We are all familiar with the two basic equestrian rugs: turnout rugs for our UK inclement weather, and stable rugs for the stable and barn. Goods news however that there are new uses for this versatile horse equipment and they are constantly being developed to make life easier for both horse and owner during every stage of equestrian activity.
Regular fly sheets are a mesh type of normal horse rugs and are used to turn the horse out in summer weather. It has a tail flap and surcingles which cross under the horse's belly. If the sheet has leg straps it doesn't need a fillet string under the tail. Fly sheets are lightweight horse rugs made of mesh to protect the horse's body from irritating, biting bugs and come in different designs. Another design has a mesh stomach flap. While this looks like a great idea, in my experience the flap actually traps the flies which then buzz around your horse's belly and make him really uncomfortable! This is not a good horse rug design. The smart version of the fly sheet, called a scrime sheet in the USA, is useful for horse shows. It usually has a tail cord but no surcingles. Once again, make sure the sheet is well secured by an elastic surcingle if you leave your horse and his horse rugs unattended.
Coolers or anti-sweat rugs.When your horse sweats during a workout the best way to bring his temperature down as you don't want him to catch a chill in cold weather. Horse blankets with wicking properties prevent this. These are known as cooler rugs or anti-sweat rugs, they're made of non-absorbent material which draws the sweat away from the horse's skin. The moisture evaporates more quickly, keeping the horse warm while drying him.
Fleece rugs are not only useful for drying the equine athlete after exercise, but also for travelling, showing and as an under horse rug in the stable. Because they are light and comfortable, they can be part of a two layer system which traps air for good thermal insulation, instead of one thick horse rug. Cotton coolers are suitable in warm weather when less insulation is required. They take longer to dry than fleece and therefore won't keep your horse as warm in those cold temperatures. If your horse is left unattended, make sure his horse rug has a fillet string under the tail to stop it from shifting or blowing over onto his back as this can be dangerous. For your horse's safety the horse rug should also be secured with surcingles under the belly, or an elastic one around the horse's girth.
There's always additional fly protection which you can purchase for your horse. A mesh fly hood can come with some fly sheets - with or without ear covers - is a useful piece of horse equipment for increased protection of the eyes against flying insects. This can be attached to a mesh neck cover, which in turn is connected to the fly sheets. Fly repellent boots are available in the USA, made of the same mesh as the fly sheets. They cover the leg from below the knee down to the hoof like travel boots: their Velcro fastenings and reinforced stays prevent them from slipping. These are useful to stop a horse from stamping his hooves up and down constantly against all the flies, a common reason for loss of shoes in the summer.
Gratefully, there are good products on the market for enabling us to continue working our horses even in awful weather. For drizzling days there's the three-quarter waterproof exercise sheet horse rug which covers the horse from his rear legs to the pommel of the saddle. It extends over the rider's legs to keep them dry during wet weather work. If you need to keep your tacked up horse dry between rides at shows, clinics, lessons, etc. on wet days, use a waterproof rain sheet kind of horse rug to cover the whole horse, including his neck, while he stands unmounted.
For really icy days, consider using three-quarter horse rug made of wool. This fits under the saddle, with loops on either side for the girth to pass through, and keeps the horse's back and kidneys warm. This is a great horse rug.
A lighter version of this is the three-quarter exercise sheet with a nylon outer shell and lined with cotton. It's ideal for riding clipped horses in cool weather. There is an innovative fleece type of horse rug in the U.K. designed especially for horses being trained on horse walkers. The rug has thermal and wicking properties to keep the horse warm and dry. It is closed round the horse's girth, which keeps it in place, and has cut-away shoulders to prevent rubbing and ensure freedom of movement.
A lightweight rug made of breathable and easily washable material will typically be used to transport a horse when away from the stable. Depending on the weather this can be a summer sheet, fleece rug or cooler rugs. Make sure it's properly secured and won't come off en route. Many horse owners like to modify their horse rugs, for example with monograms or the horse's name.
However well your blanket may fit your horse, it can still rub the hair off his shoulders, which is a problem with most rugs. Use a Lycra shoulder guard or stretch vest to avoid this. Some equestrian rugs come without leg straps or fillet strings. It's a good idea to have extra straps and strings for securing such horse rugs safely, and to replace broken ones. Blankets with no attachments for leg straps or surcingles can be a problem but you can now buy clip-on ties which are available in the U.K. They're easy to put on and can also be used to replace broken straps.
A horse rug chest expander is great piece of horse riding equipment which allows you to use an existing horse rug that's too short and too small instead of having to buy a brand new one. These rugs are invaluable items of horse riding equipment with multiple uses for keeping our equine partners comfortable. Lookout for new types of horse rugs as they come onto the market: they're improving life for the horse and the rider all the time
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