Horse Rugs Are Excellent Protection Against Extreme Weather

By Katrina Wheeler


During extreme weather conditions, the safety of your animal should be a top priority. Horse rugs provide additional protection during those times. Many times horses require supplementary support for warming up, cooling down, staying warm and dry. These covers allow freedom of movement while protecting them from harsh, inclement weather.

Coverlets come in many different weights, colors and sizes. Most cloaks have clips and straps for added security. There are attachments from under the belly, between and around the back legs and around the chest. Using sheets, which are light weight, are perfect for the summer months and are effective in protecting your equestrian friend from insects. Heavier blankets are used during the brutal winter months to provide additional protection from rain, sleet and snow.

In order to keep your equestrian friend warm on harsh winter days, use a thick and heavy weighted fleece blanket. Many blankets have the added benefit of being water resistant or water proof. If you need even more protection, you may choose to add a neck cover.

Fabric choices will affect the weight of the cover. There are water proof, anti-sweat, cooling, fly and turnout blankets. Each type serves a different purpose and their weights will vary based on that purpose.

Stable cloaks can be provided to keep your equestrian friend warm when he is in his stall. Turnout coverings are best used when your animal is out in the pasture on a sunny winter day. Fly sheets are used to protect your animal from being bothered by flies during the summer months. Cooling rugs can be used to cool your animal's core temperature after a vigorous workout. There are many different types of coverlets to choose from depending on the need of your horse.

It is imperative that your horse be dry before blanketing. Placing a blanket on a damp animal can cause him to become ill. If he is damp, use an anti-sweat sheet to absorb moisture before placing a turnout or stable blanket on him. Make sure you remove the anti-sweat sheet first, otherwise the exterior blanket would hold the cold, damp sheet against him which could cause severe problems.

As the weather changes and the temperatures begin to drop, allow your animal to adjust to the temperature changes naturally. This will allow him to grow a winter coat. His winter coat will provide him with a great deal of protection. Make certain that you only blanket your animals when it is necessary. Blanketing early in the season means less natural protection for you animal.

During extreme weather, you will need the correct equestrian provisions. The safety of your hoofed friends takes precedence. Horse rugs provide exceptional protection from the harshest of environments. They provide warmth in the winter, cool in the summer, protection from irritating insects, fleece for additional comfort and warmth and water-proofing for rain and snow. No matter what season, there is a perfect rug and the horses will look so cute wearing them too.




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