{"id":1,"date":"2021-10-04T11:07:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T10:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/rbe\/?p=1"},"modified":"2021-10-23T12:11:53","modified_gmt":"2021-10-23T11:11:53","slug":"rug-guide-autumn-winter-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/rbe\/rug-guide-autumn-winter-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Rug Guide \u2013 Autumn & Winter 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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With so many rugs on the market, and such a massive variation in price, picking the right one for your\u00a0 horse can seem a bit daunting. Use our comprehensive guide to help you find your perfect fit…..<\/p>\n\n

\"Amigo<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

What size rug should I buy for my horse?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Horses, like humans, come in all different shapes and sizes so finding a perfect fitting rug can be tricky.<\/p>\n\n

Firstly, get an idea of the length of rug you need. Measure your horse from the centre of his\/her chest to their tail, ideally in inches. Rug sizes in the UK are most commonly measured in feet and inches (although we’re sure this was officially banned years ago!!) and are sold in sizes with a difference of 3″ between them e.g. 6ft3″, 6ft6″, 6ft9″, 7ft etc. Still not sure if you’ve got it right? Refer to our chart below to give you an approximate size guide.<\/p>\n\n

Once you know approximately what size you’ll need, give your horse a critical once-over. Does he have a broad or skinny chest, is he very leggy or is a lot of his height made up of a ‘substantial’ body. Does he have prominent withers? All of these things can help you find a perfect fitting rug, rather than just an ‘ok’ one.<\/p>\n\n

Armed with this information you can make an informed choice. Maybe look for a rug with lots of adjustment at the chest if your horse is broad in this area (the Bridleway brand is good for this), or choose a rug which is cut higher up the neck if your horse has boney withers to help minimise pressure points and rubs (Horseware rugs often solve this problem). Or come in and ask us our opinion. Between us we’ve got a real mixture of horses, all of whom suit different types of rugs.<\/p>\n\n

INSIDER GUIDE. Badly fitting rugs can cause damage to your horse. Pressure points, particularly\u00a0on the withers, can sometimes cause horrible rubs and sores. At the very least you should remove your\u00a0horse’s rug once a day, give it a good shake out and refit it by putting it on half way up the neck and\u00a0then gently pulling it back into place. If you’re still finding you’re getting rubs, consider investing in a\u00a0different shape rug or a Bossys Bib.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"LeMieux<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I need an outdoor rug. What should I be looking for:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

You’ll need a turnout rug (which back in the day we used to call a New Zealand rug). These are made from waterproof fabrics and will help keep your horse dry and warm.<\/p>\n\n

INSIDER GUIDE Don’t automatically take your horse’s rug off if it is very wet. Provided your horse is\u00a0warm and dry underneath then consider leaving that rug on – it will dry much more quickly on a warm\u00a0horse than if it’s hung up in a cold, damp tack room.. Most turnout rugs these days are suitable for use\u00a0inside as well as outside.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Decide how thick you need it to be. Do you just want a thin, lightweight rug or do you need something super warm and cosy? Think about whether your horse is going to be clipped and what breed it is and don’t forget that some horses might benefit from being left unrugged – even in the coldest weather.<\/p>\n\n

INSIDER GUIDE Most rugs have a ‘fill’ (a bit like a duvet has a ‘tog’) and it is generally accepted\u00a0that anything between a 100gm and 250gm fill is a mediumweight rug, and anything over that is a\u00a0heavyweight rug. Lightweight rugs normally have no fill or a minimal 40gm or 50gm fill.<\/em>Think about whether you want a rug with a neck\/hood or not because proportionally horses lose very little of their body heat through their necks. Unless your horse is clipped then the main reason for having your horse’s neck covered is to make sure they’re dry and clean when you want to ride them. Some rugs have necks that are attached (a combo rug) and some have removable necks which in theory make the rug more versatile. In either case do be aware that having your horse’s neck covered can lead to the mane being rubbed out.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Insider Guide. The lighter and thinner a neck cover is the less likely it is to rub the mane. Sometimes a\u00a0rug can rub at the withers too so always have a feel of the binding or any joins in the rug which might\u00a0lead to pressure points and cause rubbing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"SHOPNOW<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Should I spend a lot of money on a rug?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Only if you want to! All of the rugs we stock are well-made by reputable manufacturers and some are exceptionally good value for money. There is no doubt however that some rugs are better than others – you just need to decide whether you need that better quality rug in the first place. The main reason one rug is more expensive than another is because of the outer material that the rug is made from.<\/p>\n\n

As a general rule the more expensive a rug (particularly a turnout rug) the better the quality the outer material is and this means:<\/p>\n\n