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The Best Heavyweight Turnout Rugs in 2023
Updated: June 16, 2023 by Cathy Benson
Contrary to popular belief, turnout rugs are not merely designed to keep your horse clean and warm in the Winter – they can also provide an effective layer in the warm Summer months which protect the horses coat from dirt, rain, and pesky flies which can irritate and aggravate your horse.
What this means is that all year round, come rain or shine, equine stores are packed full of different rugs for different purposes – and to find the best heavyweight rugs for Winter, you need to know a little about what you are looking for and why.
It is no longer enough to simply walk into a store or head online and order the rug which looks the best – and with so many brands now available, offering everything from detachable neck covers to leg straps, under rugs and waterproof coating, finding the best heavyweight turnout rug is as much about fit and thickness as it is about aesthetic appearance and additional features.
This guide is designed to identify the best heavyweight turnout rugs on the market, identifying those which offer the best protection from the chill of Winter, and which deliver comfort as well as warmth for your horse.
The 5 Top-Rated Heavyweight Turnout Rugs
The following five heavyweight turnout rugs cover all bases, offering an array of features and functions – as well as a wide range of prices – suitable for every horse and every buyer. All of these models can be found on Amazon, as well as across local equine centres and online store.
The Best Heavyweight Turnout Rugs
1. Shires Highlander Original 300 Combo Turnout Rug
Shires Highlander Original 300 Turnout Combo Rug
Price not available Buy on Amazon
This heavyweight turnout rug combines a 600 denier with a standard 300g filling to create a winter solution which is warm and will offer limited protection against tearing and ripping.
One of our more basic options, the 300g filling just puts this rug in the heavyweight category, making it the ideal choice for a horse who is active throughout the winter but who needs something to keep him warm during the colder nights.
The cross traps are adjustable, and this model also comes with a removable neck cover for extra protection. Integrated leg straps provide additional security when placing this rug on your horse, and buyers tend to report that the space afforded around the legs means that this rug is particularly ideal for use as part of a layered solution using under rugs and the Shires Highlander jacket on top.
It is also useful to note that this particularly style comes in a vibrant raspberry colour – helping your horse stand out against even the darkest and dullest of days.
2.Rhinegold Aspen Full Neck 350g Turnout Rug
With a similar price to the Shires Highlander model, this rug is particularly popular with horses kept outdoors all year long, as its 1000 denier outer material rating protects it against even the toughest of thorns, barbed wire fences, and scratches.
The rip stop quality of the fabric prevents tearing, while the waxed stitching and taped seams protect any wind chill from getting in through the seams of the rug.
With a 350g filling, this rug is one of the best options for colder climates – with a wide range of sizes available so that you can ensure the perfect fit for your horse.
Despite the warm filling and taped seams, the fabric used on this rug is completely breathable, thus creating a comfortable outdoor solution for any horse regardless of their activity levels.
This rug is available in three different colours, and boasts plenty of space around the neck and the chest for layering if necessary.
3.Gallop Trojan 600d Combo Neck 350g Turnout Rug
Priced at £64.99, this heavyweight rug combines a denier of 600 with a 350g filling – making it thick and warm for the horse, but with slightly less tear protection than the previous option.
A waterproof nylon coating makes this rug easy to wash down and able to easily deflect adverse weather conditions, while the pleat around the neck and shoulders provides an extra touch to help prevent rubbing on the skin as your horse moves his head.
Buyers tend to love the elasticated detachable leg straps which fit all shapes and help prevent this turnout rug from slipping out of place during use, and it is also worth noting that the front fastening comes with a double buckle for extra cover and a fixed neck.
All in all, this is the ideal model for cooler nights where you know you will want the extra protection of a neck cover as well as fully body coverage.
4.Masta Avante 340g Fixed Neck Turnout Rug
Masta Avante 340g Fixed Neck Turnout Rug
Price not available Buy on Amazon
Priced in the middle of our top five range, this turnout coat boasts a 340g filling weight and 600 denier exterior cover – creating a finish which is ideal for cool nights and again offers a mild protection against the effect of tearing and ripping.
One of the main selling points of this particular model is its fixed neck and array of fastenings which help keep the rug in place all down the body of your horse – keeping him well protected from every angle.
The tail flap is a particularly innovative feature and helps keep the entire body waterproof, with buyers raving about the perfect fit of the rug on their horse thanks to the adjustable straps which run down the front of the coat.
Again, this particular style comes with a fixed neck and so is particularly ideal for colder nights when you want to ensure complete weather-proofing.
