Rugging
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Although it is fashionable to rug horses, many horses are in fact better off in Winter without a rug on at all. People often rug horses to make them feel better, rather than really considering how the horse feels and whether it likes being chafed around the chest, neck and withers, rubbed by straps between the legs and hampered in its ability to move about. Ponies especially, grow very thick coats and a rug really won't make that much difference to their warmth, unless there is an excessively cold wind and they have no shelter, or it is excessively cold and raining. In large paddocks with plenty of shelter (trees and gullies) horses will usually find the most sheltered and warmest spot. Horses in large paddocks always move about in the coldest times (the middle of the night) and sun themselves in the warmer times (they often lie down about mid-morning).

Rugs get very hot in sunny weather, especially if there are several layers. A horse with a padded bib, body rug and neck rug will have three layers over the shoulders and will sweat there very easily. Rugs can also be very heavy and may put a large amount of pressure on the withers. Many injuries are caused to horses by rugs, either because the rug slips, or gets caught on fences or branches, or because the horse rolls (usually a sign that it is too hot). Eye injuries can be caused by hoods, and rugs left on too long can cause fistulated withers. Horses that are over-rugged may drown if left in a paddock with a dam. (Horse Rescue Australia is called regularly to asset in removing horses from dams which have gone swimming with their rugs on.)

There are two main reasons to rug paddock horses. Firstly, to keep them dry because a wet horse will lose a lot more energy in cold weather than a dry horse. Secondly, rug large horses to maintain weight. As a guide to rugging requirements in the Canberra region, horses generally need to be rugged if they are:

bulletkept in a confined space (stable, yard or small paddock)
bulleta Thoroughbred or Warmblood
bulletvery old, sick or injured
bullettrace or fully clipped
bulletin full competition
bulletmoved from a warmer part of Australia to Canberra during winter.

Do not rug a horse unless your are able to check it every day.

HINTS WHEN BUYING A HORSE RUG

bulletUnless your horse is very clean, put an old sheet on first when you try on a new rug. Even though you may have bought the same size as last time, or have though that you measured very carefully, brands may, vary in shape, particularly around the neck, and even though the length may be correct, the rug may not fit as well as another brand. In addition, the shape of your horse may change according to how much work it has had recently. A fatter horse may need a bigger rug even though it won't have altered in length. The sheet will keep the rug clean in case you have to exchange it for a different size.
bulletFlax and canvas rugs usually shrink up to 100mm (4"), so allow this much extra when you measure for a new rug.
bulletMost flax and canvas rugs are not waterproof to begin with, but need to be wet for the fibres to swell and seal. Before you use the rug for the first time hose it down thoroughly so that it becomes waterproof.
bulletRugs with cross-over belly straps, as well as leg straps, usually slip less than rugs without belly straps. A simple paddock rug without belly straps will stay on better and will be much warmer if a broad elastic surcingle is used as well.
bulletUnless the rug is satin lined, always use a silky bib to stop the rug rubbing on the point of the shoulder and across the chest. Of additional help is a flap of old sheepskin, cut with slots so that the chest strap can be threaded through.

Rug Measurements in Relation to Horse Heights.

Length of Rug Height of Horse
Feet/inches Centimeters (h h)
4' 0" 122 under 9.0
4' 3" 130 9.0 - 10.2
4'6" 137 10.2-12.0
4'9" 145 12.0-12.2
5'0" 152 12.2-13.2
5'3" 160 13.2-14.0
5'6" 168 14.0-14.2
5'9" 175 14.2-15.0
6'0" 183 15.0-15.2
6' 3" 190 15.2 - 16.0
6' 6" 198 16.0 - 16.2
6' 9" 205 16.2 - 17.0

 

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