10 rugs designed to help cool your horse after exercise and in hot weather

This lightweight and breathable cooler from Weatherbeeta features mesh panels that wick away moisture to keep your horse dry and comfortable. The single surcingle chest fastening, single hidden adjustable surcingle and tail cord keep the rug smart yet secure.

The lightweight, breathable and airy mesh of this Shires rug creates a micro-climate that allows moisture and heat to escape without causing chilling. It is fastened with twin T-bar chest straps, adjustable cross surcingles and a fillet string.

This Masta cooler uses far infrared radiation, which is a natural process that gently and safely assists blood circulation. It’s made of a highly wicking airmesh outer, which is lightweight and breathable to allow optimum airflow. The ceramic-infused lining helps to regulate temperature. Neck cover available separately.

This cooler is made from a lightweight, perforated mesh to wick moisture away and allow optimum airflow for ultimate breathability and comfort. It features a front surcingle chest closure, adjustable surcingles and a fillet string to help keep the rug in place.

Made from an innovative “stay-dry” fabric, it efficiently wicks moisture away to keep your horse dry and comfortable after exercise or during travel. The shiny outer layer also resists bedding and dirt. It has the option of an embroidered Bucas logo on the rug, perfect for show sponsors for prize givings.

The Air Tech cooler rug from Masta features a moisture-wicking waffle fabric with a soft honeycomb section over the back and highly breathable mesh lower sides. It fastens with a T-bar at the front with an additional touch-tape closure for added security, and has adjustable cross surcingles on the belly and a fillet string at the tail.

This stylish bamboo cooler from LeMieux has a hexagonal pattern and suede-effect trim. It features Simuwool wither protection and an anti-static, anti-bacterial lining. It is fastened with an angled T-bar closure, cross surcingles, and a tail fillet cord.

This cooling rug is designed to rapidly draw heat away from the horse’s body, providing up to 5.9°C of cooling without soaking your horse. It is made from a high tech, breathable open cell structure material, which is designed to effectively absorb and store water. It has front Velcro, a single belly surcingle with plastic buckle fastening and fillet string for added security. Available with or without a neck cover.

How to use: Just soak in water until it is fully saturated, wring, and drape for comfortable cooling after exercise, travel, or on warm days. It has a contoured and shaped cooling area to cover large muscle groups across the back and hindquarters with direct contact, with lightweight lower mesh panels enhance airflow and evaporation, making the cooling process more efficient.

You can reactivate it with water as many times as needed. Equilibrium advises not allowing the rug to dry out while on your horse.

This water-activated rug is designed to aid gentle surface cooling. It features embedded crystals that absorb cold water, creating a prolonged cooling effect as it evaporates, actively drawing heat away from key muscle groups. Anatomically shaped cooling panels maximise contact across the back and hindquarters, delivering targeted cooling where it’s needed most.

The lightweight breathable mesh shell fabric encourages airflow to aid in heat dissipation and evaporation. It has a single buckle front closure, adjustable single surcingle and soft fillet strap keep the rug secure.

How to use: Before the first use you need to soak the rug for two hours to activate the crystals. It can be re-activated multiple times by soaking in water for up to one hour. LeMieux recommends soaking in water at 15° or lower for optimum cooling effect. Remove the rug from your horse once the cooling crystals have reached ambient body temperature.

This breathable cooling rug uses water to help cool down the horse on hot summer days. This rug is only secured with a clip fastener at the chest and a fillet string. Neck cover available separately.

How to use: The rug comes with a practical bag that can be dipped in a bucket of water along with the rug – then just wring out the rug and lay it on your horse’s back. You can reactivate with water as many times as needed.