Horse Rug Accessories

How can you repair the horse rug yourself?

Repairing a horse rug can be very easy. Even multi-layered turnout rugs can be fixed quickly and easily with a rug repair kit. However, if there are large tears, the hole is pulling threads or a small nylon patch is not enough, the rug must be sewn. If you have talent and the necessary equipment, you can sew a turnout rug back together with a sewing machine. The needle for this should be strong and thick enough to get through several layers of denier fabric. A nylon thread should also be chosen. After the repair, the area must be waterproofed to restore functionality and prevent the horse from getting wet during the next rain shower.
Other points to consider when repairing horse rugs:

• Clean the rug beforehand
• Lay it out smoothly on a flat surface such as the floor or a table.
• Place the patch under the tear so that it is not visible from the outside.
• The patch should be at least as large as the tear, or better still have 5 cm overlap.
• There should be no creases when sewing or gluing.

How can small tears & holes in the horse rug be easily repaired?

Small tears and holes in a horse rug can be easily repaired with a rug repair kit. This usually consists of self-adhesive patches and a tube of glue, as well as a spatula and various sized pieces of fabric that can be placed under the tear and glued.
When repairing small tears in turnout rugs, it is important that the replacement fabric is placed under the tear and not glued on top of it, otherwise the glued seam cannot be made cleanly. Afterwards, another layer of glue is poured over the edges so that the glued area is completely sealed. Ordinary glue is not recommended here, as glue for turnout rugs is not only particularly strong, but also waterproof. It is then left to dry overnight.
Alternatively, you can use self-adhesive nylon patches, which are used in the outdoor sector for tents or rucksacks.
Smaller tears in fleece cooling rugs can be sewn together yourself. Larger holes should be patched with an elastic piece of fabric, ideally also fleece.

What can I use to impregnate the horse rug?

When buying a turnout rug, it is not necessary to impregnate it at the beginning. Only in the course of time and through rain, dust and dirt can the horse rug lose its impregnation. Then it is necessary to intervene so that it retains its protective function. There are different ways of impregnating. There are impregnation sprays that are sprayed directly onto the dry but clean rug. Horse rugs can also be washed with a liquid impregnation rinse to rebuild the waterproofness of the textile fibres.
But before impregnating, it is important to care for the horse rug correctly. And that means using a special detergent that is designed for outdoor textiles and horse rugs. In our rug accessories section you will find rug washes, waterproofing rinses and waterproofing sprays for optimal care of your horse rug.

How can I wash my horse rug myself?

If you want to wash your horse rug in the washing machine, you should ideally have a separate washing machine where no clothes are washed. For machine washing, follow these steps:

• Basic cleaning: Remove horse hair and mud from the rug with a brush.
• Soak the rug: To reduce the workload on the washing machine, soak the horse rug for a few hours beforehand.
• Wash and impregnate: Wash the horse rug at a maximum of 30 degrees with a rug detergent. For waterproof turnout rugs, a waterproofing rinse should be added. To ensure that the rinse remains in the rug, only a light spin cycle should be used.
• Drying: The rug should be hung up and allowed to dry as freely as possible. Only when completely dry can it be used again or stored.

• Soak the rug
• Work in detergent with a brush or broom, then rinse thoroughly
• Add waterproofing agent to the water and soak the rug for approx. 10 minutes
• Drain and wring out the horse rug
• Allow to dry

When does my horse need a shoulder guard?

A horse that wears a rug all winter can suffer hair breakage around the shoulders and withers. Rugs that do not have a smooth interior will rub up the hair, cause it to break or even rub it off altogether. A shoulder guard can be a good solution for horses with hair breakage. It is made of stretchy spandex and is put over the head.
Be careful with horses that are not used to having something pulled over their head. At this moment they are vulnerable from a flight animal point of view and can panic!
A shoulder guard includes the point of shoulder, the withers and the front of the horse back and is fastened behind the forehand with a clip fastener. The turnout rug can then be put on and slide easily over the shoulder guard without causing hair breakage.

What helps against chafing caused by the horse rug?

The most important point to avoid chafing from a horse rug is to choose the correct fitting rug. Rugs that are too small or do not fit the horse's body type can be taut and rub sharply over the horse's point of shoulder, withers or pelvic bones. You can read about how to determine the correct fit of a horse rug in our horse rug guide.
A shoulder guard prevents hair breakage and coat abrasion in the shoulder area.
Make sure that the rug does not cut into the withers. It is better if it lies loosely over the withers, as is the case with highneck horse rugs. Check that the buckles are fastened correctly. It is best to check the position of the rug at least once a day. This is because the rug can slip, twist or slide backwards when the horse is rolling or frolicking, thus cutting or chafing at any point.
Physical changes also play a decisive role in the fit of the horse rug. Horse rugs that fit perfectly when first tried on may suddenly cause chafing. Since horses sometimes change their physique during the winter months, the cut or the adjusted buckling may also no longer fit properly, which ultimately also leads to coat abrasion. If the rug turns out to be too small due to the horse's physical change, a chest extension of the respective rug design can be used to adjust the fit and cut.

Which spare parts are useful?

• Rug repair kit
• Rug snap hooks
• Leg cords for turnout rugs
• Cross surcingle and chest extenders for horse rugs
• Rug fastener set
• Possibly chest extension

When does a rug extension make sense for my horse?

For horses with a broad chest, a broad neck or a corpulent build, it can sometimes be difficult to find a lightweight and heavyweight turnout rug that fits perfectly. If the rug is too small, many horse owners try a size larger, but it is then too long or too wide. This problem can be counteracted with a chest extender.
For horses with chafing at the point of shoulder, a chest expansion can also be a remedy. These horses usually have a very broad chest. With the extension, a piece of rug is added, which enlarges the neckline.
When buying a chest extension, make sure that it fits the respective rug design. Not every buckle of the chest extension fits every rug design!