Light- & Heavyweight Turnout Rugs

When does a horse need a lightweight turnout rug?

A lightweight turnout rug protects the horse from rain. To do this, the rug must be both waterproof and windproof. Lightweight turnout rugs are also available without any filling for the transitional period or rainy summers. However, if the temperature drops or the horse feels particularly cold, it is possible to switch to a lightweight turnout rug with a light filling of 50g or more.
When exactly a horse needs a lightweight turnout rug depends on a number of factors. The individual decision requires a lot of sensitivity, observation and experience. The factors can be, among others:

• How the horse is kept - for example, the horse has no shelter
• Weather conditions
• The horse's health status
• The horse has a sensitive back
• The horse's individual sensitivity to cold
• The horse has little opportunity to move around in order to keep warm
• Age
• Coat condition
• Breed

Not every horse needs a rug when it rains. If the horse has developed enough coat, is healthy and has a strong immune system, a lightweight turnout rug is not necessary in most cases. However, it is a prerequisite that the horse has the possibility to go to a shelter.
A lightweight turnout rug can be a useful thing for old, sick horses or horses with little coat. Lightweight turnout rugs with or without filling are mainly used in the transitional period from autumn to winter, when horses should not develop a thick winter coat. During this time, a lot of sensitivity is needed when it comes to temperatures. If the sun is still shining during the day, it can quickly become too warm even under an unfilled lightweight turn out rug, which makes the horse sweat and weakens its immune system. It is better to take the rug off during the day and only put it on at night when it is raining and windy.
Especially for old horses, rugging is a sensible thing to do even in the summer months when it is pouring rain or there is a strong wind. If the weather changes to cold and wet, the lightweight turnout rug without filling can be replaced by a filled turnout rug.
Keep in mind that lightweight and heavyweight turnout rugs affect the horse's thermoregulation. Healthy horses usually do not need a rug, as long as health, way of keeping and feeding are right. Old, sick horses, horses that are not supposed to develop a plush winter coat or horses that are kept in an open yard with little shelter - for these, a lightweight turnout rug can be useful in bad weather.
Ultimately, however, no clear statement can be made as to when a lightweight turnout rug must be put on the horse. Our overview table, which you can find in our horse rug guide, can help you decide.

What makes a good lightweight turnout rug for horses?

The purpose of a lightweight turnout rug is to provide the horse with body-hugging rain and wind protection. A special coating makes lightweight turnout rugs for horses windproof and waterproof. At the same time, moisture must not be allowed to collect under the rug if the horse sweats under it, for example. Soft fleece lining avoids the plastic bag effect, which means that the lightweight turnout rug not only absorbs moisture from the horse via the fleece lining, but also transports it to the outside. A good lightweight turnout rug is therefore also characterised by breathability. But beware: a lightweight turnout rug is only breathable up to a maximum temperature limit of 25 degrees Celsius. Beyond that, a sauna effect occurs, which is not beneficial for the horse's health. In addition, the fleece on the inside prevents the horse's hair from breaking or chafing.
Ideally, lightweight turnout rugs should have a tail flap and a raised withers area (so-called highneck rugs) so that no water can run under the rug.
In most cases, the horse wears the lightweight turnout rug for several hours or even around the clock. A generous gusset in the shoulder area allows a lot of freedom of movement and prevents the rug from slipping when the horse is moving. The fit is very important, otherwise wrinkles, pressing and pulling are a nuisance and the horse cannot be guaranteed sufficient comfort and protection from wind and weather. Since every horse has an individual build, length of body and width of shoulder play an important aspect in the fit of the lightweight turnout rug, we have types of rugs in our range that differ in their cut shapes. Our lightweight turnout rugs from THERMO MASTER and Felix Bühler are characterised by different cuts, with or without gusset, double or triple cross surcingle, V-front closure or T-hook front closure. This means that there is a suitable lightweight turnout rug for almost every type of horse.

When does my horse need a heavyweight turnout rug?

In contrast to a lightweight turnout rug without filling or a lightweight turnout rug with 50g, you will find heavyweight turnout rugs with a filling of 100g or more. Filling densities below this are considered to be transitional rugs, which can be put on the horse in autumn or when it is still cool in spring. As with lightweight turnout rugs, the answer to the question as to when a horse needs a heavyweight turnout rug is very complex. This is because a multitude of factors, such as how is the horse kept, age, state of health and coat condition, also play a role in the decision. Horses that are clipped should wear a rug from the time they are clipped.
If the horse does not develop a dense winter coat in winter, for example because it is mainly kept in the stable, the horse should be rugged with a heavyweight turnout rug in the paddock. Remember that a horse's comfort temperature is between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius. A filled heavyweight turnout rug should therefore be viewed critically when the outside temperature is above 10 degrees, as this can cause the horse to sweat and weaken its immune system. But here, too, the following applies: Each horse must be considered individually.

What filling should a heavyweight turnout rug have?

The filling of a heavyweight turn out rug for horses is given in g/m². Heavyweight turnout rugs with 200g filling are considered the norm and are optimal for many horses. However, if the horse is fully clipped, a 400g heavyweight turnout rug is better. Some horse owners rug the clipped horse with a wicking rug and a heavyweight turnout rug on top. Other horses with thick coats need a lighter heavyweight turnout rug, for example a 100g filling would be sufficient.

As with all decisions concerning horses, each animal must be assessed individually. The horse should neither sweat nor freeze under the heavyweight turnout rug. In addition to the appropriate filling, the fit of the rug is also important. The heavyweight turnout rug must cover the horse completely, but must not be too tight, otherwise the rug will stretch, cause chafing and press on the neck when eating. A generous belly cover is also advantageous for heavyweight turnout rugs.

Which heavyweight turnout rug does a clipped horse need?

A horse can be clipped for various reasons. For example, it develops too much or dense coat, which can even become matted. Other horses are also in training in winter, which would otherwise cause them to sweat into the dense coat and take a very long time to dry. No matter for what reason a horse is clipped in winter, it is imperative that a clipped horse is rugged! The size of the clipping pattern does not matter. At low temperatures below 5 degrees, a heavyweight turnout rug with a 400g filling is ideal for a clipped horse.
The heavyweight turnout rug should cover the horse completely. A long tail flap and a neck piece is well suited for this. The inner lining should be soft fleece so that there are no chafing marks on the clipped skin.
The filling should be adapted to the outside temperatures. In our online shop you can choose between different types of horse rugs:

• Lightweight turnout rugs - without filling
• Lightweight turnout rugs with 50g filling
• Heavyweight turnout rugs with 100g filling
• Heavyweight turnout rugs with 200g filling
• Heavyweight turnout rugs with 300-400g filling
• Rug-combi-systems

You can read about what you need to consider when clipping a horse in our clipping guide. Here we also present different clipping patterns and explain which pattern is suitable for which horse.