As those in the southern states know all too well, winter is just around the corner. Many horse owners are already pulling out their winter rugs, undertaking repairs that were conveniently ignored last spring, and considering what new additions are required for their horses’ winter wardrobes.
While rugging our horses should be a simple task, the reality is it can become complicated. There are myriad rugs on the market, and every horse’s physiology and environmental situation is different. So, how do we decide if and when our horses need rugging and what rugs should we use?
TO RUG OR NOT TO RUG
A horse’s normal body temperature is between 37.5°C and 38.5°C; when the environmental temperature drops dramatically, the body institutes various measures to ensure it generates enough heat to maintain that temperature range.
Unless you have ‘good doers’ or hardy ponies – or reside in the northern states where winter is sunny and dry –rugging can be essential, especially for horses that are older, struggle to maintain body condition, or are clipped.
Rugging for winter depends on many factors, including what breed of horse you have, how much exercise or competition you’re planning to do, their age, and whether they are stabled or have shelter in a paddock. Cold, wet and windy days in particular make it harder for horses to keep warm, and on these days natural shelter or rugs are especially important. A warm, comfortable horse requires less energy (and therefore less food) to maintain weight and stay healthy. However, while we all want to keep our horses warm and snug in the cooler months, over-rugging is a very real concern – more on that later.
Rugging also provides the obvious advantage of keeping horse dry and clean for when you wish to ride. If you are competing and prefer your horses to be clipped, providing them with adequate rugging is essential as you are removing their natural defence against the change of season. If this is the case for you, you may find that you need several different rugs on hand and develop a layered system of rugging.
WHICH TYPE OF RUG?
Rugs vary in quality and design, with some owners preferring to double or even triple-rug their horse over winter depending on their individual situations.
“Care must be taken to ensure
your horse does not overheat
the second the sun comes out.”
Synthetic vs. Canvas
Canvas is the traditional option for horse rugs and many argue it offers more breathability and is tougher and sturdier out in the paddock. A canvas rug can also offer more flexibility as you can add and subtract various under-rugs as the temperature changes. However, whilst canvas is considered waterproof, heavy rain over longer periods can result in it soaking through – in particular as the rug ages. That being said, it is possible to re-waterproof canvas to extend its life.
Synthetic rugs these days are popular as they tend to be more waterproof in extended periods of rain, are lightweight, require less maintenance and come in some great colours and patterns. They also tend to offer an ‘all-in-one’ solution, whereby you may only need the one primary synthetic rug, with fewer layers than you might otherwise need with canvas. Which works best for you and your horse, however, often comes down to your horse’s living conditions, the area you live in, plus personal preference. The quality of the rug that you buy (regardless of whether it is canvas or synthetic) will also play a huge role in determining which rug is more successful in keeping your horse warm and dry. So here are the basics to keep in mind:
Toughness
Synthetic rugs can be made from a few different types of materials and in varying ‘deniers’, which determine how strong and rip resistant the rug is. Generally speaking, the higher the ‘denier’ the stronger the rug. These range from 600D right through to 2000D or more. However, care must be taken to assess the quality and material composition of each rug, as this can alter their strength. Canvas rugs are measured in ounces (oz), and again the bigger the number, the stronger and heavier the rug.
Warmth
Synthetic rugs can have varying levels of ‘polyfill’ which will determine how warm the rug will be. No-fill synthetic rugs (often called rain sheets) are useful on rainy days that aren’t overly cold. As the weather gets cooler, a medium weight (roughly 180-200 grams) or very warm rug (300+ grams) can be necessary. Care must be taken to ensure your horse does not overheat the second the sun comes out, so if in doubt it is better for your horse to be slightly cooler than too warm. Canvas rugs generally don’t have ‘fill’ as such, however, they can be unlined (similar to a synthetic rain sheet) or be blanket lined for extra warmth.
Combos and neck rugs
Depending on your horses’ needs and your preferences, you may prefer to stick to a standard rug. However, if you feel your horse requires extra protection and warmth, you could opt for a combo, which has a neck rug attached. Alternatively, both synthetic or canvas rugs can usually be teamed up with a separate neck rug that can be put on or taken off as needed in varying weather. Often, neck rugs can also have different linings (to help prevent mane rubbing) and different levels of fill to provide more or less warmth as desired.
“A separate neck rug can be
put on or taken off as needed
in varying weather.”
Under-rugs
Adding a thin, cotton rug underneath a waterproof top rug will help regulate your horse’s temperature and help prevent overheating. This will also help to keep the horse clean and the top rug from getting too dirty from sweat and hair. After all, it’s much easier and quicker to wash a cotton rug regularly in the middle of winter rather than the heavy outer rug.
If, however, you like to add extra layers underneath for extra warmth overnight or on really cold days, you may also choose to add a polar fleece, woollen rug or doona rug. These types of under-rugs can be handy when your horse is standing around in between classes at a show or between lessons at riding club. Woollen under-rugs not only provide plenty of warmth, but as a natural material also allow your horse’s skin to breathe. In addition, they are generally much tougher and will last longer than a polar fleece or doona.
