When it comes to equine care, providing suitable clothing for various weather conditions is critical. For the clipped horse, a stable rug typically suffices for everyday use. However, in extreme weather, an additional rug or a horse blanket can offer an extra layer of warmth. For horses living outside year-round, a waterproof ‘New Zealand’ Rug—covered with durable canvas—provides needed protection, particularly for those with fine coats or those less equipped for harsh winters. Meanwhile, the decision to clip a horse enjoying an outdoor lifestyle throughout winter warrants careful consideration, potentially opting for a minimal Trace Clip instead.
Night Rugs: Ultimate Comfort for Horses at Rest
Night rugs provide horses with much-needed warmth and comfort during cold or chilly nights. Traditionally made of jute with a woolen lining, these rugs now benefit from modern technology and are commonly designed using quilted man-made fabrics.
The Design and Sizing of Night Rugs
A well-designed night rug extends from the root of the tail to the withers, encircling the base of the neck and reaching down to rest at the level of the horse’s elbows. When selecting the proper size, you typically have three standard options: “Pony” (up to 14 hands high or h.h.), “Cob” (14-15 h.h.), and “Hunter” (above 15 h.h.). These rugs are crafted to fit the contours of a horse’s body, providing ample room for the rise at the withers and the quarters.
Securing the Rug: Straps and Buckles
To keep the rug in place and prevent slipping, a leather, webbing, or nylon strap is fastened to a buckle at the horse’s breast. A surcingle is commonly incorporated as well, consisting of a broad webbing or nylon strap passing over the back at the withers and fastened on the near side by buckles.
However, a better alternative to the traditional surcingle is using a separate “roller.” This well-padded design offers enhanced spine protection, ensuring that the horse remains comfortable while wearing the rug. If you decide to use a traditional surcingle, it is wise to place a thick, soft pad under it on either side of the horse’s backbone, in order to avoid any direct or indirect pressure.
Keeping the Rug in Place at the Hindquarters
To help maintain the night rug’s position at the hindquarters, you have a couple of options. The first is a braided cord (also known as a fillet string) that wraps around the horse’s buttocks, connecting both rear corners of the rug. The second option involves straps starting further forward, passing inside each thigh and fastening on the opposite rear edge of the rug. These strategic additions prevent corners from blowing up or displacement, ensuring that your horse receives consistent warmth and comfort throughout the night.
Day Rugs: Keeping Your Horse Comfortable in Daytime
Day rugs are designed to offer comfort and protection to horses during daytime hours. Although night rugs can also be used during the day, having a separate day rug allows the night rug to be cleaned and aired out, ensuring optimal conditions for your horse.
Summer or Day Sheets: Lightweight Protection
For warm days, a thin, lightweight cotton rug, also known as a “Summer” or “Day Sheet,” is an ideal choice. These rugs help keep the horse’s coat clean after grooming while providing protection from dust and insects.
Sweat Rugs: Cooling Down After Exercise
A sweat rug, made of open cotton mesh, is particularly useful for a hot horse returning from exercise. This type of rug enables the horse to cool off gradually without catching a chill, providing a proper cooldown period that is essential for maintaining the horse’s health. Once the horse is dry, the sweat rug can be replaced with the night rug for continued comfort.
Combining Rugs: Breathability Matters
When using a sweat rug, it is crucial to ensure that the horse’s skin can breathe properly, an important aspect of overall well-being. Natural-material night rugs can be placed over a sweat rug without any issues, but if your night rug is made of man-made fibers, it may not provide the necessary breathability. Always opt for materials that permit appropriate airflow to maintain your horse’s comfort and health.
Exercise Sheets: Protection and Comfort During Workouts
Exercise sheets are smaller coverings specifically designed to provide horses with added protection and comfort during periods of training or exercise. Depending on the season and the weather conditions, the material and coverage of these sheets may vary.
Winter Exercise Sheets: Waterproof Protection
During winter months, exercise sheets crafted from waterproof material are an excellent option, as they keep your horse dry amidst wet conditions. These sheets typically cover the horse’s shoulders and hindquarters, offering additional warmth and protection from the elements while the horse exercises outdoors.
Summer Exercise Sheets: Lightweight Comfort
In summer or warmer weather conditions, a light cotton exercise sheet is more suitable, providing enough coverage to ensure the horse’s comfort without causing overheating. These sheets maintain a balance between offering protection and allowing for temperature control and airflow, making them a great addition to your horse’s wardrobe during the sunny months.
The Versatility of “New Zealand” Waterproof Rugs
When it comes to making sure your horse is comfortable and protected outdoors, a waterproof “New Zealand” rug, fittingly crafted from waterproofed canvas and lined with blanketing, comes to the rescue. This particular rug has distinctive features that not only safeguard your horse against rough weather but also ensure freedom of movement.
Maximized Motion with a Looser Skirt
Unlike stable rugs, “New Zealand” rugs are designed to be more loosely fitting around the lower area or “skirt”. This specific design ensures your horse can move freely, enhancing comfort and mobility during wear.
