Rugging - A 'rough' guide to getting it right

Image courtesy of Weatherbeeta

Just like us our horses/ponies feel changes in weather, hot to cold, cold to hot, dry to wet and wet to dry. The options are endless with the UK climate!

At Millbry Hill, we understand the importance of finding the right rug and the frustration many horse owners face in the ever-changing climate so, here are a few hints, tips and answers to frequent questions that might help you choose the right rug for your horse/pony.

What temperatures are horses comfortable in?

Generally, horses are comfortable and quite happy between 5°C and 25°C. This range allows them to regulate body temperature properly with the addition of good forage, plenty of fresh water and natural shelter. Some factors will affect this such as age, body condition, breed, clipped/unclipped, health issues like Cushings etc.

How do I measure my horse/pony for a rug?

We get asked this one a lot! Many people think that the rug size comes from the height of the equine, however, it is how long they are, weird right?

You need to measure with a soft tape measure or string from the centre of the chest (where the buckles meet) all the way along their side to the point of the buttock where their back legs meet (see diagram below). You can measure in cm or inches but it MUST be converted into feet and inches and rounded up or down to the nearest whole foot or 3" increment (for example 160cm ~ 5ft3").

What is denier?

Denier is a unit of measure to determine the fibre thickness/strength of the outside of your rug, specifically turnout rugs. The higher the denier, the stronger it should be. Denier ranges from 210D (stable/soft rug) to 600D, 900D, 1200D and even 1680D.

What do the grams/weight mean?

Rug weight or thickness is gauged by gram and then predominantly put into three categories, Light, Medium and Heavyweight.

0g is the lightest weight, working up usually in 50g - 100g increments right up to 300g+ for heavyweight rugs. Think of a 0g rug as a waterproof mac with no filling, little warmth but stops the wind and rain, then your 300g+ as a waterproof, thick winter duvet for the coldest of days. Many horses will sit between the 0g - 200g range of rugs depending on their condition, age and other factors. Some finer types, fully clipped and in heavy work may need a heavier rug or a combination of rugs to keep them at optimal comfort and others may not need a rug at all, like our native breeds.

• Lightweight ~ 0/50/100g
• Mediumweight ~ 150/200/250g
• Heavyweight ~ 300g+

Here is a rough temperature - rug guide for TURNOUT. Please be mindful of your own equine's needs and check if they are too hot/cold. All horses and ponies are different.

As in the above table for TURNOUT rugs, rugging the stabled horse is very similar. You may need to go down a weight due to being indoors and not in the elements.

Most, if not all rug brands offer rugs with and without necks, some also offer detachable necks giving you two rugs in one. Brands also differ in shape/cut and whether they have shoulder gussets. Shoulder gussets are important for the freedom of movement and are especially good for horses with big shoulders or are wider, such as Cobs, Welsh Sec Ds etc. Rugs without gussets tend to fit narrower types like Arabs and Thoroughbreds. Keep this in mind when choosing the style of your rug.

Please be mindful that all horses are different and this guide is based on an average. Please contact us directly or visit one of our stores for help with any further questions.

There you have it - a basic guide to rugging your horse for the correct weather, temperature and size needed to suit your horse's needs and build correctly. Once you are sure what rug you need, we have a large range of turnout rugs to choose from and can offer a selection in lightweight, mediumweight and heavyweight turnouts from leading brands like Weatherbeeta, Shires and Premier Equine.