When to Rug Your Horse

As the weather begins to turn colder, you’ll need to spare some time to rug your horse! After all, nobody likes being too cold, and horses are no different - but it is important to remember that rugging your horse takes more consideration than simply checking the weather. 

It’s important to remember that horses and humans are very different when it comes to handling the cold, with horses having a much higher tolerance than we do. This means that while you may be reaching for your winter jackets, your horse may not be feeling as frosty as you are. Also, there is no “one size fits all” when rugging your horse - all horses are different, and this must be taken into account.

If you’re unfamiliar with how, and when to rug your horse, we’re here to help. In this blog, we’ll be discussing how to ensure your horse is as comfortable as possible when rugging in the colder months. 

Useful Rugging Information

While we’ve previously mentioned that all horses are different, there are some general facts that all owners will find useful when it comes to rugging your horse. 

Firstly, a horse has a far different thermoneutral zone (TNZ) than we do, which essentially means that they feel temperatures differently than we do. The average human has a TNZ of 28-32°C, or 21-23°C when lightly clothed, whereas a horse has a much wider range of between 5-25°C. This means that for temperatures below this range, you should definitely consider taking precautions to rug your horse.

It’s also vital to factor weather conditions, not just temperature. For instance, cold, wet, and windy conditions are the most demanding for horses, as the rain can soak through the horse’s coat, taking away their natural insulation. If your horse has been recently clipped, their natural insulative coat will be far less effective, enhancing the impact that cold, wet weather will have on them.

When Should You Rug Your Horse?

Now that we’ve clarified the comfortable, and uncomfortable conditions that your horse can withstand, it’s time to discuss when you should take action, and rug your horse. 

Generally, the most common time to rug your horse is in autumn, and winter, due to the harsh weather conditions that occur in these months. During the spring and summer, it is unlikely that you’ll need to rug your horse, but as soon as temperatures start to drop below 10°C, you’ll need to start thinking about whether your horse is comfortable, or not. 

Below, we will discuss further how you can know when it’s time to rug your own horse.

Horse-Specific Rugging Factors

Similarly to humans, all horses feel temperatures differently, for a broad range of different reasons. Certain horses will need a rug sooner than other horses, factoring in age, health, weight, or even simply genetics.

Age - Your horse's age will have a significant impact as to how they feel the cold, and when you will need to put a rug on them. Elderly horses (generally aged 15-20+) will have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature (a reduced TNZ range), meaning they will need to be rugged earlier, and more frequently than when they were younger. Click here to learn more about caring for older horses. 

Similarly, young horses will also feel lower temperatures a lot more, due to their smaller size and lower body fat making them more susceptible to cold - also meaning they will need to be rugged earlier, and more often than in adulthood. Both elderly, and young horses may need to be rugged as temperatures drop below 10°C, in some cases even earlier - however take care not to overheat them..

Health - Similarly to elderly horses, you should also factor in your horse’s health into when they need to be rugged. If your horse has recently undergone an operation, or they are medically diagnosed with a health condition, then you should take extra care with rugging. 

Weight - Essentially, the heavier the horse, the better they can handle the cold - this definitely doesn’t mean you should overfeed your horse! With underweight horses, you must be careful, as it is possible that they may end up losing even more weight, as their body uses up energy to heat themselves up - which will also apply to cooling themselves down! This stresses the importance of rugging your horse correctly, factoring in their weight to ensure that they are comfortable.

Clipping - If you’ve clipped your horse recently, you have taken away a layer of natural insulation which would keep them warm, this will need to be replaced with a rug if the weather is cold enough. This is actually one of the most important considerations, one that you should definitely not bypass if you’ve clipped your horse's hair. The more hair removed - the heavier the rug should be.

Genetics - Different breeds, or genetics have a big impact on your horse’s ability to handle the cold. You should do your own breed-specific research as to when it is best to rug your horse in order to make sure that they are comfortable. There are also different blood classifications which will help you identify when to rug your horse - these are:

• Hot-blooded horses - Refined build, thin skin and coat - these horses are less tolerant of cold, and will need to be rugged earlier.

• Cold-blooded horses - Thick hide, dense coat, long hair on legs - these horses are much more tolerant to cold weather, and rarely need to be rugged.

• Warm-blooded horses - A blend of the two, often needing to be assessed based on their individual coating, body condition, and activity level, so that you can find the right time to rug your horse.

Getting it Just Right

While you may think that rugging your horse early is doing them a favour, this can cause great discomfort for them. You should be careful not to overheat your horse, as this can be just as detrimental as leaving them cold - after all, nobody wants to be sweating all day! 

Your horse’s living condition also greatly influences whether they need to be rugged, as even the type of rug you should use. While a healthy, unclipped horse can handle cold temperatures, certain conditions will call for a rug. In particular, rain and wind can quickly lower a horse’s body temperature, especially if they are living with a lack of shelter.

The same way that we choose our clothing based on the weather, you should also do this when rugging your horse. There are several different rug types, many of which you’ll need, which we will explore below:

Turnout Rugs - Waterproof, durable, and most popular - these are for horses living outdoors.

Stable Rugs - Lighter, not waterproof - better for horses in stables.

Cooler Rugs - Moisture-absorbing - used after exercise or bathing to help horses dry off.

Fly Rugs - Lightweight sheets - these are a little different, used in warmer months to protect against insects and sun.

Exercise Rugs - Lightweight - used during riding and exercising.

Sweet Itch Rugs - Fine, tightly woven mesh - for horses that are allergic to midges.

Therapy Rugs - Potential health benefits - believed to improve circulation, reduce muscle stiffness, and aid recovery.

Under-Rugs - Used as an additional layer underneath another rug - also useful to reduce rubbing from the outer rug.

The most important thing is that your horse is comfortable. In order to check this, we’d recommend sliding your hand beneath the rug behind the withers - this should feel warm and dry. If it is sweaty under the rug, your horse is too warm, and you should consider either a lighter rug, or removing the rug entirely. Likewise, if your horse feels cold, they will need a warmer rug.

Summary

If you’re still struggling to identify when, and how to rug your horse, we would always recommend speaking to your vet, so that they can advise on the best steps to take for you to ensure your horse is happy, healthy, and cosy!

While you’re looking for the perfect rug, why not elevate some of your horse’s other equipment too! By adding one of our stunning, bespoke nameplates to your horse’s headcollar, saddle, or stable, you’re able to express your horse’s own unique style and personality! Explore your options here.

Alternatively, if you’re looking to get involved and become a part of our brand, you can send photos of your stunning horse to us @engravingstudios on either Facebook, or Instagram, and we’ll be sure to feature your horse in our future social posts!