Until they were domesticated and shipped around the world to areas that they were poorly adapted to, horses were very hardy creatures. The changing weather of the seasons was not a problem--they simply grew big coats and became more and more able to tolerate the cold over generations. But people moved horses adapted to heat into areas with snow, and started clipping their winter coats so they wouldn't overheat when worked. Modern horses need help staying warm, and stable rugs are one of the options.
Horses that live outside during the entire year and are not clipped don't need blankets unless they are a breed that is adapted to hot climates. If you put a blanket on a horse with a winter coat that has access to room to move, the horse might work up sweat and then risk getting a chill. Horses that are confined to stalls, however, often get cold even with a full coat, so consider using a blanket on them.
Various weights of horse blankets are available for different weather conditions. Lightweight blankets can be used on horses with full coats, or during the cool spring and fall nights. Medium-weight blankets are appropriate for the shifting weather of late fall and early spring, and heavyweight blankets can help a horse stay comfortable even during a blizzard.
Stable rugs are blankets intended for horses to wear while in a stall. These should be chosen according to the weather the horse will encounter, but the heaviest should be heavier than the same horse's thickest pasture blanket. This is because standing in a stall doesn't allow the same opportunities to move around and warm up as a pasture does. You can layer thinner blankets under thicker ones to achieve the desired effect, and a liner can be used under very thick blankets to keep them from rubbing.
This kind of blanket is not made to be worn by horses that live outdoors. They are generally not waterproof or even water-resistant, because horses living in stalls don't encounter precipitation. If your horse spends time outside, use a covering made to handle rain, sleet and snow.
Blankets are all about keeping your horse comfortable, and this can be compromised if you use the blanket incorrectly. Make sure that all the snaps and fastenings on the blanket are fastened, because they are made to be warmest and safest when all the fittings are utilized. Try to make sure that blankets are dry before putting them on a horse, and always make sure that horses are dry before blanketing them.
Horse blankets are made to fit sizes of horses, but the different breeds are also shaped differently even when of the same general size. Some of the horses that are most prone to needing blankets, such as Arabians, have thin shoulders and high necks that make fitting them difficult. Purchasing a specially-made high-necked blanket can help alleviate this problem.
Make sure that your stable rugs are dry by laying them out on a rug holder or similar perforated surface for a while before folding them. Once they are dry, blankets of all kinds can be folded and stored. Most heavy blankets will be stored during the summer, until the following winter.
Learn about the benefits and advantages of choosing the best stable rugs for your horses today! When you are searching for a wide selection of turnout rugs that will meet all your needs and requirements, you can find them fast and easy!
