HORSE BLANKETS: a puzzle that's about to make perfect sense 🙈

Do you rug your horse?

If so, you've probably already asked yourself THE big question: how do I choose the right rug? And if not... you will one day, trust us. Because between fill weights, deniers, rain, cold, clipped or unclipped... it can get overwhelming fast 🤯

Don't worry, we'll walk you through everything: simply, clearly, and without the headache 😉

1️⃣ Fill weight & deniers: what do they mean?

🧵 Fill weight indicates how much warmth your rug will provide.

• 0g: no warmth, perfect as a windbreaker or for an unclipped horse.

• 100g, 200g, 300g...: the higher you go, the more like a cosy winter duvet it becomes.

👉 To help you, we include a warmth gauge on every product page by OHLALA

Bear in mind that every horse is different. After the first winter, you'll start to discover whether yours runs cold or not, how well they cope with rain and wind, and so on.

🛡️ Deniers represent the durability and strength of the fabric.

• Stable rug or use as an underliner → no need to go for a high denier count.

• Field-kept horses, herd horses, or serial rug-destroyers → go for a high denier count if you don't want to be sewing every Sunday 🪡

More deniers = more robust. And, as we all know, fewer tears = more peace of mind 🥰

2️⃣ The layering technique 🧅 (or the art of layering up)

The secret to a well-covered horse? Playing with layers. Adapt, add, remove — depending on the weather, the clip, and your horse's routine.

A few combinations that work well:

• Unclipped + rain → a 0g waterproof rug is enough.

👉 Discover our 0g rugs

• Cold at night, mild during the day → add an underliner at night and remove it in the morning.

👉 Need an underliner? 

• Stable at night / field during the day → stable rug underneath, topped with a robust outdoor rug, complete with neck cover, tail flap and gussets for freedom of movement.

👉 Browse our stable rugs 

• Riding → an exercise sheet is a must! Fleece if it's cold, waterproof if it's raining, waterproof fleece if it's all of the above 🌧️❄️

👉 Our exercise sheets for your sessions

• In-hand work / walker → choose a rug designed to allow freedom of movement, otherwise you're asking for trouble.

👉 Walker rugs

3️⃣ Adapting to YOUR horse

Every horse is different, so forget one-size-fits-all rules. Observe your horse — their clip, their lifestyle, their sensitivity to the cold. A clipped, cold-sensitive horse will need a full wardrobe. A hardy, sturdy type will sometimes get by with just a good waterproof rug.

At OHLALA, we always say: it's better to adjust throughout the day than to leave a horse in the wrong rug all day. Yes, that sometimes means changing rugs morning and evening 😅

In a nutshell 🧭

✔️ Fill weight = warmth

✔️ Deniers = durability

✔️ Layers = adaptability

✔️ Your horse = your best guide 

We hope this article has helped you find your way through the world of horse rugs! If so, mission accomplished 🫶