Saturday, May 17, 2014

Shopping For Good Value Horse Rugs

By Essie Osborn


Owning horses is a wonderful privilege. Many people save for years to realize their dream of ownership. Most horses are boarded at large barns where they receive excellent care. This involves being fed at regular intervals, having their stalls cleaned daily and being turned out in the field to get some exercise. When horses are turned out in the winter time they often need one or more blankets to keep them warm and dry.

Busy owners may not have as much time as they would like to spend with their animals. Often they have to stop at the barn on the way home to fit in a quick ride. They need to save as much time as possible and having their mount clean and ready to go is essential. Horse rugs really save a tremendous amount of time. Horses love to roll in the mud and although they enjoy this activity it typically leaves them caked in mud.

Most owners will purchase at least one or two rugs for each of their horses. There are many different types to choose from. During the summer it is handy to have a couple of light cotton summer sheets. These are usually in a traditional plaid design, with red or navy blue being the most popular colors. They are designed to keep the animals clean and dust free. They also help to prevent flies bothering the horses when they are turned out in the field.

When horses are being used in competition they need to be spotlessly clean. Most riders like to bath their horses the day before a show. They will then need a light sheet to prevent them getting dirty again. Horses instinct tells them to roll in the dirt when they are wet. This helps to get them dry and it also feels good. However, it is a disaster for a show horse to roll when they are still damp as all the dirt and dust will stick to their coat.

Horses that live out side all the time will also need at least one winter rug. This should be a high quality one that is both wind and water proof. There is a significant difference between water resistant and water proof. A water resistant rug is really just suitable for showers and cannot be expected to hold up to twenty four hour wear.

The new line of equine clothing also has the crossed surcingle feature. This is a set of stitched in belly straps that cross and are held secure by snaps. In conjunction with detachable leg straps they help to keep the rug in place whilst eliminating pressure on the horses back. This has prevented many of the back problems caused by pressure points and also the rubbing caused by a badly fitting rug.

The new line of turn out blankets are available in either shower or water proof. The shower proof are for horses that are only turned out for a few hours each day and can be brought in if the weather gets bad. However, an animal that lives out all the time will need a much higher degree of weather protection.

A good quality rug will protect the animal in even the worst weather. They also come with detachable hoods that cover the entire neck and really help to keep a horse in show condition throughout the winter. Many riders still like to compete in the winter indoor circuit and need their animals to look good.




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