If your horse spends the winter in stalls, you’ve probably considered what kind of rug it might benefit from. The decision to rug your horse will depend on several factors, including age, weight, breed, condition, trimming status, and, of course, overall health.
It is ultimately up to us to determine what is best for each horse, as each has unique needs. The ideal course of action for one horse in the yard may not be the best for another. A stabled horse will have less room to move around to stay warm than a free-ranging horse. A horse rug can help in this situation. Here are reasons that make rugs important for your horse.
- It ensures your horse’s comfort and body temperature
Winters can be very harsh. It won’t take you more than a few days to bring your horse inside with a completely soaked rug. He can stay dry thanks to the turnout rug’s waterproof liner. However, not everyone has access to a solarium for drying rugs. Sometimes, the best action is to leave your horse naked and use body heat to dry the rug. The heat from his body will be used to dry the rug, which will prevent your horse from staying as warm. After a particularly wet walk, picture yourself spending the whole night in a soaked raincoat. The amount of hay your horse needs to sustain the extra body heat it needs may grow along with its consumption.
When it rains, the best thing to do is to put a dry rug on your horse. The lightweight turnout rug can be taken home to air dry in a warm place or hung up overnight. If your primary rug isn’t dry by morning, it makes sense to have a backup turnout rug.
- To track the physical well-being of your equine
The ability to easily identify physical changes in your horse as rugs are replaced is another benefit of using rugs. Some rugs, especially poorly fitted ones, might give your horse wounds, sores, rubs, or general discomfort. If you don’t regularly clean your horse’s rug, you might not immediately catch these issues. When you recognize them and take action, rubs can be more readily treated. You can swiftly brush your horse and assess his physical condition each night while you change into your stable rug or dressage saddle.
- To shield the equine from insects
Midges and flies are a nuisance during the summer. These insects may become more prevalent in the summer, and horses bitten by them may become irritated and painful. Your horse may have skin issues in the winter or during the rainy season. A weatherbeeta fly rug is a wise choice because it can prevent all these.
As mentioned previously, stable rugs are available in a multitude of styles. The following styles are worth considering if you wish to use them to repel insects:
Cotton Horse Rug: Your horse is completely protected from insects because the material is tough to pierce.
Mesh horse rug: This rug increases airflow and blocks pesky insects while insulating sound. Consider purchasing a durable rug that can resist repeated scratching if itching is an issue. For most horses, a durable mesh rug is ideal.
