Dealing with rugs is nothing short of a nightmare in this weather. Please come back, summer...
1. Pulling off a sopping wet turnout rug and somehow wrapping yourself up in it like a cold, annoyed, living mummy in the process.
2. Wishing like mad that you had a heated rug drier — the height of luxury! As it is, there are few places where you can spread out a heavy, wet six foot rug and realistically expect it to get dry.
3. Trying to hang a wet rug up while mud (at least you hope it’s mud) and water (at least you hope it’s water) drips all over you.
4. That stuff caked under the tail strap. Yeah, that’s poo. Nice.
5. Why won’t the blasted thing dry? Two days later, and it’s still as wet as when you took it off, but now it smells damp and stale, too.
6. At this point, someone always points out that, ‘If you leave it on the horse, it dries much quicker.’ Thanks for that. Really helpful.
7. That distinctive wet rug smell. Wet horse, mould and poo. Urgh.
8. Worrying when it’s blowing a gale and tipping down with ice-cold rain that your horse is too cold, and will be even colder if the rug somehow blows off.
9. Worrying on relatively mild nights that your horse is over-rugged.
10. Did they definitely re-proof it properly when you took it to be cleaned ready for winter? You’re not too sure…
11. Trying to fasten buckles and straps with freezing cold fingers. How long does it take?
12. Untwisting the surcingles before putting the rug on. Rapunzel’s hair had nothing on these tangles.
13. Your horse’s proud face as he trots up to you in the field with the neck/surcingle/front fastenings torn off and the rest of the rug flapping in the breeze. “I’ve been working on this all night, Mum, but in the end it was Horse: One. Rug: Nil!”
14. There’s only one thing for it – you need to buy another rug…
You might also be interested in:
With mud and wet weather a constant problem during the winter, Horse & Hound offers some useful tips on the
A pick of the best lightweight turnouts for changeable weather
Best medium weight turnout rugs for chillier days
12 warm heavyweight turnouts for the winter
Make your horse’s rugs last longer with these useful DIY repair tips
How to clean your horse’s rugs at home
How to waterproof horse rugs: H&H’s ultimate guide
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all summer long
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.