ARE your turnout rugs looking bruised and battered after the ravages of the winter months? Tail-guards torn, straps missing, buckles twisted and hedge-tears from attempts to keep out of the wicked wind and rain? And what about stable rugs – are they stained, soiled and sorry looking too? Are your summer turnouts fresh and ready to go? Your coolers and neck covers, numnahs, saddle cloths, girth sleeves and bandages?

This wet winter has taken its toll on pasture and tested our skills in animal management to the limit. It’s April, but the grass is slow to come in many places. With some warmer, drier weather now upon us, it’s a good time to take stock and to deal with the often many rugs we go through in the winter months keeping our horses, ponies and donkeys protected from the rain and wind.

Disinfection

Turnouts should not require water-proofing every year, it depends on the manufacturer of course, but normally you can get four to five years out of a good turnout before it needs to be reproofed. Tears are another matter of course! Rugs should be disinfected routinely. Disinfection is about preventing the spread of ringworm and viral, bacterial and fungal infections, so it’s extremely important but often forgotten.

Check for missing straps, bent and broken buckles, clips and fasteners and for hedge-tears or bite rips, both inside and out. Make sure your rug-cleaning service offers full disinfection for all products submitted to them.

If you do send your rugs to be cleaned, bag each rug separately and label it with your name and rug details, you can even label the rug itself. If you’ve spent €500 on a good rug, you don’t want to get a €45 one back! Keep a record, so you can check you are getting your own rugs back after cleaning has been completed. Pricing varies according to quantity and the service provider – the average is from €18 to €24 for a turnout or stable rug.

If you decide to wash the rugs yourself then pay attention to the wash temperature – don’t overheat, and most you shouldn’t tumble dry. The experts at Weatherbeeta give the following advice:

Rugs can be machine washed at home, this will depend on the capacity of your drum and machine specification. If you are in any doubt we recommend you seek out the local services of a professional rug washing business to care for your rug.