How to choose a horse rug:
Horse owners face an almost overwhelming choice these days when it comes to shopping for horse rugs.
With so many different materials, styles and colours available it is easy to feel a little bewildered.
But help is at hand!
Shopping for a new horse rug should be fun, and here’s some advice to help you decide what will be the best buy for you and your horse.
Down the centuries, wild horses have of course survived without rugs but you need to be aware that even horses with the thickest natural coats will become chilled to the bone if they get soaked by the rain. Fierce winds can also lift the horse’s hair allowing icy blasts to penetrate right through to the horse’s skin.
Foals, geriatric horses and horses that are ill, or recuperating from illness, also need the benefit of a horse rug.
You need to think about your horse’s lifestyle, and the type and amount of activity he does, to ensure you buy an appropriate horse rug.
The two main types of horse rugs are:
- Turnout Rugs - designed for outside use to cope with the rigours of winter weather
- Stable Rugs - designed for inside use and therefore less rugged and usually not waterproof
If your horse spends time both indoors and out you should consider buying both a Turnout and a Stable Rug. If possible you may want to buy a heavyweight Turnout Rug for extreme winter weather and a lighter weight Turnout Rug for less severe weather.
To ensure that your horse stays warm, dry and happy outdoors throughout the winter you need to buy a Turnout Rug. Buying a cheap rug is a false economy as it can make your horse uncomfortable and it will need replacing more often.
Turnout Rugs have a tough, waterproof outer coat which can sometimes be categorised in a measurement of fineness and thickness known as ‘denier’. Many rugs range from 600 to 1200 denier. The higher the denier number is, the stronger the material. Because the higher denier fabrics are also heavier in weight, you should go only as high on the scale as your horse needs. Too much weight can lead to what people call “over-rugging” which can make the horse uncomfortable or too hot.
However, Bucas rugs are special because of their technical properties that set them apart from many other horse rugs.
Bucas Turnout Rugs are specially-designed to cope with wide ranges of temperatures. Their Smartex Turnout, Power Turnout and Sun Shower are all breathable and waterproof. Sun-reflective outers mean they keep your horse cool in sunshine but keep the heat in when the temperature drops.
If your horse tends to be accident-prone and may rip its rug, or if it’s in a field with other horses who might be indulging in horseplay, you might want to look at a more durable rug. The Bucas Turnout Rugs all have tough outers for strength without being heavy.
The Turnout Rug you choose should fasten securely at the front and have straps under the stomach and around the back legs. See below our sections on How to measure for a horse rug and How to fit a horse rug for more information and advice on getting a good fit.
A tail flap will stop the rug blowing up and over the back of the horse, which can spook him or her. Horses will turn their back end towards the wind when it starts to blow, and a tail flap will provide extra protection - but ensure that your horse can still lift its tail easily. The Bucas Buzz-Off Rain includes a protective tail flap and uniquely combines the features of the Sun Shower Turnout Rug with the Buzz-Off fly sheets. It protects your horse against flies, rain and excessive heat.
You might choose to pay extra for a neck cover which can attach and detach from the main Turnout Rug. A high neck will stop rainwater running in and on to the horse’s shoulders. This can also distribute the weight of the rug and take any pressure off the withers and shoulders.
Shoulder darts and gussets allow freedom of movement and can prevent painful and distressing rug rubs. Choosing a horse rug with straps that cross at the horse's chest will allow you to adjust fit through the shoulders.
Consider the size and build of your horse before you go to buy a horse rug. If your horse has a broad chest, big stomach and back make sure you buy a rug that is big enough to be a snug and comfortable fit. The size of horse rugs tends to increase in three-inch increments. If you have a thoroughbred horse with a slimmer body, make sure you avoid a rug that does not create pressure points at the withers.
Older horses, especially if they suffer from arthritis, definitely need good-quality horse rugs to keep them comfortable.
Reflective material on a Turnout Rug is always a good idea so you can find your horse easily in dark fields in the winter. It is also a good safety feature if you have to walk your horse down unlit country lanes to get to his field or paddock.
Most Turnout Rugs have an outer shell of nylon, polyester, or a combination of the two, or polypropylene. It is a huge advantage to choose a Turnout Rug that has a ‘breathable’ lining. This means that if your horse runs and plays while wearing his Turnout Rug any sweat it works up will pass through to the surface and out into the air helping your horse to stay at a comfortable temperature and not risk catching a chill by staying damp and sweaty.
Bucas rugs - like the Smartex Turnout, the Power Turnout, the Shamrock Power and the Celtic Stable Rug - boast a stay-dry lining which wicks away moisture so that you can throw them over a damp or sweaty horse knowing it will dry him fast.
Stable Rugs can be made with these same materials, but might also be made of cotton, cotton blends, or polar fleece. They generally weigh less than Turnout Rugs so there is less pressure on the horse.
A drawback with Stable Rugs made of fleece is that they can attract wood shavings or hay which get stuck to them if your horse lies down on rolls.
The Bucas Celtic Rug has a tough polypropylene outer for strength and so that nothing sticks to it. Similarly, the Shamrock Power stable rug has a low friction outer finish.
Stable Rugs also come in a range of thicknesses. Even if your stable is sheltered, consider that when standing around your horse is going to feel the cold more than when it’s outside exercising.
Some lightweight, breathable Turnout Rugs are also suitable for indoor use.
