The rugging revolution

Horses’ winter wardrobes have undergone huge changes as technology has improved. Alex Robinson looks at the progress in rugging designs and materials

- Alex Robinson

IF you’ve been lucky enough to own or ride a horse for the past few decades, chances are you will have witnessed a lot of changes, both at home on the yard and in the equestrian industry at large. One aspect that will have undoubtedly seen a revamp is your rug collection.

Today, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to rug options. There are a wealth of designs on the market that cater for every occasion, weather condition and time of year. But this wasn’t always the case.

Rachel Bowles from Masta explains that traditional rugs were made mostly of heavyduty cotton canvas fabric: “A thick cotton blanket or wool lining would be added for warmth. To give protection from the elements and maintain the waterproof finish, the outer fabric would be treated with wax. These rugs could be continuously patched up and more wax applied.

“However, they were hard to keep clean and became heavy when wet, taking forever to dry out. They were awkward to take on and off as they had leather buckle fastenings and simple strap adjustments.”

Horseware’s Sonja Obermayer says the rugs u d in the 1980s were “extremely basic”.

“They were incomparable to what is available now,” she says.

“The most common problem was the fabrics used; they were neither fully waterproof nor breathable, and the linings used could cause rubs and coat damage.