Horse Rugs -
Dealing With Rug-Rub/Soreness

If your horse seems to have an aversion to horse rugs - namely that they rub or cause soreness, what can you do about it?

The obvious answer would be to suggest that your horse goes without a rug altogether, but this is just not an option if they are of the thin-skinned variety and depend on the warmth of a rug to maintain weight and condition.

The majority of problems with horse rugs are caused because they do not fit the horse sufficiently well. For example, when the horse moves around, the rug often slips back onto his withers and creates friction across the shoulder region and in front of his chest.

Perhaps at first glance the rug looks like a good fit - even perhaps having "a little growing room". However, it doesn't take long for the hair to become patchy and fall out altogether in the affected area. This leads to sore areas which cause discomfort to the horse and can easily become infected.

We would always advise re-measuring your horse every couple of months particularly through the winter when weight may fluctuate to check that they have not significantly altered which may mean that your horse rugs no longer fit.

If horse rugs are too loose on your horse that is as bad as having the rug too tight. We say this because if the loose rug becomes twisted around the horse's body there is a very real risk the horse could panic, entangling his legs in the straps and do himself an injury.

Snug as a Bug in a Rug...

Although domesticated horses are accustomed to wearing rugs and we value the benefits they offer, we must remember that they are an artificial substitute for the horse's own temperature control system.

Therefore, it is very important to check often that the horse is not overheating.

Quite often we see horses kitted out in lovely, thick duvet-style rugs that are meant for the depths of winter but it may be the only indoor or outdoor rug that the owner purchased so is used whatever the weather.

In this case, having two lighter weight rugs for indoor use might be a better solution. If the horse is cold, both can be used together but if the weather warms up, the under-rug can be removed. To save money, one of the indoor rugs can also double as an insulator under your outdoor rug for extremely cold weather.

If your horse is constantly kept rugged, his coat never has the opportunity to "breathe" and his body will overcompensate by producing excess sweat. This can in the extreme, lead to dehydration.

Treatment of Rug-Sores

We would not advise rugging the horse at all until the wound heals up. If this is unavoidable - ask your vet to provide a sterile dressing to cover the sore area.

During summer months, it is also a good idea to spray a fly repellent around (but not directly on) the sore area to prevent flies laying eggs in the wound site if your horse is turned out in a paddock.

Fresh air does wonders to heal the skin (as long as the horse is not pale skinned and prone to sunburn).

We would advise having all your rugs laundered regularly so that dead skin and hair does not build up on the linings which can cause bacterial infection if it comes into contact with open sores.

Some dry-cleaners offer a horse-rug wash service. Alternatively, your saddler will be able to recommend a rug-repairer that can wash them thoroughly.

Once cleaned, sew some soft fleece or padding inside the rug down the shoulder area and across his wither area. If you aren't confident about attempting this ask your saddler as most will do this type of alteration for a small fee.

We highly recommend the use of breathable Lycra vests to prevent rubbing. Resembling a big sock that sits around your horse's neck and down over his chest, these are beneficial because they give the outer rug something to grip and reduce the risk of it causing friction.

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