For those that love horses
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Turnout RugsThe turnout rug is designed to keep the horse clean and dry when out in the field, and also warm during the winter. Turnout rugs have a waterproof synthetic outer material and are available in different thicknesses/weights of filling measured in grams that offer varying degrees of warmth to the horse. Lightweight summer turnout rugs may have no filling, whilst lightweight winter turnout rugs usually have up to 150 grams of filling, mediumweight turnout rugs 150 grams to 300 grams of filling and heavyweight turnout rugs rugs have more than 300 grams of filling. There are also under blankets and under rugs available to be used with turnout rugs to provide extra warmth. Under blankets and under rugs are often cheaper to buy than heavyweight turnout rugs and so it is usually more economical to buy a lightweight turnout rug for the milder winter months and an under blanket or under rug that can be placed underneath the turnout rug for the colder winter months than it is to buy a mediumweight turnout rug or heavyweight turnout rug in addition to a lightweight turnout rug. Turnout rugs are more lightweight than the traditional New Zealand rug and so less prone to rubbing on the shoulders, chest and withers of the horse. However, a turnout rug that is too tight round the neck and chest area will still be uncomfortable and rub the horse. To ensure that the turnout rug gives maximum protection against the weather any turnout rug should be sufficiently long that none of the horse's belly is visible when viewed from the side and the front of the turnout rug should have a good overlap. Some turnout rugs have pleats in the shoulders that allow for more freedom of movement for the horse. Standard neck turnout rugs have no neck cover, but may have rings or zips to attach a detachable neck cover so that a neck cover can be attached or removed as required. Combo turnout rugs have an integrated fixed neck cover. In the past, the synthetic material of turnout rugs has been more prone to tearing on small branches, barbed wire, etc than traditional New Zealand rugs but now many modern turnout rugs are made of "ripstop" material designed to be less prone to tearing. The strength of the outer material of turnout rugs is measured in denier and the higher the denier number of a turnout rug the stronger and less prone to ripping the outer material of the turnout rug, so a 1200D turnout rug would be less prone to ripping than a 600D turnout rug. Turnout rugs are usually held in place by cross surcingles that are passed from the front of one side of the turnout rug, under the belly of the horse and fastened towards the rear on the other side of the rug and another that is passed from the rear of the turnout rug, under the belly of the horse and fastened at the front on the other side of the rug. Most turnout rugs have hind leg straps and these are fastened by passing one strap between the hind legs of the horse and fastening it to the back on the same side of the turnout rug. The second strap is then passed between the hind legs of the horse, through the first strap, and fastened to the back of the same side of the rug. This way the leg straps of the turnout rug are linked between the hind legs of the horse. The leg straps should be adjusted to allow a hand's width to be placed comfortably between the back of the horse's leg and the strap. If the leg straps are too tight they can cause rubbing, and if too loose the horse may get its hooves caught in the straps when lying down. Some turnout rugs lack legs straps and instead have a fillet string attached to both sides of the turnout rug at the rear over which the tail is pulled through. However a fillet string does not help to prevent the turnout rug from slipping if the horse rolls in the way that hind legs straps do. Turnout rugs are breathable and so allow perspiration to evaporate and unlike New Zealand rugs, turnout rugs do not normally need to be reproofed in order to retain their waterproof qualities. Buy Horse Turnout Rugs Online |
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