Buckles and Leather Straps
For secure fitting and ease of use, these outdoor rugs fasten at the breast, similar to most stable rugs, utilizing sturdy leather straps with spring hooks. These straps replace the conventional fillet strings found in more traditional rugs and help to keep the rug properly in place.
A Rug for Every Size
Like other styles, “New Zealand” rugs are available in standard sizes to cater to your horse’s specific needs, including Pony, Cob, and Hunter varieties.
Regular Adjustments for Optimal Comfort
Despite their many advantages, these outdoor rugs require particular attention to fitting and should be adjusted regularly. All rugs tend to shift over time, which can eventually cause chafing to the shoulders and withers. Therefore, it’s prudent to apply padding in these areas from the beginning to prevent any discomfort.
Focusing on Leg Strap Maintenance
Since the “New Zealand” rug lacks a surcingle, the leg straps must be tight enough to keep the rug secure. It is crucial to regularly apply generous amounts of neatsfoot oil to these straps. Not only will this preservative maintain the state of your leather, but it also keeps the strap supple and prevents chafing, especially on the sensitive skin inside the horse’s thighs.
Regular Inspections: The Key to Long-Lasting Comfort
Additionally, if your horse is wearing an All Weather rug with a surcingle, you should regularly check to ensure it hasn’t tightened. Regular inspections help avoid discomfort and improve the overall durability and effectiveness of the rug.
Mastering the Art of “Rugging Up”: A Step-by-step Guide
To keep your horse warm and comfortable, putting on a rug correctly, a process commonly referred to as “rugging up,” is essential. Nevertheless, “rugging up” is not about hastily tossing the rug onto your horse, but rather it involves a careful process to ensure the rug is well-fitted and comfortable.
Step 1: Getting Started: Folding the Rug
Start by folding the rug inside-out, with the tail end brought up to the neck opening. Holding it at this part, use your right hand to take the offside and your left hand for the near side, then gently drape it across the horse’s withers from the near side. It’s crucial to place it further forward than where it will sit when it’s fastened.
Step 2: Position and Fasten the Rug
After placing the rug, proceed to buckle or tie it at the breast. Then, unfold the rug so that its centerline is along the horse’s backbone. However, do not pull it back too far; leave the neck opening relatively loose to allow movement as the rug will naturally slide back and tighten on its own.
Step 3: The Importance of a Flat Surcingle
Before fastening the surcingle, ensure it lies flat. Since the offside often remains out of sight, it’s easy for it to twist unnoticed. The rule of thumb is to double-check and straighten out any twists for the comfort of your horse.
Step 4: Using a Roller and Pad
If you’re using a roller, fold up the longer end loosely and position the pad immediately behind the withers. Next, push the folded end down on the offside, bring it under the horse at the girth place, and fasten it on the near side.
Step 5: Checking and Adjusting the Skirt
After securing both the surcingle and the roller, straighten out any wrinkles in the skirt of the rug. Be cautious to not buckle it too tightly; ideally, you should easily slide your fingers down flat between the strap and the rug to ensure comfortable placement.
Step 6: Securing the Fillet Strings
Lastly, tie the fillet strings, ensuring they hang in a loop that reaches just above halfway up the gaskins. It must be noted that you don’t need to do this step with a “New Zealand” rug. Remember that the strings should not be tied tightly but instead should hang in such a way that they offer flexibility and comfort to your horse.
Cleaning Horse Rugs: A Guide to Maintaining Hygiene and Durability
Taking proper care of your horse’s rugs is essential to ensure a clean and healthy environment for your animal. Regular cleaning can prevent the spread of diseases and maintain the durability of the rugs. By following these best practices, you can effectively clean and maintain your horse’s day and night rugs.
Airing and Rotating Rugs
When you’re using both day and night rugs, it’s advisable to air out one rug while the other is being worn by your horse. This rotation helps maintain freshness and reduces potential odors.
Daily Cleaning Routine
Rugs should be shaken out and brushed on both sides every time they’re removed from the horse. This process removes dirt, hair, and debris, improving your horse’s comfort and reducing the chances of irritation or infection.
Extra Cleaning for Night Rugs
Night rugs tend to get soiled more frequently compared to day rugs. In such cases, you may need to scrub them lightly, using only a minimal amount of water. To prevent the rugs from shrinking, make sure to stretch them while drying.
Preventing the Spread of Diseases
To avoid spreading skin diseases among horses, it’s crucial to dedicate specific rugs to each horse. These rugs should not be used on other animals, even if they appear healthy. Skin infections, such as ringworm, can be easily spread through sharing rugs as the spores can persist on clothing for long periods.
Disinfecting Rugs
If a horse has had ringworm or any other contagious skin disease, it’s important to treat the rugs with an appropriate disinfectant that effectively kills fungi. This practice will minimize the risk of re-infection and maintain a hygienic environment for your horse.
