Turnout rug

What is it for?

The turnout rug protects against rain, wind and cold and adds warmth through its fill, for horses that need it such as clipped, fine-coated, older or underweight horses.

How is it made?

A waterproof, breathable outer (rated in denier) with a fill in grams. Roughly: light 0 to 100g, medium 150 to 300g, heavy from 350g. Often with chest, belly and leg fastenings and sometimes a neck cover.

When do you use it?

Outdoors in the field or paddock in cold or wet weather. The right weight depends on the horse and the conditions, not on a fixed chart.

What to watch for in the fit

• Measure from the centre of the chest to the point of the buttock and follow the brand's size guide.

• Watch the shoulder, withers and chest especially; remove the rug daily to check.

• Choose the fill for the individual horse; only increase it when the horse is cold.

Take care

Heavier is not automatically better. Over-rugging can flatten the coat's natural insulation, cause sweating and discomfort and prevent healthy winter weight loss. Choose the rug for the horse and the conditions.

What is it confused with?

• Rain sheet

  The rain sheet is the same waterproof outer but without fill; the turnout rug does have fill.

• Stable rug

  The stable rug also has fill but is not waterproof and belongs indoors.

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