Horse rugs FAQ

Pony with winter rug bucking through the snow

1. My horse rug broke, what can I do?

A horse rug is a commodity that suffers from wear and tear. Horses do not understand how much the rug cost and that it has to be handled with care. The natural behaviour of horses such as fights in the herd, nibbling on each other, rubbing against objects or even bucking and rolling in the field place a heavy strain on the material. Unfortunately, tears and holes can be the order of the day, much to the displeasure of horse owners. Unfortunately, the straps are torn off again and again and can usually be attributed to the improper closing of the straps. If the surcingles are fastened too loosely, the horse can step on them or get caught in the straps while rolling, causing the surcingles to tear. When fastened too tight, a great deal of stress can occur when rolling, for example, which causes the straps to tear.

Please keep in mind that the material of horse rugs – especially the turnout rugs – is as tear-resistant as possible, but this does not mean that the rugs are indestructible. In the above-mentioned cases, a complaint about the rug can be excluded, as the damage was caused by the behaviour of the horse and the manufacturer is not responsible for it. If you discover another defect in your rug that was not described above and you are unsure whether it could be a complaint, you can always contact our customer service. We will be happy to help you and, if in doubt, check whether there is a complaint.

Our tip: You can easily repair small tears and holes caused by the horses nibbling, tugging and pounding yourself with the rug repair kit. How to do this is explained in the Stormsure service video.

2. My horse is taking off its rug, what can I do?

First of all, you should check the fit. Is the rug too big? Are the closures set correctly or not too far? Then the horse should usually not have the opportunity to take off the rug on its own initiative. Is your horse kept in a herd and are there perhaps skilled ?escape artists? among them who will help your horse to undress?

If you still get stuck despite your research, you can equip the rug with additional fastening options, e.g. leg straps or tail straps. If the closures come loose too easily, you can use safety closures with which the horse can more easily free itself from the rug in emergency situations and also ensure a better and more stable hold of the closures in everyday life. You can find more information in the rug accessories guide.

3. My horse is wet under the turnout rug, what could be the reason?

With turnout rugs, the suspicion is immediately obvious: Contrary to the promises, the rug is not waterproof! Since the production processes of the rug manufacturers are carefully monitored and quality tests are also carried out on waterproof models with regard to waterproofing, this is very unlikely. Rather, the following reasons are usually responsible for the fact that the horse is wet under the rug.

The breathability of the rug is limited: The breathability of textiles is specified based on the amount of evaporated liquid per cubic meter in 24 hours. A fabric is considered breathable from 3000 g / m³ / 24h. During use, factors such as outside temperatures, the amount of moisture to be removed or the proper care of the material also influence the functionality of the membrane.

Too high outside temperatures: In order for a breathable fabric to optimally fulfill its function, certain climatic conditions must be met. There must be a temperature gradient of at least 15 ° C between the inside and the outside of the rug, otherwise the moisture cannot penetrate to the outside.

High humidity: In foggy weather in particular, one has the impression that the moisture in the air penetrates into the limbs. This is due to the fact that the breathability of the material is restricted by the moist air, as the moisture inside the rug only slowly penetrates outside to the already „saturated“ air.

Too much body moisture: It can quite simply be that the horse is rugged too warm and sweats underneath. If the amount of moisture is too high, the breathable material can no longer cope with the removal of water vapor. In addition, condensation forms, which intensifies the effect. If you are unsure which rug is the right one for your horse, you can get an initial overview in the buying guide for stable and turnout rugs.

The rug does not fit properly: A rug that does not fit can usually not fully fulfill its functional properties. If the rug sits too far in the neck area, for example, water can more easily penetrate through the generous cutout and spread further inside the rug. In the Fit Guide you can find out more about how you can tell whether the horse rug is sitting well.

Improper care: Functional materials, such as those used in horse rugs, consist of functional membranes. If these are blocked by dirt, dust or sweat, the function can no longer be guaranteed. Since such blockages can occur particularly quickly with horse rugs, they should be washed and re-impregnated regularly, because if the waterproof coating is damaged and the water lies directly on the uncoated outside material, the membrane clogs and no longer allows moisture to be removed from the inside.

4. Can I also use my turnout rug as a stable rug?

Theoretically, turnout rugs can also be used in the stable. Especially with horses which have free access to a field or paddock, the exclusive use of a turnout rug is advisable, as the horse moves independently between the different areas. Even when only stabled at night, it can make sense to also use the turnout rug in the stable. There is no need to change the stable rug to a turnout rug.

Especially when the humidity is high, the horse can be damp under the rug. When you change the rug after turnout, you can ensure that the horse stays dry in the stable overnight. A stable rug is also a sensible purchase for transport. It is always a good idea to have several rugs available for horses, as they can break due to wear and tear. With an additional stable rug you have the opportunity to temporarily rug the horse in the stable should the turnout rug be broken.

5. My horse gets chafing marks from the horse rug. Why?

In most cases, chafing or pressure points are caused by a poorly fitting rug. It is therefore very important to ensure that it fits perfectly when trying on a horse rug. Please note that a poorly fitting rug can even cause painful fistulas, so that veterinary treatment is required.

