| There are many different kinds of rugs and what you | | | | protect your horse from those cold wintry days when |
| use for your horse will be dictated partly by the climate | | | | it is not being ridden. |
| in which you live and partly by the type of horse you | | | | But horse rugs protect your them from more than cold |
| have. In Australia, farm horses are not generally kept in | | | | weather. In the summer flies and other insects can be |
| stables as they are in some other countries. They are | | | | such a problem that they will drive them crazy. Rigging |
| left out in the paddock in rain, hail or shine - but they | | | | it out in a summer weight horse or pony rug will keep |
| often protected from extremely cold weather by a | | | | off those irritating insects. In fact, some horses come |
| rug. | | | | running when they see their owner with their |
| Left in the wild, horses develop thick and sometimes | | | | lightweight summer rug. |
| shaggy coats to deal with cold weather, but those that | | | | Some owners complain when their horse rugs are torn |
| are ridden frequently are usually groomed well and this | | | | while being used, but if they were any stronger it |
| removes excess hair and dirt that would otherwise | | | | would put your horse at risk. Imagine if your horse's rug |
| form a barrier against the rain. They must then be | | | | was snagged on a low branch or fallen log and didn't |
| protected in other ways. Heavy weight horse rugs | | | | tear, the horse would be trapped there and possibly |
| with fleece linings are an excellent investment to | | | | injured while trying to get free. |