Traditionally, Stable Rugs were often made out of wool or jute. Nowadays, owners can choose from Stable Rugs that are wicking, dust-repellent, stain-resistant, washable and tough.
It is also worth considering spending more on a rug with an anti-bacterial lining. This will stay fresher for longer and protect your horse. It also means it can be used on more than one horse safe in the knowledge that any bacteria on the horse’s skin won’t be transferred from horse to horse.
Anti-bacterial linings are present in the Shamrock Power stable rug, the Celtic stable rug and the Power Turnout.
Caring for your horse rug:
Horse rugs are bound to get wet, dirty and muddy and you may want to send them away to be professionally cleaned.
If you are investing in a good-quality horse rugs then it makes sense to protect that investment by spending money keeping them in tip-top condition for as long as possible.
Turnout Rugs that take the full blast on wintry weather will need to be professionally re-proofed from time to time so they can continue to protect your horse from rain, snow and hail.
The technical properties of Bucas rugs make them hard-wearing and long-lasting. Their outer coatings have been researched and developed to give you value and quality and to meet the needs of all weathers and keep your horse comfortable and safe.
You should inspect the stitching on your horse rug regularly to make sure that it is still intact and has not become damaged. This also means that if you do spot any small areas of damage you can repair them before they get worse.
Check regularly that any buckles or metal clips on your horse rug have not got any rust on them as untreated this will weaken the fastenings, which could lead to your horse injuring itself if the rug slips and gets caught underfoot. Bucas rugs have stainless steel hardware which are hard-wearing and resist rust well.
During the summer months, make sure that your heavy-duty Turnout Rug is stored somewhere dry and is clean when it is put away.
Keeping your horse rug clean will extend its life. A stiff brush should be used periodically to remove loose hair and dirt from the blanket. If the horse rug is washable, and you choose to clean it yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to measure for your horse rug:
You may find horse rugs that are sized in centimetres, in inches or even in feet and inches.
If you already have a horse rug that is a good fit for your horse, one of the easiest ways to ensure that your new rug is the correct size is to put that rug on the ground and measure it.
The key measurements you need to take for a good-fitting horse rug are:
- From the withers to the top of the tail
- From the top of the withers to the middle of the chest
- From the middle of the chest, around the side, to the root of the tail - where the rug will sit.
If your horse finds a tape measure frightening you can always use string that you cut to the right length - and then measure the string afterwards.
It is particularly important to make sure that the horse rug fits properly across the chest, shoulders and withers. If the rug is too big around the chest it will droop down exposing the horse’s body and slide backwards too. Your horse will get cold and suffer from rub marks if this happens.
Equally bad is a rug that is too small around the chest and neck as this is likely to rub hair off your horse’s shoulders due to the friction.
Probably the most common complaint about badly-fitting rugs is that they rub hair off the points of the shoulders, At best, shoulder rubs look a mess but left untreated and if the bad-fitting horse rug is not taken off they can worsen to become open sores. A horse with sore withers is also likely to be unhappy about wearing a saddle.
Look for comfortable linings on your horse rug as these will keep your horse happy. Bucas rugs all boast soft linings and feature shoulder darts and clever design features to ensure the best possible and most comfortable fit.
Some horses and ponies have extremely light shoulders which results in some rugs slipping back across their backs. To tackle this problem you can look for a rug with a smaller neck or one with a ‘built in’ or ‘grown on’ high neck or raised neckline for a better fit.
How to fit a horse rug correctly:
A horse rug that fits correctly wraps snugly around your horse’s body. There should be enough room around the chest to allow your horse to move freely and comfortably. The horse rug should be moulded nicely around your horse’s tail and underneath the stomach.
At the front, the horse rug should be snug but not restrictive or in danger of rubbing the horse. To test the fit, make sure you can get your hand inside the horse rug and your horse’s chest. Your horse needs the space to be able to get up and down and move around. But the horse rug should not droop down, which could be dangerous if your horse rolls around in the night.
At the withers, the horse rug should be two to four inches ahead of the withers. This area is a sensitive pressure point and your horse should not have to bear the full weight of a heavy rug directly on its withers as this can cause strain and even injury.
Crossed surcingles underneath the horse’s stomach do the best job of keeping a rug securely fastened. Here again there should be a bit of room to prevent the horse rug being too restricted or rubbing but not loose enough so that the horse’s back legs could get caught if the horse lies down and rolls around.
Good-fitting leg straps which loop around the hind legs are essential for a Turnout Rug that needs to protect your horse from the worst of the winter weather. Again they should keep the horse rug securely in place without chafing or rubbing but without being so loose that your horse could catch its hoof in the strap if it leaps around.
Shoulder gussets on Turnout Rugs are a good way of allowing your horse enough room to move and also helping to keep any pressure off the shoulders.
Look for reinforced stitching at all the stress points. Some horse rugs have ‘ripstop’ surfaces. If your horse is going to be outside 24 hours a day seven days a week it will need a durable, hard-wearing horse rug.
Some horse rugs are more contoured than others and some are cut back for horses with high withers. These various design options do mean that it is possible to find a horse rug that gives the best possible fit whatever your horse’s shape.
The range of Bucas rugs offer great design features that keep rugs safely attached and snug ensuring comfort and protection for your horse.
Many people prefer to keep a weatherproof Turnout Rug for outdoor use, and keep another, more lightweight rug for when the horse is stabled. The Stable Rug does not need to be waterproof, of course, but it should be a good fit so that it stays in place when your horse lies down to sleep and gets up again.
