Temperature Guide to Rugging a Horse
Kim Horton

What rug to put on is a daily debate at our yard. Is it at yours?
It’s especially tricky with changeable temperatures and conditions. Combined with which rugging is very different for every horse as it depends on breed, weight, climate, his work load, and even their coats themselves. Horses that are used to the colder weather and have spent most of their time outside, tend to cope better with cooler temperatures than horses that are stabled all the time. It also depends on the actual weather, for example - is it just cold or is it cold and raining or even snowing?
Do you need a stable rug to keep him snug and comfortable or a new turnout rug to keep your horse warm and dry out in the field?
Don't forget at EQUUS we offer free UK delivery. Also we offer our EQUUS Rosette Rewards Loyalty Programme where you can earn points on every order and you can use these points for money off your future orders!
So when deciding which horse rug to reach for, here’s our handy little chart to assist you.
Temperature |
Stabled/Clipped |
Stabled/Unclipped |
Turned out/Unclipped |
Turned out/Clipped |
15 degrees and warmer |
Nothing |
Nothing |
Nothing |
|
10 to 15 degrees |
Nothing or Stable Sheet |
Nothing |
Nothing, Zero fill or Lightweight Turnout Rug if wet & windy |
|
5 to 10 degrees |
Nothing or Lightweight Turnout Rug |
|||
Zero to 4 degrees |
Nothing or Lightweight or Medium Weight Turnout Rug |
|||
-10 to zero degrees |
Medium Weight Turnout Rug with Neck Cover or Heavyweight Turnout Rug |
|||
-10 degrees or colder |
Heavyweight Stable Rug with Neck Cover plus Liner Rugs underneath |
Heavyweight Turnout Rug with liner and/or under blanket and hood |
Know what horse rug you need? Shop our rugs by weight...
And remember - you get free UK delivery on ALL orders at over £30.
We also have a large selection of rug accessories so you can get everything you need with us at EQUUS.
Shop zero-fill turnout rugs or Stable Fleeces Coolers and Sheets (0g)
Shop lightweight turnout rugs or lightweight stable rugs (50-150g)
Shop mediumweight turnout rugs or mediumweight stable rugs (151g-250g)
Shop heavyweight turnout rugs or heavyweight stable rugs (Over 250g)
Need some tips on how to measure your horse for a rug?
Read my quick guide on how to measure your horse for a rug to make sure you get the correct size before you buy, or shop our Turnout Rugs Collection by clicking the link below.