Confused about when to rug a horse? We’re going to be debunking myths about horse rugs because there is a ton of confusion and misconceptions! When it comes to rugging horses, there are a ton of confusing myths and misconceptions floating around. Unfortunately, some of them can lead to potentially harmful practices, like over rugging. That’s why we’re going to be debunking horse rug myths, or some of the better-known ones at least, in this article! Most experienced horse owners have their own valid reasons for why and how they rug, or don’t rug, their horse. Even so, myths about horse rugging abound, especially with less experienced horse owners. What are some of these myths about horse rugs, and do you subscribe to any of them? Read on to find out… Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #1 – Horses Don’t Need Rugs Because They Already Have A Warm, Waterproof Coat Whilst it’s true that horses have a naturally insulating coat along with a few other remarkable thermoregulation abilities, this doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate the additional protection a rug provides when weather conditions are bad enough. In fact, research suggests they do. Most horses can withstand a fair amount of rain and sleet so long as their thick insulating undercoat stays dry. In fact – ‘dry’ is the operative word when it comes to your horse’s thermal comfort. Dry horses can withstand both wind and wide variations in temperature. Wet horses, however, soaked to the skin plus wind = a very cold horse. So how do wild horses, or horses living naturally in large paddocks, cope without rug? For a start, these horses generally live in mobs or small groups, and will huddle together to conserve and share body warmth. They’ll also seek out protected locations during bad weather. Horses confined to small paddocks or living on their own often can’t do either of these things. They either have minimal shelter from wind and rain, or they instinctively prefer to avoid the type of shelter that is available (because it ‘hides predators’, attracts lightening, is uncomfortably noisy when it rains etc). An insulating waterproof horse rug in these instances can help protect them from rain, wind, and extreme temperatures. Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #2 – Horses Can Shiver To Warm Up So Don’t Need To Be Rugged Although shivering is a natural mechanism designed to help warm the body up, it’s also a sign the shivering animal / person is COLD and would benefit from the warmth and protection afforded by some type of thermal covering. For horses, that’s either shelter from rain and wind, or a horse rug with thermal lining. Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #3 – Just Because We’re Cold, Our Horse Must Be Too A horse’s thermoneutral zone is 5 – 25oC. In contrast, a naked human’s is 27oC ± a tiny 2o variance, and 22–24°C clothed. In other words, when we’re starting to feel cold, horses feel very comfortable indeed. Conversely, what’s comfortably warm for us is starting to get UNCOMFORTABLY warm for a horse! Thermoregulation is the ability to keep one’s core body temperature within a normal functional range even when surrounding AMBIENT (feels like) temperatures are much colder, or warmer. A thermoneutral zone is the ambient temperature range in which a body can maintain this core body temperature without expending any energy i.e. without shivering, moving, sweating etc. Most horses can comfortably keep their core body temperature where it needs to be so long as the surrounding ambient temperature remains within their thermoneutral zone. When ambient temperatures fall outside these limits, they will start shivering/running around to warm up, or sweating to cool down. This is when it’s a good time to either put a rug on or take it off. Note: old, ill, or thin horses often have a narrower thermoneutral zone because they lack insulating body fat or have impaired metabolism, both of which are required to help with thermoregulation. These horses invariably require compensatory rugging routines tailored to meet their specific requirements. Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #4 – Horses Don’t Overheat In Breathable Rugs Horses will overheat in ANY rug, breathable or not, if they’re over rugged for the prevailing ambient temperature. Rugs are great when they’re serving the right purpose, which is keeping the horse dry and comfortable. They’re not so great when they’re overheating the horse, as this can cause heat stress. When this happens, the body starts to cook in its own juices. Remember: it’s far easier for a horse to warm up when cold than cool down when hot, ESPECIALLY if it has a rug on. Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #5 – Light Coloured Fly Sheets And Similar Rugs Help Keep Horses Cool There’s a common perception that flysheets, particularly light coloured ones, help reflect heat and keep horses cool. Unfortunately, research suggests otherwise! This Australian research for example looked at whether or not wearing a light coloured cotton rug is an adequate substitute for shade once temperatures reached 25oC. The researchers found that whilst wearing a light cotton rug increased the test horses’ comfort with respect to flies and biting insects, it increased their internal temperature, which led to increased sweating, discomfort, risk of thermal stress and electrolyte loss. If your horse needs a summer rug for fly protection, consider getting one with netting panels specifically designed to allow maximum airflow and maximum insect protection. Debunking Myths about Horse Rugs #6 – Waterproof Horse Rugs Stay 100% Waterproof Forever No horse rug remains 100% waterproof indefinitely, not even top of range products, but proper care and maintenance can prolong the effectiveness of the waterproof layer. Horse rugs are subject to some pretty tough challenges during their life, and the waterproofing becomes less effective over time due to wear, tear, and exposure to elements. Canvas rug manufacturers recommend regular reproofing to maintain the waterproofing effect. However, synthetic rugs have an underlying waterproof membrane and once this breaks down, the rug usually needs
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