Why Does My Lightweight Turnout Rug Leak?
In a way winter is a much easier season for rugging horses. The temperatures and rain tend to be more consistent throughout the day and you can safely leave your horse cosy in their turnout rug in the knowledge that they will be dry and comfortable when you next see them that evening.
Whilst we are at the beginning of winter, and the need for mediumweight and heavyweight turnout rugs is yet to be upon us, lightweight turnout rugs are the most popular choice. With the nature of a 0g fill rug, come many questions - Are lightweights more prone to leaking? Are they going to make my horse sweat? Are they more likely to tear?
Below we aim to debunk some of the myths surrounding lightweight turnout rugs to help you chose the best option for your horse.
Are lightweight rugs easier to tear?
No. The weight of the turnout rug has no bearing on the toughness. Some manufacturers may reduce the denier they offer on their lightweight rugs, however, at WeatherBeeta, each rug style maintains the exact toughness across all weights, so your heavyweight WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Essential heavyweight rug will be just as tough as your WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Essential Lightweight. Of course, if your horse becomes itchy whilst moulting or is too warm, this may cause them to rub more often and therefore increase the chances of the rug getting caught and creating a rip. This is why horse rug denier is just as important in Spring as in Winter.
Are lightweight rugs less waterproof?
No. All our of lightweights are just as waterproof as their heavier counterparts. If you have a WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Classic Heavyweight and buy a WeatherBeeta ComFitec Classic Lightweight rug, they are exactly the same rug minus the fill. The same goes for all other rugs within our range. Regardless of the weight of the rug they all have the same waterproofing treatment.
Are lightweight rugs less breathable?
No. Again, the fabrics used are exactly the same so the breathability will be the same.
Why is my horse wet when I used a lightweight turnout rug? Is it leaking?
Although the fabric is just as waterproof and just as breathable as a rug with fill, what it lacks is a buffer. What the polyfill of horse rugs does is create a pocket of air. This is missing in a 0g rug, therefore, when cold rain hits a warm horse, condensation can build up. The same as when you have a shower and the mirror steams up, or when you wear a lightweight rain coat and head out for a run with nothing but a strappy top underneath. It isn’t a fault with the material, it is simply the physics of hot air meeting a cold surface.
How do I prevent condensation under my horses rug?
The good news is that there is a very easy solution to avoid condensation. Instead of a 0G rug, use a 50g turnout rug. 50g of polyfill is such a small amount that it won’t add any warmth to your horse, but what it will do is provide a pocket of air which will put a stop to the build of condensation so you will have a dry comfortable horse throughout the day, whatever the Great British weather decides to throw your way!
Why do you still sell 0g lightweight turnout rugs?
This is a very fair question. It is worth mentioning that just like humans some horses feel the cold and the warmth more than others. Whilst some will create extra warmth that leads to condensation, others won’t. Whilst some will happily spend the warmer winter days in 50g or 100g rug, others may simply find any rug too warm, even if it has no fill. Lightweight turnout rugs also make a great outer for those wanting to use a rug liner system.
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