How To Fit Your Rug

Learn how to fit your WeatherBeeta rug to your horse correctly to prevent rubbing and discomfort.
Getting the perfect fitting rug is vital to keep your horse comfortable, protected and performing at their best.

1. First, lay your WeatherBeeta rug over your horse's back. If your horse has never worn a rug before you may need someone to help hold them while you make adjustments.
   
   
2. Once you have ascertained that the rug fits well around the neck, slide the rug into position along your horse's back so that the coat lies flat. If the seam between the tail flap and the rug sit below the top of the tail, the rug may be too big.
   
   
3. With rugs that feature leg straps, take the left leg strap, pass between the hind legs and fasten it on the left hand side.
   
   
   1. Take the right leg strap, pass it between the hind legs and through the loop made by the left strap and fasten to the right hand side.
      
      
   2. The leg straps are linked to prevent rubbing and act with each other to pull the rug into place. If you fit the rug well it will displace very little through movement and rolling. If the leg straps are too loose, the rug will slip.
      
      
   3. Adjust the leg straps equally until there is room for the width of one hand (4-5") between the leg straps and the horse's thigh. This is to allow freedom of movement.
      
      
4. Buckle the chest straps. It is essential that a rug should fit well on the withers & shoulders so that your horse can move freely underneath the fabric without the rug slipping back. Adjust the buckles and ensure you can still slide your hand down the neck of the rug.
   
   
5. When fitting a rug with cross surcingles care should be taken to ensure that the straps of the surcingle cross in the centre of the horse's belly - well forward of the horse's stifle. Again, there should be a hand's breadth between the straps and the horse's body.