Horse rugs can be confusing so here are the ins and outs of the turnout rug

Choosing a horse rug that will keep your horse clean, dry and warm during the winter months can prove a challenge, especially with the wide array of turnout rugs on offer. Without a sufficient rug to keep them warm, a turned out horse can quickly lose condition so finding a rug that will fight off the cold, is important.

The turnout rug is designed to keep the horse clean and dry when out in the field, and also warm during the winter. They are made from waterproof synthetic material and are available in different colours and thicknesses/weights of filling which offer varying degrees of warmth to the horse.

While lightweight summer turnout rugs may have no filling and are used simply to keep the horse warm and dry, lightweight winter turnout rugs may have up to 150g of filling and are used for slightly cooler late summer nights. When it gets a little more chilly, the medium weight turnout rug is more beneficial with 150g-300g of filling to add some extra heat to your horse.

Lastly for the middle of winter when the temperature really drops and the fields are covered with a blanket of frost in the mornings, the heavyweight turnout rugs are needed. With 300g and upwards of filling, these rugs are designed to generate and retain as much heat as possible whilst still allowing your horse the full flexibility and freedom of movement it needs.

The heavy weight rugs also often come with neck covers to ensure that the whole of the horse's body is kept warm. These can either come as part of the rug itself or it can be bought as an optional extra so that you can add it as and when your horse needs it.

To save on the trouble and expense of buying separate rugs for each change in temperature, 'two in one' rugs are available which come with interchangeable liners meaning that you can change the warmth the turnout rug offers depending on the weather.

The Rambo Duo is a prime example of this type of design. With a detachable under blanket, the existing liner can be taken out or added to with one of the three different weighted liners that are available. Made from ballistic nylon, a turnout rug like the Rambo Duo, is much less susceptible to rips and tears that other seemingly more economical rugs may be prone to.

Ripped and torn rugs can be the bane of the horse owner's bank balance during the winter months. While it is tempting to opt for a cheaper rug, in the long term, a more expensive but more durable horse rug will prove more economical in the long run and will often come with a two or three year guarantee like the Rambo Duo.

[Image © Thowra uk via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence]