Horse rug care step-by-step

In our care instructions for rug care, you will find all the important information – from the care accessories you need, to the possibilities of washing a horse rug, to gentle aftercare and storage.

What do I need to care for my rug?

Regular care of horse rugs is essential to maintain their functional properties for as long as possible. For this purpose, you should have the following products at hand:

• Brushes of different degrees of hardness
• Hook and loop brush
• Rug wash detergent
• Waterproofing spray or conditioner
• Common spare parts (e.g. fasteners or cruppers)
• For turnout rugs: Rug repair kit
• Washing rack for drying

How do I wash my horse rug?

Thick winter horse rugs – whether for the stable or for the paddock – have a high weight due to the padding and the numerous fasteners. A rug for a large horse is also so large that you cannot simply put it in your own washing machine. If you prefer machine washing, it is advisable, especially for winter rugs, to rely on a professional rug wash in an industrial washing machine with a high capacity.

After all, not only the dimensions and weight pose a risk to the washing machine, but also the fasteners, which can get caught in the drum or seals and cause damage. Likewise, the many horse hairs can quickly clog the lint filter.

With lighter rugs such as wicking rugs or exercise rugs, washing in a normal household washing machine is possible due to the smaller volume, but you should nevertheless bear in mind that fasteners and horse hair can also damage the washing machine in the long term. In addition, there is a risk that unpleasant odours will settle in the seals and could also be transferred to everyday clothing during washing cycles.

Machine washing horse rugs:

If you still want to wash your rug in your own washing machine, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the capacity of my washing machine?

The specified capacity refers to washing in dry condition. You can better estimate whether your horse rug will potentially fit in your washing machine by determining the weight of your rug. The rug should also not be squeezed into the drum! A certain amount of free space is necessary for it to get clean all around.

• What washing instructions are on the label?

Please strictly follow the washing recommendations on the label of your horse rug to maintain its functional properties in the long term. As a rule, horse rugs are washed at 30° C. If possible, they should not be spun, or only with a few revolutions, and under no circumstances should they be placed in the dryer after the wash cycle.

• What can I do to protect my washing machine?

Try to wrap the caps securely to prevent them from getting stuck in the drum or seals. Remove coarse soiling as well as horse hair in advance with a soft brush – better still with a special animal hair remover. To ensure that neither animal hair nor the heavy seals can cause damage, you should use a generous washing bag.

• What can I do to protect my horse rug?
  • Follow the washing instructions on the label
  • Use only rug detergent
  • Use a waterproofing rinse for turnout rugs
  • Do not use fabric softener
  • Clean the hook and loop fasteners and close them before washing
  • Small tears should be repaired with a rug repair kit before washing

Hand washing horse rugs:

If you do not want to have your rug washed professionally and want to spare your own washing machine, you can also wash horse rugs by hand. This requires a lot more physical effort, but the result is just as good as with a machine wash. For hand washing, in addition to the above-mentioned utensils, you should also have a large bucket or tub and, if necessary, a water hose or shower head at your disposal.

Pre-treatment of horse rugs

Remove coarse dirt from the rugs with a brush. Use an animal hair remover to remove horse hair from the rug. At the same time, remove hay and lint from the hook-and-loop fasteners with a special brush.

Then soak the rug in water for a few hours to loosen the dried dirt and dust.

Horse rug wash

Depending on the degree of soiling, take a brush with slightly sturdier bristles or a sponge and work the rug wash into the rug. Treat both the inside and the outside of the rug. Then rinse the rug thoroughly until the water runs clear. If you want to use a waterproofing rinse, you can put the rug in a tub of clear water again with the rinse and let the product soak in.

Drying horse rugs

You can wring out the excess water from the horse rug. Hang the rug in a dry and shady place (the blazing sun will affect the material and the colour intensity in the long run) and give the rug time to dry completely. Note that padded winter rugs have a longer drying time than thin exercise rugs.

Aftercare & storage of horse rugs

Whether you wash your horse rug professionally, in your own washing machine or by hand. For turnout rugs, it is essential to treat them with a suitable waterproofing spray. There are also a few things you should keep in mind when storing your rug:

• After each use, hang the rug on a suitable device so that any moisture can escape. This does not only apply to exercise rugs, which absorb a lot of sweat after use. Special horse rug holders are suitable for hanging up.
• Remove coarse dirt regularly with a brush and always check whether the rug is still intact. Make repairs to the rug immediately so that rips cannot increase in size during wear.
• If you are not going to use your horse rug for a longer period of time due to a change of season, you should store it cleaned in a storage bag in a dry, airy and shady place. Allow it to dry thoroughly before storing it so that residual moisture cannot cause mould to form.