Cheap Horse Rugs: An Essential Tack Room Item
These are precious for keeping a horse snug in all kinds of weather, especially if you have clipped off their rugged natural winter coat.
Materials used vary significantly in weights, from heavy to very light. They are not only good for keeping horses warm, but also for helping them to cool off slowly and shielding them from irritating flying insects; implying that you need a variety to cater for your horse’s specific requirements.
One should wrap a horse in numerous layers to satisfy prevailing temperature needs. It’s far wiser to use many layers of lighter rugs than few heavy ones. The lighter ones provide freedom to simply add more or take off a few. Heavy ones are prone to cause horses to sweat exposing them to health issues.
It is recommended that you monitor permanent outdoor horses by checking strap wear and chaffing on their backs and shoulders. Should your mare sweat on a sunny day in winter, you probably need to remove one or two. Whilst most water resistant rugs are waterproof and efficient, they are not recommended to be used as a regular blanket because they prevent a horse’s skin from breathing.
Stable rugs are the most commonly used horse blanket. They are made from cotton fabrics or cotton mixes of various weights. A quilted version is used for cold conditions. They are also only intended for indoor use, since they’re not weather proofed. They’re kept in place by their chest, stomach and leg straps.
Flysheets are light-weight and typically made from a breathing material that also protect horses from gnats, mosquitoes, and other flying pests. They’re fantastic for both indoor and outdoor use, with strap fasteners that enable a horse to roll or lie down at leisure.
Turnout rugs are perfect for protection against wet and cold weather. They consist of a waterproof outer most layer that covers a quilted under lining. They have heaps of straps, comprising stomach, chest, leg and tail straps, these brace the rug firmly in position ensuring that it isn’t easily displaced whilst galloping around, rolling or lying down.
Coolers and anti-perspiration sheets are used on horses that are very active for short spurts and then are inactive, such as with competition and racehorses. These horses must be walked by a handler to aid their slow cooling down preventing them from becoming sore or stiff. Coolers and anti-perspiration sheets slow down the rate of evaporation, they regulate cooling and help to eliminate joint and muscle related issues caused from rapid temperature changes.
Anti-perspiration sheets are a tight fit around the horse, similar to turnout blankets, while coolers have a loose fit. You should never leave a horse unattended with a cooler on, as the cooler, being loosely fitted, will become entangled around their legs should they move around rapidly, roll or lie down.
