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We all love being cosy in winter and well-protected from the elements, and our horses are the same. While they may be more resilient to temperature fluctuations, they should always be kept as comfortable as possible, and our horse rugs provide the perfect solution.
What types of horse rugs are there?
Along with show rugs, show sheets, and exercise sheets, horse turnout rugs provide comfort and protection. Their primary purpose is to keep your horse dry, warm, and comfortable while they are ‘turned out’ or roaming in the field. This is a vital piece of equestrian equipment for every horse owner and rider, and you may need to invest in a range of different turnout rugs to keep your horse warm throughout the seasons.
If you’re unsure what to invest in for your horse, you can find out more about the unique features of turnout rugs and what turnout rugs to use for each season of the year here.
The Anatomy of Horse and Pony Turnout Rugs
Our high quality turnout rugs are crafted from a range of material layers. This design allows them to provide distinctive features, such as waterproofing and thermal insulation.
Most horse turnout rugs from leading brands combine insulated fillings, waterproof outer layers, various body coverage levels, securing features like surcingles and leg straps, and front closures and tail cords.
Outer Layers
Horse rugs are finished with synthetic, waterproofed fabric outer layers. These layers may also be made from rip-stop material, which protects them against tears and snags and ensures that any tears and snags that do occur don’t worsen over time.
The durability of these outer layers is measured in denier, with a higher denier count (D) indicating a stronger and more tear-resistant rug.
Internal Fillings and Weights
Turnout rugs are available in various weights, with weight referring to the thickness of their internal filling. The higher the weight of a rug, the more warmth and insulation it will provide for your horse.
Many lightweight summer rugs are not filled at all and offer other features, such as wind-proofing and water resistance for rain showers.
Functional Coverage and Closure Features
Different horse rug ranges and designs provide varying levels of coverage. Many turnout rugs provide standard, full, or detachable neck coverage and different types of tail flap coverage to protect horses from the elements.
All turnout rugs need to fit your horse securely to provide ideal protection. Because of this, most rugs will include front straps and closures, surcingles and leg straps, which are adjustable straps that hold the rug securely against your horse’s body, and a fillet string or tail cord that prevents the rug from slipping off your horse’s back.
Choosing the Best Horse Turnout Rugs for Each Season
Use this guide to choose functional turnout rugs to suit every season.
Spring
Temperatures in spring can vary widely, with some days bringing frost and crisp winds and others offering balmy temperatures and plenty of sunshine. We recommend investing in a lightweight turnout rug like our Tempest Original Lite Turnout Combo Rug, which weighs around 50g to 100g for warmer days of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, and another slightly heavier turnout rug like the Storm Equine Combo Turnout Rug, weighing 100g to 150g, for those days and nights when temperatures can drop as low as 5°C.
If your horse is unclipped, they may feel comfortable enough with a non-filled rain sheet or a lightweight rug in most spring weather conditions, and some may not need a rug at all. Consider buying a spring horse rug with a detachable neck cover for clipped horses to provide them with the protection they need against spring showers.
Summer
When the warmest months have arrived, and daytime temperatures exceed 15°C, your horse may not need a turnout rug at all, regardless of whether or not they are clipped.
However, on cooler or rainy days, a lightweight turnout rug like the Whitaker Rastrick Turnout Rug or a non-filled rain sheet may keep them comfortably dry in the field. Observe how your horse reacts during days between 10 and 15°C; if you find them shivering or seeking dry shelter, a light waterproof rain sheet could be exactly what they need.
Autumn
Lightweight horse rugs will suit most horses for warmer autumn days. However, as temperatures begin to drop into the 5 to 10°C range, clipped horses, in particular, may benefit from a moderately lightweight turnout rug of 100g to 150g with a neck cover like the Highlander Original 100 Turnout Neck Cover to safeguard them against chilly winds.
When autumn draws to an end, and temperatures start dipping below 5°C, unclipped horses should be fitted with a light to medium-weight rug of around 150g to 200g to keep them cosy. Clipped horses may need extra insulation in the form of medium-weight rugs up to 200g, including neck covers and waterproof outer layers to keep sleet and rain at bay. Our Typhoon 200 Combo Turnout Rug and Highlander Plus 200 Turnout Rug & Neck Set are excellent options offering adequate protection and comfort.
Winter
When the winter chill arrives, your horse will need a turnout rug with a heavier weight to keep them warm when out in the field. Your winter turnout rug should offer a high stated rug weight of at least 300g for optimal insulation in most cases. However, your horse's age, weight, type, and general health status will also determine the rug weight they need.
Older and thinner-skinned horses may need ultra-heavyweight rugs of between 300g and 500g weights to help them bear the winter chill, while younger horses and more robust breeds may overheat under such heavy insulation. Our Tempest Original 300 Turnout Rug & Neck suits most horses, as the body and neck is protected and the warmth rating can be upgraded using separate rug liners in 100g or 200g. This also gives you the opportunity to add or detach insulation as needed and allows you to use the same turnout rug for several months of the year instead of investing in multiple options.
Keep Your Horse Comfortably Rugged
Horse rugs come in a wide range of different weights and ratings to keep your horse warm and protected against the elements throughout the year. Choosing the right rug at the right time is crucial to your horse’s comfort, and at Ayr Equestrian, we’re happy to help you select the ideal option for your needs.
Our collections from leading brands and our horse turnout rugs clearance section offer all the gallop turnout rugs your horse needs for lasting comfort, rain, or shine.
