A starting point for choosing a rug weight from the temperature, your horse's clip and coat, and whether they're stabled or turned out. Enter the overnight low in °C or °F, the clip (unclipped, partial or full) and whether your horse is in or out, then tick if they feel the cold or it's wet and windy. The guide suggests a rug: none, a 0g rain sheet, lightweight (about 50–100g), medium (about 150–250g) or heavyweight (300g+), with a neck cover or liner only on the coldest nights.
| Overnight low | Unclipped | Partial clip | Full clip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above 15°C | No rug | No rug | No rug |
| 10°C to 15°C | No rug | No rug | 0g rain sheet |
| 5°C to 10°C | No rug | 0g rain sheet | Lightweight |
| 0°C to 5°C | 0g rain sheet | Lightweight | Medium weight |
| -5°C to 0°C | Lightweight | Medium weight | Heavyweight |
| Below -5°C | Medium weight | Heavyweight | Heavyweight with a neck cover or extra liner |
For a horse turned out in dry, still weather. Stabled horses usually need a little less; wind, rain and cold-natured horses need a little more.
Many healthy, unclipped horses with shelter and plenty of forage need no rug at all. Over-rugging can cause sweating, rubs and weight gain. Check under the rug by hand behind the withers.
Many healthy, unclipped horses with shelter need no rug at all. As a rough guide, an unclipped horse turned out may want a rain sheet below about 5°C, while a fully clipped horse often needs a rain sheet below about 15°C, a lightweight rug below about 10°C and a medium or heavyweight rug as it gets colder.
Slide a hand under the rug behind the withers and at the shoulder. Warm and dry is right; hot, damp or sweaty means the rug is too heavy.
This is a general guide, not veterinary advice.
Related: horse weight calculator · hay & forage calculator.
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