12 things you’d forgotten about turnout rugs (until recently…)

As parts of Britain have been battling with heavy rain, some UK horse owners have dug out their turnout rugs for the first time in a while and been reminded of some of the downsides of saying goodbye to summer...

1. Pulling off a sopping wet turnout rug off your horse and somehow wrapping yourself up in it like a cold, annoyed, living mummy in the process.

2. Trying to hang said soaking wet rug up while mud (at least you hope it’s mud) and water (at least you hope it’s water) drips all over you.

3. Noticing the amount of poo caked on the fillet string/tail flap/rear leg straps. Yeah, that’s nice.

4. Wishing like mad that you had a heated rug drier — the height of luxury! As it is, there are few places where you can spread out a heavy, wet six foot rug and realistically expect it to get dry.

5. Why won’t the blasted thing dry? Two days later, and it’s still as wet as when you took it off, but now it smells damp and stale, too.

6. At this point, someone always helpfully points out that, ‘If you leave it on the horse, it dries much quicker.’ Thanks for that.

7. That distinctive wet rug smell. Wet horse, mould and poo. Delightful.

8. If you’re not worrying when it’s blowing a gale and tipping down with ice-cold rain that your horse is too cold, and will be even colder if the rug somehow blows off…

9. Then you’re worrying that your horse is over-rugged and may be sweating.

10. How effective was that re-proofing done when you took it to be cleaned? You’re not convinced…

11. Trying to untwist surcingles/rear leg straps and fasten buckles with freezing cold fingers. Why is this so hard?

12. Your horse’s proud face as he trots up to you in the field with the neck/surcingle/front fastenings torn off and the rest of the rug flapping in the breeze. “I’ve been working on this all night, Mum”

There’s only one thing for it – you need to buy another rug…

If so, check these out:

A pick of the best lightweight turnouts for changeable weather

Best medium weight turnout rugs for chillier days

12 warm heavyweight turnouts for the winter

How to make your horse’s rugs last longer with these useful DIY repair tips

How to wash your horse’s rugs at home – and what’s best to use

How to reproof your turnout rugs at home – and help them stay waterproof for longer

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