If it has a thick mane, make thick braids with bases as wide as the braid itself. If your horse has thinner hair, make more braids, or consider a running braid instead. The third technique is to create a similar row of straight braids, and then double each braid up upon itself (as shown) to protect the hair.
If your horse does develop rubs again, try to stop them before they get out of control. Apply a heavy coat of diaper-rash ointment to the rubs. It will get all over the blanket and require extra cleaning later, but it will help save his skin while you work on solving the problem.
Nikwax Rug Proof can be used in a washing machine , by hand soaked or a sponge application. This is a water based wash-in reproofer for all your horses' rugs and blankets that are made from natural fibres. It will reproof inside and out.
Spread clean rug on clean area and wet thoroughly with a hose. Use 500 ml for 1 rug, with 1.5 litres of hand-hot water. Using a new sponge apply solution to rug, working into fabric and seams. Use any surplus on back area of rug, leave for 5-10 minutes.
Turnouts are done daily when they come in, just straps and the edges get a dandy brush over which keeps them looking cleaner for longer, I do it when they are still on the horse. As for washing them hw's at the end of the season, lw's 3-4 a year, but they get replaced often.
Putting the blankets in the dryer will damage and weaken the waterproofing. Ann SeCoy of Delta-S Equine Design says that a waterproof coating is applied in the factory to one side of the fabric during manufacturing, which should ensure that the fabric be waterproof for about two years.
The important thing to consider is what the horse thinks about it all. “If you are worried about turning your horse out in the cold, remember that it has a waterproof coat and a central heating system – the digestion of fibre generates a lot of heat, keeping horses warm from the inside out.
Fabsil is fantastic, but it won't proof a faded rug, as I found out with a PE rug. Nothing will proof a faded rug once its gone porous, sadly. Buy a cheap Gallop rug.they are great value for money, and use Fabsil as and when needed.
“I use the same silicone spray product to waterproof blankets as I do on my patio cushions – Scotchgardâ„¢,†says Barron. “It's cheap, you can pick it up just about anywhere, and it works. KIWI Camp Dry® is another good one.†Make sure your blanket is clean before applying a water repellent.
To reproof, make sure your canvas is as clean as possible and apply one to two coats inside and out, concentrating on seams, back line and top of rug. 2 litres or Dynaproof should do 2-3 rugs depending on size and application rate.
To clean your horse rugs simply scrub off dry dirt and dust with a bristled brush and then hose them down. Add some horse rug wash (they work better than just using soap) to hot water and scrub it into your horse rug thoroughly with a clean brush, paying attention to any visibly dirty areas.
Temperature Guide to rugging a horse
| Temperature | Stabled/Clipped |
|---|
| 5 to 10 degrees | Mediumweight Stable Rug |
| Zero to 4 degrees | Heavyweight Stable Rug |
| -10 to zero degrees | Heavy Weight Stable Rug with Neck Cover |
| -10 degrees or colder | Heavyweight Stable Rug with Neck Cover plus Liner Rugs underneath |
Over-rugging or putting a rug on too soon can compromise a horse's ability to do this. Over-rugging may also mean the horse warms up under the rug but not in other exposed areas. If he is hot under his rug, his ability to cool down naturally is lost too.
Direct touch is a good way to tell how cold a horse is. Place your hand up under the horse's rug and feel his shoulders and chest area you can get a quick indication of body warmth. Many people recommend feeling behind the ears or if the horse is wet check around the horse's kidneys.
In cold wet weather a good quality and well fitting rug can help the horse to maintain condition, as a cold wet horse will burn a lot of energy keeping warm. Keep in mind though that if your horse is young and healthy but tends to get fat, rugs will actually help him or her to maintain that fat.
In severe cases, they can become disorientated and start to stumble or even collapse. As dehydration causes a loss of electrolytes, your horse can suffer muscle spasms and cramps if they're too warm. The best way to combat this is to feed them a supplement after strenuous exercise or when they've been sweating a lot.
Lightweight rugs are either 0g, 50g or 100g and are well suited for those horses who perhaps don't require a thick rug.
Effects of heat on horses. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can result in heat stress, heatstroke and problems such as dehydration, muscle spasms and colic.
Use masking tape instead of sticky double-sided tape, which might permanently stick to your floor by mistake. Simply roll up a small, flat ball of masking tape and stick each handful of tape under the stubborn corners of your rug. This simple method works like a charm, especially in homes with wood or tile floors.
How much do the Rug Systems weigh?
| Rug Size (ft) | Weight (lb) |
|---|
| 8 x 10 | 10 | 26 |
| 6 x 6 | 3 | 10 |
| 8 x 8 | 6 | 17 |
| 9 x 12 | 13 | 37 |
