Part 2 of our 3 part series on Horse Rugs
A Step by step guide for all horse owners
At some point you will need, or want, to put a rug on a horse.
Maybe you’re going to a show and want to keep him, or her, clean.
Perhaps the weather is bad, and your horse is feeling the cold. Whatever the reason, it’s essential that you know how to put a rug on a horse correctly.
However, it can be a tricky process if you’ve never done it before. In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of correctly putting a rug on your horse.
We will also answer some of the questions you may have about the process.
Why Is Proper Rug Placement Important?
If you’re going to put a rug on your horse, it’s important to do it correctly. That means ensuring the rug fits the horse correctly; we explain how to do that in this article.
When the rug fits properly, it…
Protects them from harsh weather conditions
Reduces the chances of pressure points and rubbing,
Allows freedom of movement.
Preparing The Horse Rug
Before you start, check the rug to make sure it’s clean, in good condition, and appropriate for the weather conditions. Here’s how to prepare the horse rug:
Check For Damage
Inspect the rug for any tears, loose straps, or broken buckles. Repair or replace any damaged parts to ensure the rug functions properly.
Clean The Rug
If the rug is dirty, give it a thorough clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A clean rug will help maintain your horse’s coat health and prevent skin irritation.
Step-By-Step Guide on How To Put On A Horse Rug
Experienced horse owners have their own ways of putting on a horse rug but the basics are the same.
Positioning
Approach with the rug on the left, or near, side of the horse. If the horse is skittish or nervous, put a halter on it and tie it up before proceeding further.
A horse that doesn’t want to stand still to have a rug put on, or is nervous and on edge, could take off mid-way through the process with disastrous consequences – for the rug, itself, or both.
Fold The Rug
Although this step isn’t essential, it does make it easier to put the rug on. It’s also a good option with nervous horses as it makes for a neater, tidier, less intimidating process than simply throwing the rug on as is.
So – fold the rug in half lengthwise by bringing the tail end of the rug back over the front end, with the inner lining facing outwards.
Lastly, if it’s a ‘combo’ (rug and neck rug combined), fold the neck section back over the top of the rest of the rug. You should now have a nice, neat rug folded in half, or thirds if a combo
Make sure the leg straps are done up so the clips don’t hit the horse as you put the rug on.
Drape Over the Horse
Place the folded rug gently on the horses’ back with the front of the rug facing the front of the horse. It should be placed so that when you unfold it, the rug is sitting in the correct position on the horse.
That means making sure the neck and chest buckles are roughly in the right position.
This saves you having to drag the rug into position to do it up, and potentially annoy the horse.
Unfold the rug by pulling the neck section (if a combo) up into position over the neck. Then unfold the back section and pull that into place over the hindquarters.
If you’re a bit confused, all will become clear once you’ve done it a few times!
Now we come to the important part – doing the rug up. It’s vitally important you get into the habit of doing this correctly for reasons we’ll explain as we go along.
ALWAYS Do Up The Leg Straps On A Rug FIRST
Never start at the front end when doing up a rug, UNLESS the horse is tied up or in a confined space… Why? Because if it decides to take off and you’ve only done up the chest straps, there’s an excellent chance the rug will slide off sideways and get tangled up in the horse’s front legs.
At best, only your rug will suffer.
At worst, the horse will panic even more and then you could be in all sorts of strife with potentially disastrous consequences for the horse…
However, if you start at the back and do up the leg straps first, should the horse take off at that point, the rug will usually slide off backwards straight over the hindquarters and he or she will step out of, or kick away, the leg straps.
They make kick a bit in the process but 99.99% of the time, the rug comes off safely, and often none the worse for wear.
If your horse has a habit of taking off when you’re trying to put a rug on, get into the habit of putting a halter and lead rope on it first. Then either tie it up, or keep hold of the rope whilst you’re putting the rug on.
The Correct Way To Do Up Leg Straps On A Rug
1. Leg straps on a rug are always fastened on the SAME side as they start i.e. the left one is done up on the left side, the right one on the right side. In other words, don’t CROSS them!
2. Always LOOP the straps through each other as they pass between the horse’s back legs. This helps keep the rug in place.
3. Never leave the leg straps unlooped. If the rug slips sideways, the straps can end up wedged in the horse’s groin and chafe them.
4. Always attach the clips on the ends of the leg straps so that the tongue is facing TOWARDS THE HORSE. This reduces the risk of the clips pulling open and catching on something if the horse scratches its bum on say, like a wire fence.
So remember – always LOOP, never CROSS, and always do the clips up so the opening is against the horse, not facing outwards where it can get caught on fences.
Then Do Up The Chest Straps
Once the leg straps are safely done up, move to the front and do up the chest buckles.
Secure the front closure, which could be in the form of buckles, clips, or Velcro. Ensure it is snug but not too tight, allowing the horse to move comfortably.
Again, if it’s clips, make sure the tongues are against the horse not facing outwards where they could get caught on something.
Adjust The Surcingles Or Belly Straps
Most rugs today have cross over belly straps. They help keep the rug in place and also stop it flapping around in windy conditions.
Standing on the left side of the horse, reach underneath and grab the back strap. It is angled so it does up to the front fastening on the side you’re standing.
Then repeat the same process with the one at the front (which does up to the back fastening on the side you’re standing). Or do it the other way round –front first then rear; it matters not!
These straps should be as close to the horse’s stomach as possible without being overly tight. The aim is to prevent a leg getting caught when they lie down or stand up.
Do Up The Neck Section
If the rug is a combo, lastly do up the neck straps. Why last? Again – it’s to with safety. Undone belly straps flap around if the horse takes off, and can get caught on things.
You could also do up the belly straps before doing up the chest straps but it does make it that bit harder to adjust the rug on the horse if you need to when doing up the chest straps.
So for that reason, most horse owners follow this order…
1. Leg straps
2. Chest straps
3. Belly straps
4. Neck straps
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Put A Rug On A Horse
Have questions about how to rug a horse correctly?
Should I remove the rug daily?
It depends on your reason for rugging. If your horse is clipped, you need to keep its coat in show condition, or it doesn’t like biting insects, then you probably will opt to leave some type of rug on 24/7.
Even so, it should always be appropriate for the weather conditions (fly sheet or light unlined rug in summer, lightweight fill on warmish sunny winter days and over spring and autumn, heavier fill at night or on cold days).
Apart from this, most horses in Australia don’t need to have rugs left on 24/7, even in mid-winter.
As a general rule of thumb, if you aren’t able to take your horse’s rug off or swap it for a lighter one on fine sunny days it’s best not to rug at all. Horses can run around to keep warm.
They can’t however cool themselves down if they get hot underneath a rug.
How often should I check the rug fit?
Horses that wear rugs 24/7 should be regularly checked to make sure they’re not hot underneath the rug and that it hasn’t shifted or slipped.
Key Takeaways About How to Put A Rug On A Horse
Rugs are a very handy, and sometimes necessary, piece of equipment for horses. Therefore, knowing how to put one on correctly can prevent accidents and avoid making your horse uncomfortable.
