Rugs

Question 1

What is the standard sizing of rugs?

Answer 1

They vary from 3’9” to 7”, with the range in between increasing by 3” at a time.

Question 2

How should you measure the length of rug required?

Answer 2

Measure from the centre of the horse’s chest around to the point of the hindquarters where the rug should finish.

Question 3

How do you check the fit of a rug once fastened?

Answer 3

Run a hand under the rug from the withers round the horse’s shoulders to the front buckles. Any tightness around this area, especially point of shoulder, will cause rubbing, bare patches and possibly sores. If it is too loose around the shoulders it will slip back or fall off.

Question 4

What are the five main types of rugs?

Answer 4

• New Zealand
• Stable
• Anti-sweat
• Summer Sheet
• Duvet

Question 5

What is a new zealand rug used for?

Answer 5

Horse’s out at grass, especially those clipped in the winter. You can get different weights: heavy, medium or light, for wet, windy weather.

Question 6

What is a stable/poly rug?

Answer 6

• It can be heavy or light weight, to keep the stabled horse warm.
• You can double up with these in very cold conditions.

Question 7

What is an anti-sweat rug?

Answer 7

• A rug that wicks away moisture to help dry and keep a horse warm.
• It can be worn after exercise if the horse is damp or sweaty, especially for a clipped horse in winter so you don’t make the poly rug wet.
• It can also be used after bathing or wet weather to help them dry, so the horse does not get a chill.

Question 8

What are summer sheets?

Answer 8

Used for warmth on cooler days or to keep your horse clean whilst it’s stabled.

Question 9

What is a duvet used for?

Answer 9

Extra warmth in the winter. They are put on before the poly rug and turned back over the stable rug. It may need to be secured with a roller or surcingle.

Question 10

What fastenings do rugs usually have and how are the correctly done up?

Answer 10

• All have front fastenings and most rugs have a fillet string at the back, that fit under the tail.
• Most have surcingle straps which cross under the belly, and do up from front to back and back to front.
• Mainly on NZ’s but sometimes on poly rugs they have leg straps. They are done up on the same side when they are going around the leg, and one strap goes through the other to stop the rug slipping.

Question 11

What is a surcingle?

Answer 11

An elastic strap used to secure a rug/blanket.

Question 12

What is an anti-cast roller?

Answer 12

A roller with a loop over the top, to stop the horse becoming cast.

Question 13

Why might a horse try to remove a rug?

Answer 13

If it is not comfortable, or too hot, they can try and remove the rug by biting and tearing it. Some horses can remove their rugs depending on the design.

Question 14

How should stable rugs be cared for?

Answer 14

• They should be washed when the lining is dirty, which may be once a week or month.
• You can was poly rugs either at home or in the laundrette, although not all permit washing of rugs.

Question 15

How should NZ rugs be washed?

Answer 15

• You can brush the outside with a dandy brush and wash the lining by hand with soap and water, then hang it to dry.
• Or you can send it to a tack shop where they take rugs in for cleaning, repair and waterproofing.
• You can waterproof them yourself with spray-on water proofer, but they need cleaning first.

Question 16

When is the best time to clean rugs?

Answer 16

In the spring/summer when they aren’t in use.

Question 17

How should rugs be stored?

Answer 17

In a warm, dry area, and it’s better if they are cleaned and repaired first to save time later in the year. If you put damp or dirty rugs away, any dirt may harden or go mouldy. They should also be stored in a rodent-free area.