SIX TIPS TO REMEMBER
If you’re planning to rug your horse this winter, here are a few tips to remember:
1. Make sure the rugs fit correctly
Ensuring your rugs are properly fitted to each horse is important to prevent injury or accidental rubbing. These injuries, if they occur, can take weeks to months to repair; therefore, taking the time to ensure that rugs fit correctly is well worth the effort. The use of bibs can reduce rubbing on the shoulder regions and can be padded to provide pressure relief around the withers, especially if the horse has a very prominent wither.
2. Always check on your horse
It is important to periodically take off the rugs to check that there are no issues going on underneath. Check frequently for signs of rubbing or skin irritations, injury and also body condition – the last of particular importance for older horses and those prone to weight loss. Frequent checking will also pick up any minor mane loss caused by neck rugs, giving you the opportunity to take action before it progresses too far.
3. Be aware of skin conditions
Keeping the rugs and your horse clean is essential to prevent skin infections from developing; take particular care if rugs are put onto wet horses or if horses are left sweating in rugs for long periods of time, as wet skin under warm rugs is a recipe for fungal and bacterial skin diseases. As per the last point, be sure to check underneath rugs frequently so that any developing skin conditions can be treated before they become a serious problem.
4. Just because you feel cold doesn’t mean your horse is
How many times have you thrown an extra rug on your horse because you’re a bit chilly? We’ve all done it! However, just because you’re feeling the cold doesn’t necessarily mean your horse is too.
This is because horses and humans have different thermoneutral zones (TNZ) – that is, the ambient temperature range in which we can maintain our normal body temperature without needing to use energy beyond a normal basal metabolic rate. For humans, this range is approximately 25-30 degrees Celsius, while in horses the TNZ is 5-25 degrees Celsius (noting that rain and wind chill can affect the TNZ). This means we humans feel cold well before our horses do – and horses are likely to feel a bit hot before we do.
So what does this mean in terms of rugging? In short, it means don’t over rug. Down south the weather can certainly get pretty chilly – but we’re no Antarctica.
5. Ears and legs are not a reliable indication of internal temperature
How do you know if your horse is the right temperature under his rug? Feeling the ears or legs is not a reliable indicator of how warm your horse is; the best way to check is to place your hand under the rug, just behind the withers. Does your horse feel cold? Is he hot and/or sweaty? Or does he feel comfortably warm?
6. Not the only way to keep warm
If the weather has worsened but you’re unable to adequately monitor the addition of extra rugs, remember there are other ways to keep horses warm. In addition to the obvious things such as providing physical shelter, the process of digesting roughage warms a horse from the inside out. Giving your horse extra roughage on cold days will help keep them warm, as the digestion and fermentation of hay produces heat that helps the horse maintain its body temperature. It’s important to note that grains simply don’t produce the same amount of body heat when digested compared to hay and hay alternatives.
“Just because you’re feeling
the cold doesn’t necessarily
mean your horse is too.”
7. Clipped horses require more rugging
As mentioned earlier, if you’re clipping your horse, you are removing his natural coat and with it some of his ability to thermoregulate. Therefore, clipped horses need more rugs; often, a layering system works well, for example, a cotton sheet followed by a woollen blanket and a top turnout rug. However, once you start adding more rugs you do need to make sure you’re monitoring your horse’s temperature regularly and adjusting as required – a clipped horse can still get too hot.
8. Not all horses are the same
You can’t assume that every horse in the paddock will be fine in the same rug at the same time. The truth is, some horses run hotter or colder than others. Some might be overweight and able to expend a little more energy on thermoregulation without it negatively impacting their condition, while others might struggle to maintain their weight in cold weather. For example, a horse with Cushings will often have a long, woolly coat and is also likely to have trouble regulating its body temperature; these horses may be more likely to sweat up under heavy rugs and therefore need to be monitored more closely.
Get to know your horse and feel them regularly under their rug in a range of conditions – you’ll soon know the type of rug required to keep them comfortable.
9. Don’t weigh down horses to maintain their weight
Horses that struggle to maintain their weight in the cooler months – especially older horses – need to be rugged adequately to ensure they are not expending energy on keeping warm. However, in ensuring these types of horses are kept warm enough, we must make sure they are a) not too hot, because that’s also not good for them, and b) not carrying too much weight.
If you’ve ever dragged rugs off your horse and struggled to throw them over the fence rail, you’ll know that serious rugging can lead to serious weight – especially if the rugs have become waterlogged. For a horse struggling to maintain condition, lugging around heavy rugs can work against the benefit of keeping them warm. Now this is not to say they shouldn’t be rugged – but rather we should pay attention to the type of rugs being used. Aim for rugs that are warm yet relatively light in terms of weight, and ensure they are thoroughly water repellent, as rugs become much heavier when they retain water.
KEEP YOUR HORSE WARM WITH RB SELLARS
If you’ve pulled the winter rugs out of storage and realised your horses are due for a wardrobe overhaul, RB Sellars’ new equestrian range has you covered. This exciting new collection delivers the hard-wearing quality you know and trust – for the horse you love. From durable winter canvas and synthetic rug sets, to versatile woollen rugs and classic cotton show sets, RB Sellars Equestrian has your equine partner covered this winter season. Discover RB Sellars horse rugs here. EQ
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