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Horse Rugs Are Excellent Protection Against Extreme Weather

By Katrina Wheeler


Protection from severe weather is extremely important to animal lovers. Horses occasionally need assistance cooling down, warming up, staying dry and staying warm. The purpose of horse rugs is to provide that assistance without restricting the animal's ability to move around.

Placing a blanket on your equestrian friend is much easier than you would think. There are clasps, clips and straps to allow you to keep the blanket in place once it is properly positioned. There are straps that wrap around the belly, straps that go between the back legs and fasten to the sides and straps that wrap around the chest. These strategically placed straps assure you that the animal will not be able to remove the blanket easily. Covers come in a wide variety of colors, weights and styles. Thicker weighted coverlets are for the winter months, while the lighter weighted ones are for the warmer seasons. Some will even provide protection against mosquitoes and flies.

In order to keep your equestrian friend warm on harsh winter days, use a thick and heavy weighted fleece blanket. Many blankets have the added benefit of being water resistant or water proof. If you need even more protection, you may choose to add a neck cover.

Each different style and type of blanket has a purpose. There are turnout, cooling, fly and stable blankets. You will find that the weight will also vary according to its use. Some people use an anti-sweat cover to assist in absorbing excess water, before using one of the other types of blanket.

Turnout blankets are great to use when your equestrian friend is out to pasture. Stable wraps are excellent when he is locked up in the barn. Fly sheets are perfect for summer days when the flies are out. Cooling wraps are used to help a horse's temperature return to normal after exercise. When determining what type of blanket you want, remember the physical needs of your animal as well as the climate in which he will reside.

It is imperative that your horse be dry before blanketing. Placing a blanket on a damp animal can cause him to become ill. If he is damp, use an anti-sweat sheet to absorb moisture before placing a turnout or stable blanket on him. Make sure you remove the anti-sweat sheet first, otherwise the exterior blanket would hold the cold, damp sheet against him which could cause severe problems.

As the weather changes and the temperatures begin to drop, allow your animal to adjust to the temperature changes naturally. This will allow him to grow a winter coat. His winter coat will provide him with a great deal of protection. Make certain that you only blanket your animals when it is necessary. Blanketing early in the season means less natural protection for you animal.

Protecting your horse from problems caused by different seasons has never been easier. Determine his needs. Consider the climate. Each different season will bring different needs. Be attentive. Take your time when deciding what type, weight and size of coverlet your animal will need. Although it serves a physical purpose, horses look adorable when wearing horse rugs.




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