Winter Horse Rug Care Guide
Why should you care about your winter horse rug?
Caring for your winter horse rugs will extend their life and ensure they perform at their best keeping your horse comfortable in the cooler months.
Step 1: Follow the label on your horse rug
It goes without saying that you should follow the manufactures notes on the care label. Remember that each and every horse rug is different and dependent on what it's made from eg fleece or canvas will depend on how it should be cared for.
Step 2: Secure your horse rug
Close any Velcro attachments or straps on the horse rug prior to washing.
Close any surcingles or if they are removable, take them off the horse rug prior to washing.
Step 3: Wash your horse rug
Prior to washing your horse rug try to brush off the excess dirt. Do this with a light brush. Hard brushing may damage the waterproof membranes or pierce delicate material.
After the bulk of the dirt is removed from your horse rug, place your rug gentally into a washing machine. When washing your horse rug ensure that you only wash the rug in maximum 30 degree water on a gentle wash cycle, or cold hose. Do not pressure wash.
At Active Equine we recommend using Nikwax Rug Wash as plain water just won’t cut it!
Step 4: Drying your horse rug
After your horse rug is finished being washed dry it away from a direct source of heat. Hang it somewhere out of direct sunlight, but with good cross ventilation is ideal as it will reduce potential for bleaching and damage to stitching.
Step 5: Storing your winter horse rug
If you're storing your winter horse rugs for the summer, make sure they are completely dry before being stored somewhere vermin proof. No-one want's to find a rug full of mould at the start of next winter!
If you're looking to find out more about horse rug storage ideas head over to our blog and give this article a read.
