How to find the perfect horse rug

Keeping your four-legged friend warm over the winter is vital for his skin, coat and overall health - remember, a happy horse is a healthy horse! And let’s not forget that ponies may need pony rugs too; even if they are hardier native breeds, an extra layer can make all the difference. Finding the right horse rugs for your horse or pony can be difficult, so we have put together a few things to remember when buying a horse rug:

Temperature While we want your horse to be warm, if he is sweating under his rug, is restless or he's breathing heavily, he is probably too hot! On the other hand, if he has cold ears, a clamped-down tail and is standing rigidly on all four feet, he is probably too cold and in need of a thicker horse rug. Temperatures, of course, can vary wildly depending on your location and the time of year, so keep a close eye on your horse to check you have the right thickness of rug for him.

Fitting horse rugs We all know that horses don’t like to be uncomfortable and can (and will!) rip or manage to remove badly fitting rugs. A correctly fitted rug should fasten on the middle adjustment of the chest buckle, with the tail flap falling on top of the tail. It should lay flat on the horse’s back end without exposing his coat, draping too far over his back end, or causing any rubbing on pressure points.

Extra layers Some winter horse rugs include detachable neck covers for extra warmth, and to help keep your horse drier and cleaner in poor weather. You could also consider layering a summer sheet underneath their stable rug to keep them extra cosy when they're inside.

No matter what you are looking for, the team at Church Equestrian is here to help you choose the perfect rug for your horse. We have over 40 years’ experience providing the best equestrian products for you and your horse, with a wide range of horse rugs to choose from, from every major brand in the business.