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 horses… it's easy to get lost 🤯

No need to panic — we'll walk you through it all: simply, clearly, and without any fuss 😉

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 cosier and more duvet-like it gets.

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

Bear in mind: every horse is different. After the first winter, you'll get a better sense of whether yours tends to feel the cold, tolerates rain and wind well, and so on.

🛡️ Deniers represent the durability of the fabric.

• Stable rug or used as an under-rug → no need to go too heavy.

• Horse at pasture, in a herd, or a serial rug-ripper → go for a high denier count if you'd rather not be sewing every Sunday 🪡

More deniers = more durable. 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-rugged horse? Layering. Adapt, add and remove according to the weather, clipping, and your horse's routine.

A few combinations that work well:

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

👉 Discover our 0g rugs

• Cold nights, mild days → add an under-rug at night and remove it in the morning.

👉 Need an under-rug? 

• Stable at night / turnout during the day → stable rug + a sturdy outdoor rug on top, with a 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 both 🌧️❄️

👉 Our exercise sheets for your sessions

• In-hand work / horse walker → choose a rug designed to allow freedom of movement, otherwise things can get messy fast.

👉 Horse 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, robust horse will sometimes get by with just a good waterproof rug.

At OHLALA, we say it often: it's better to adjust throughout the day than to leave a horse poorly rugged all day long. Yes, that sometimes means changing the rug morning and evening 😅

In short 🧭

✔️ 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 🫶