Turnout Rug Weights Explained: Which Rug Does Your Horse Need?
The main thing to look at when buying a turnout rug is the fill weight. If the rug is too light, your horse gets cold. If it is too heavy, your horse sweats. This guide explains each weight and gives a temperature chart you can use as a starting point.
What the weight in grams means
The number in grams, such as 100g or 350g, is the amount of filling inside the rug. More filling makes the rug warmer. The outer fabric keeps out rain and wind.
- 0g (no fill, also called a rain sheet): waterproof, but adds no warmth. For wet, mild days.
- 50g to 100g (lightweight): for autumn and spring, or for clipped horses on mild days.
- 150g to 250g (mediumweight): the usual winter rug for most horses in the UK.
- 300g to 400g (heavyweight): for very cold weather, and for clipped or older horses.
Turnout rug temperature chart
| Temperature | Unclipped horse | Clipped horse |
|---|---|---|
| Above 15°C | No rug | No rug |
| 10°C to 15°C | No rug | 0g rain sheet |
| 5°C to 10°C | No rug or 0g | 100g to 150g |
| 0°C to 5°C | 0g to 100g | 200g |
| Below 0°C | 100g to 200g | 300g to 350g |
Wind and rain make it feel colder than the temperature shows. On a wet, windy day, a clipped horse may need a heavier rug than the chart says. A horse with a field shelter or thick hedges usually needs a lighter one.
What else to think about
- Clip: a clipped horse has lost most of its winter coat, so it needs a heavier rug than an unclipped horse.
- Breed: native ponies and cobs grow thick coats and often need little or no rug. Thoroughbreds and fine-coated horses feel the cold more.
- Age and weight: older horses, and horses that lose weight in winter, need a warmer rug. A horse that is overweight can go lighter.
- Hay and shelter: plenty of hay keeps a horse warm, and a shelter keeps off the wind.
How to tell if your horse is too hot or too cold
Put your hand flat under the rug, just behind the withers.
- Warm and dry: the rug is right.
- Damp or sweaty: the rug is too heavy. Change to a lighter one.
- Cold, or your horse is shivering: use a heavier rug.
Check again in the middle of the day. A rug that is right in the morning can be too warm by lunchtime.
Neck styles
- Standard neck: stops at the withers. Lighter and easier to put on.
- Combo neck: the neck cover is sewn on and covers the whole neck.
- Detachable neck: the neck cover clips on and off. Use it on wet or cold days and take it off when it is mild.
What 600D means
D stands for denier. This is how thick the threads in the outer fabric are. 600D is a strong fabric for everyday turnout. 1200D is stronger and suits horses that are rough on their rugs.
Our turnout rugs
- Premium 0g Rain Sheet
- No Fill Turnout Rug with Detachable Neck
- 50g Lightweight Turnout Rug
- 100g Turnout Rug, Standard Neck
- 100g Hedgehog Turnout Rug with Detachable Neck
Our 200g and 350g winter rugs will be back in stock in late November. You can see all our rugs in the turnout rugs collection. To find the right size, read how to measure your horse for a rug.