If you have made sure that the rug fits perfectly and the horse is still prone to chafing and hair breakage – especially in the chest and shoulder area – shoulder protection under the rug can help. In this case there is a possibility that your horse is simply reacting extremely sensitively to the friction of the rug. Sometimes it also helps to switch to a different model, e.g. if the chafe marks have occurred on a rug with a fleece inner lining, you could test whether the horse also reacts to a rug with a smooth inner lining.

6. The rug keeps slipping on the horse. Why is that?

In most cases, a poor fit of the rug is responsible for slipping. If the rug is too big or the neckline is cut too wide, the rug will permanently slide backwards. If it slips over the withers, this can encourage the development of painful withers fistulas.

Inadequate fastening in horses that move a lot and intensely can also be the reason for slipping. In this case you can support the hold of the rug with additional leg straps, an elastic surcingle or a tail strap.

In clipped horses, a smooth inner lining is sometimes to blame. There are many rug models with a roughened inner lining or fleece lining, so that the rug does not slip so easily on the smooth coat. Nevertheless, you should still pay attention to a smooth inner lining in the shoulder area so that there is as little friction as possible.

7. What does a good horse rug cost?

It depends on the type of rug. A wicking rug is of course cheaper than a waterproof heavyweight rug. Depending on the quality, a rug of the same type can cost £ 50 or £ 250. Whether a rug lasts for a long time depends primarily on the quality of the material and workmanship, but regular care and natural wear and tear (especially when horses are kept in groups) should not be ignored.

8. I think my horse is allergic to the horse rug, what can I do?

Your horse only scratches itself when it is wearing a rug? Only in rare cases is there an allergic reaction to the material of the rug. In most cases, dirt has settled in the coat and the rubbing of the rug makes it itchy. Some horses simply need a little more „rug-free“ time, as the lack of air circulation (despite a breathable rug) causes itching. If your horse does indeed have an allergic reaction to the rug, itching often also causes redness or swelling, and sometimes the skin also flakes.

In recent years, the number of allergies in humans and animals has skyrocketed. Since every substance can trigger such reactions individually, prevention or avoidance is not possible. When developing and testing the materials used for our goods, we do everything we can to deliver the best for humans and horses, taking into account the latest findings in medicine and veterinary medicine.

However, since a guaranteed avoidance of allergies and intolerances is not possible, these cannot be the subject of product complaints.

9. Can I put a turnout rug with a wicking function on my horse immediately after riding?

The answer is very clear: no! Cooling down is not only important for the relationship between horse and rider, but also for the horse’s vital functions. A turnout rug with a wicking function can only transport moisture from the inside to the outside to a certain extent. If the horse is sweaty too much, the rug will not be able to cope with the amount of moisture. Of course, turnout rugs are also breathable, but only to a certain extent. Due to the waterproof outer material, the air does not circulate as well as under a simple wicking rug. The drying time is extended accordingly. Turnout rugs with an explicitly designated wicking function should therefore only be used when only the saddle are is still damp, for example. In no case, however, with a horse that is completely wet from sweat.

10. My horse / other horses are nibbling on the rug, is there any remedy?

In order to avoid that the rugs are affected by nibbling, a bite and nibble protection can be applied to the rug. In some cases, waiting periods must be observed for some remedies. Discuss the use of the agent with the other horse owners when they are participating in competitions.

If you know before your purchase that the horse or other horses in the stable like to nibble on the rug, you should pay attention to ripstop fabric. In these fabrics, threads that are thicker are incorporated every few millimeters, which ensure that the fabric only tears up to the next thick thread.

If a small tear or hole has emerged from the nibbling, you can fix this yourself with the help of a rug repair kit.

11. My horse rug is broken / in the wash and I have no alternative. What should I do?

As a horse owner you should be prepared for any eventuality. It happens very quickly that a horse damages its equipment through its natural behaviour, be it by rolling, fighting with other horses or simply by rubbing against objects. If the rug is then being repaired and you have no alternative, you have to look for a solution, especially if the horse is clipped or sick and needs additional warmth. When buying a rug, you should think about purchasing an (inexpensive) second rug for such emergency situations.

Even if you send in the rug for a complaint, we recommend that you have an alternative close at hand. Please understand that we are unfortunately unable to offer you a replacement rug for such cases.

12. Can I try on a horse rug that I have bought / ordered?

You can of course try on the horse rug. Please note, however, that in the event of a return within the 30-day return period, it must be in mint condition. There should be no dirt or horse hair on the rug, as in such a case it becomes unsaleable for us. It is best to put a clean wicking rug or sheet under the new rug when trying it on. Removing the stuck horse hair is almost impossible, especially on rugs with a roughened inner lining or fleece lining.

13. The horse rug you bought does not fit. Can I return it?

If the rug is clean and as good as new, and you send the rug back within the 30-day return period, the rug can be taken back. You can find more information about returns in our service area.

14. How do I know if my horse is cold?

The comfort temperature of a horse is between -15 and + 25 ° C. In our latitudes it is therefore very unlikely that a horse will be cold. But there are exceptions: if a horse is clipped, ill or a little older, the horse may no longer be able to adapt to the prevailing temperatures by the so-called thermoregulation. A horse that feels comfortable in its skin shows normal eating behaviour and is active. A horse is cold if it shivers for a long period of time and its ears are cold even in the lower third. If a horse is cold for a long period of time, you will also notice that the consumption of roughage increases because it uses more energy due to the freezing and muscle contractions when shivering.

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