A Guide to Choosing the Best Turnout Rug for your Horse

 Standard Neck Turnout Rug

What is a turnout rug?

So what exactly is a turnout rug? A turnout rug is a horse rug that has been specially designed to be worn outdoors when turned out in the field. Turnout rugs are almost always waterproof, often with taped seams to keep your horse dry in the rain and snow. Ranging in weights and deniers, each turnout rug is different with many technical features to ensure protection and comfort for your horse or pony whilst making fitting as easy as possible for you.

When choosing the right turnout rug there are a number of factors to consider. The time of year, the temperature, the weather conditions, is your horse going to be clipped and your horse's behaviour in the field; do they rip their rugs?

With these decisions in mind, the buyers at Millbry Hill have selected a fantastic collection of turnout rugs from leading brands such as Shires, Weatherbeeta and Gallop Equestrian, so you can choose the rug that is right for both you and your horse.

Denier Image

Photo courtesy of Weatherbeeta

Denier

The outer fabric of horse rugs is rated in denier and this usually ranges from 600 to 1680 in turnout rugs. The higher the denier count, the higher the strength of the fabric and the more durable the turnout rug should be. If the fabric is also stated as Ripstop, this means that there is a special weave in the fabric preventing a rip in the rug (from catching on broken branches or a fence for example) from spreading, making it easier to repair.

Weights

Turnout rugs come in various weights of polyfill insulation to offer different levels of warmth. Lightweight horse rugs are designed for milder weather and are usually around 0 - 100 grams of fill, with mediumweight rugs ranging from around 200 - 300 grams. Heavyweight turnout rugs are upwards of 300 grams of fill and are ideal for use in particularly harsh winter weather or for the finer-skinned horse.

Here is a brief guide for different weights of rugs:

0 - 50 grams - Turnout rugs with a zero gram fill are used to protect your horse or pony when it's wet and no extra warmth is required. 0g or 50g rugs are usually used on clipped horses in milder, wetter weather or on hardier horses in colder weather as a rain sheet.

100 - 150 grams - A great weight for clipped horses in temperatures ranging between 5-10°C with a neck cover if needed.

150 - 200 grams - Ideal for clipped horses and unclipped horses when the weather is colder in late autumn/early winter with a neck cover if needed.

200 - 400 grams - For clipped and unclipped horses turned out in harsh winter conditions and colder temperatures with a neck cover if needed. Some clipped horses may even need the addition of a liner for extra warmth.

Horse cantering in field in a turnout rug

Photo courtesy of Gallop Equestrian

Tips for finding the right turnout rug

Picking the right turnout rug is an important decision. Over rugging or under rugging your horse can affect their health and cause discomfort.

  • Look for a rug that is waterproof, breathable and durable and will keep your horse warm, dry and comfortable in the field.
  • Read the description carefully for each rug and make sure it ticks all the boxes.
  • Look at all of the features on offer; chest fastening, combo, detachable or standard neck, leg straps, shoulder gussets and compatible rug liners to name a few and decide which are essential.
  • Review the size guide for that brand to ensure the fit is correct and won't cause any rubbing.
  • It's also a good idea to have a few rugs to choose from so your horse is comfortable in a dry rug if one is wet or being cleaned.

Shop the collection of horse rugs available at Millbry Hill.