As an avid horse lover, the comfort and health of your animals should be your primary consideration. Horses feel the effect of weather just like we do and need to be protected from any ill effects when cooling down after vigorous exercise, whether relaxing in a stable or out in the pasture. There are many horse rugs available, designed for particular situations or circumstances and you should choose your products according to your demands on the horse and its living conditions.

In the majority of cases, horse rugs are intended for use when the animal is at rest. The two primary types of equestrian rugs are stable rugs and turnout rugs. As the name suggests, the former is useful in keeping the horse warm and comfortable in the stable and versions are available in a variety of different weights and thicknesses according to your location. You should establish your preference here. You can either select one stable rug in an appropriate weight or thickness, or, as may be preferable if you live in a climate that is quite variable, you could layer your equestrian rugs in an assortment of different thicknesses according to conditions.

Always make sure that your rugs are well fitting, covering the animal and fastened by using fillet strings and surcingles. Avoid encroaching on the most sensitive parts of its body and do make sure that the horse is comfortable before you leave.

If you keep your horses out in the pasture, you should choose turnout rugs. Now you need to pay particular attention to protection and warmth in these situations. The turnout rug is made to keep the horse clean and dry and the best examples are not only waterproof, but lightweight to cause as little discomfort as possible, while maintaining temperature. Fitment is important here as well, with straps which attach to the rear legs and crossover underbelly connectors.

If you live in an area prone to particularly inclement weather, you should consider a heavier duty equestrian rug, such as the New Zealand rug, which has been designed to guard against wintry conditions. Remember that you can also layer lighter weight rugs beneath to reach the desired level of comfort.

Try and avoid leaving any particularly wet rugs on a horse where at all possible and make sure that you groom the horse to get rid of any lasting dampness, especially in cooler weather conditions. The horse can lose a lot of body heat when its coat is wet and matted as opposed to when dry and much more energy will be required to stay warm.

When a horse rug is not being used, it should be placed over a rug holder to dry out. These holders can be elevated or moved into an "open" position to allow for quick drying, before being folded back out of the way, storing your bulky rugs until you need them next.