh that protects the horse. There is also a mask made from the same material that, depending upon style, fits over the head, including the eyes and ears. While many horses learn to appreciate the relief provided, there can be issues when the fly sheets are first introduced.
- Coolers – it may seem counter-intuitive to place a rug or blanket over an animal that is hot and sweaty, but that is exactly what is done with the cooler. This type of rug is commonly made of wool, cotton or a synthetic fleece and is placed over the horse as it is being walked to cool down. It can be dangerous for an over-heated animal to cool too quickly, so the fabric allows for the moisture to be wicked from the horse’s coat but slows the rate of drying.
- Saddle Rugs – often called a saddle pad or blanket, these rugs are placed between the horse and the saddle and serve to cushion and protect the horse and prevent excessive wearing of the saddle. The saddle rug absorbs the sweat as the horse is exercised and some now have wicking capabilities built into them.
- Stable Rugs – these rugs serve the same purpose as turnout rugs but are not meant to be worn outside. Both types come in three basic sizes, which are measured by the weight of the filler material used. Light weight rugs have less than 150 grams of filling, while medium weight rugs have between 150 and 300 grams and heavy weight have more than 300 grams.
There are numerous other kinds of horse rugs; some functional and others strictly for show. Those that provide for the protection and comfort of your horse are valuable and necessary types of gear to have. It will be easy to find horse rugs for sale, not only at equestrian centers, specialty horse tack shops and good old fashioned farm feed stores, but also at hundreds of online marketers, like WeatherBeeta. New styles and fabrics are now being marketed that claim to provide superior quality and fit. Many offer what appears to be very attractive pricing. A little bit of time invested in research to determine what is best for your situation and your horses will be worthwhile. While it may be tempting to try and save money, cutting corners by purchasing cheap horse rugs is never a good idea. That old adage that says that you get what you pay for is true more often than not. Putting the health and welfare of your horse at risk is not worth any small savings you might see and just might end up being far more costly than you can imagine.
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