The Masta Avante rug is available in a series of colours, allowing you to pick the colour of your coat based on your surroundings and the colour of your horses coat.
5.WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Essential Combo Neck Heavyweight Rug
This is the most expensive of our top five pick – and for good reason, boasting a sophisticated style which is supported by a denier of 1200 and a polyester filling of 360g. The lining of this heavyweight rug also has its own denier of 210, meaning that even the interior layers have protection against rips and tears.
The exterior of the Weatherbeeta model is crafted from a repel shell coating, which not only prevents rips but is also completely waterproof and windproof – without losing its breathability for the optimum comfort of your horse.
In terms of the fit of this coat, users will find that all the straps are completely adjustable, and that this model includes removable leg straps which can be used or removed in line with the activity levels of your horse and what they find most comfortable.
Available in navy with silver straps, this rug comes in sizes up to 7’3 meaning it is ideal for even the largest of horses without impacting their range of movement or comfort.
Choosing The Right Heavyweight Turnout Rug For Your Horse
So, we’ve uncovered our top five turnout rugs this season and explored a little about what makes them so great. But what exactly should you be looking for in a high quality and effective heavyweight turnout rug, and what makes a heavyweight turnout rug so effective?
Rug Weight
First thing’s first, in order to be considered a heavyweight rug, the weight must have upwards of 300g worth of filling – generating enough warmth across the large surface area to keep your horse warm when the temperature drops. This filling is generally made from a polyester fluff which is stuffed in small pockets of air to create a finish texture which is akin to a sleeping bag or a warm puffy jacket. The combination of fluff and air helps retain your horse’s body heat, keeping them snug even during the coldest nights.
The ideal weight for your horse will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Whether or not your horse is clipped – a clipped horse is one with a shorter coat and so will likely need more in the way of layers for warmth.
- Whether you intend to turn your horse out or keep him in a stable over Winter
- Whether your horse is overweight – if so, and you are looking to help him shift a little weight for the sake of his own legs, a lighter rug will encourage his body to naturally drop the extra weight. It is important in this case that you keep track of the weight and layer your horse back up once the excess weight has been lost.
Rug Material
Of course, it’s not all about weight and filling when it comes to warmth – with waterproofing another key element which will protect your horse from becoming cold in adverse weather conditions. In fact, it is the combination of filling and material which creates the most effective turnout rug, due to the simple fact that if the rug is not waterproof then any rain will seep into the filling and fill it with moisture – and if the outer shell is not tight enough, any wind chill will rip right through it.
Another thing you should consider with regards to the material of your turnout rug is how effective it will be in the face of brambles and other hazards which could easily rip through a thin or soft outer material. The strength of the material is commonly referred to as its denier – with a high denier providing the ideal solution for a horse which is prone to ripping and spoiling the turnout rug. After all, there is no point in investing in high quality fillings and warm layers if the outer layer is simply going to be ripped at the first sign of a little thorn or play fighting!
Features To Look Out For
Once you know what weight and material you are looking for, you will find yourself facing a broad range of other features and options which can add to the usability and functionality of your turnout rug. It can become quite overwhelming when you realise how much choice you have available to you – however, the main thing to do is remember that you are investing in something that will last your horse a number of years, so the most important factors to focus on are size and weight.
Other things you can look out for include:
- Detachable neck cover for extra warmth during the Winter.
- Front closures that ensure the rug stays securely fastened in place for optimum protection – different models and brands use different closure methods, so we recommend familiarising yourself with how these work, and consider how your horse behaves in terms of rubbing his front on objects and items around him.
Heavyweight Turnout FAQ’s
What weight is a heavyweight turnout rug?
Anything with a filling weight of 300g or more is considered a heavyweight turnout rug.
When should you use a heavyweight turnout rug?
This will depend somewhat on your horse and how cold he gets – particularly in relation to how clipped his coat is, his weight, and his activity level.
If you intend on turning your house out all year round, a heavyweight turnout rug should be used as soon as the weather dips to around 4 degrees. Anything lower than zero degrees will require additional layers.
Can you layer up a heavyweight turnout rug?
Yes, and you should do so as soon as the weather dips anywhere below zero degrees. The first step is to add a neck cover when the weather sits around zero degrees, and if it goes lower than this you should look into liner rugs which sit beneath the turnout rug and offer additional heat retentive features.
All of the above models in our top five pick offer enough space for layering, with adjustable straps allowing the outer rug to be loosened in line with the under rugs you decide to fix in place for extra warmth.
For more information about heavyweight turnout rugs, including support and guidance on what the right filling weight and denier rating may be for your horse and their surrounding environment, get in touch with us through our contact page.
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