With the health and wellbeing of a horse always at the forefront of an owner’s mind, a growing number are turning to therapy rugs to help with those annoying little niggles or the stiffness that comes with hard work and advancing years. There is a growing selection of therapy rugs available, some made from technical materials that claim to boost circulation, or you can opt for magnetic therapy to aid muscle health and suppleness.
They tend to come with quite a hefty price tag, and so it’s important to know what you’re buying into when you click on that purchase button. Therefore, to help you, we’ve put six to the test to assess how effective they really are. Each rug has been tested for fit and performance – whether the tester noticed any changes in their horse’s performance and way of going after using the rug. Taking into account their comments on fit and performance, they considered whether the rug offers value for money and whether they would recommend it to other horse owners.
Each therapy rug is given a mark out of five for fit, performance and value for money. Read on to find out our testers’ thoughts.
Protechmasta Therapy Cooler
RRP £169
Sizes: 4ft 6in – 7ft 6in
Fit: True to size and deep. The rug is cut higher over the withers so that it sits up the horse’s neck a little, making it flexible for different shapes of horse – it fits both my Thoroughbred and my warmblood well. It doesn’t slip and the fastenings offer lots of adjustment. 5 stars
Performance: A smart rug that I have used while travelling my horses and at competitions. It has been an effective cooler, wicking away moisture to leave my horse dry. I’ve used it in all weathers for travelling and it has been great at regulating body temperature. It uses Far infrared radiation, a natural process, and is scientifically proven to assist blood circulation, helping to support joints and soft tissue and maintain healthy blood flow, as well as ease muscle tension. I’ve noticed a difference when my horse wears it, especially pre-work and when travelling. He arrives at an event more relaxed and also more supple at the start of his warm-up. He tends to take longer than most to warm up and start moving freely, but wearing this rug definitely reduces that time. 4.5 stars
Value for money: Great value for such a versatile rug. It works well as a cooler and therapy rug. 4.5 stars
Total score: 14
Equilibrium Products Magnetic Rug
RRP £195
Sizes: 5ft 6in – 7ft
Fit: This rug is my horse’s usual size and it fits her well. The soft cotton material is lightweight and it follows the contours of her body well. All the fastenings are good quality and easily adjustable. There’s also a removable neck cover that can be quickly attached to the rug if required. I’ve found that this rug doesn’t slip even when worn overnight. 5 stars
Performance: One of the best things about this rug is that you can move the VITAflex magnets, enabling the targeting of specific areas of our horse. There are six magnets – these stick to the rug lining and stay securely in pace. My horse wore this rug overnight in her stable and for travelling. When she comes off the horsebox she can be a little stiff, and I’ve found that since using the Equilibrium Magnetic Rug this has reduced. She also seems a little more relaxed about life. I also like that you can add the neck cover and use magnets in this area too. 4.5 stars
Value for money: This rug is an investment, but I’m impressed by the results I’ve seen – so it is good value. 4 stars
Total score: 13.5
Bucas Therapy Cooler
RRP £195 – £294
Fit: This rug is a great fit and true to size. The magnet fastening at the chest is a great idea and makes doing up the rug effortless. 4.5 stars
Performance: I’ve mainly used this rug for travelling to shows to help warm up my mare’s muscles and then as an aid to recovery afterwards. My horse appears calmer when she wears this rug, which really helps me with my nerves as it’s one less thing to worry about, and it also means that I can get on with my warm-up. I didn’t find that it performs as well as a cooler, but it didn’t cause my mare to sweat, although the stay-dry lining doesn’t always dry her off effectively. 4 stars
Value for money: I would definitely recommend this rug. I’ve seen a positive difference in my horse when she wears it. 4.5 stars
Total score: 13
Le Mieux Conductive Magno Rug
RRP £299.95
Sizes: Medium, large
Fit: This rug fits well and is a good depth. The fastenings are quick and easy to use, while the three belly straps ensure that the rug fits closely, which is necessary for maximum effect from the magnets. It takes a couple of uses for the rug to mould to the horse’s shape. The lining does rustle. One of my horses wasn’t too sure at first, but once fastened he relaxed. 4.5 stars
Performance: This rug has inner liners that contain a woven layer of steel fibres directly under powerful 2600 gauss twin magnets which are placed over the shoulder, elbow, hip, stifle and second thigh. There are also additional magnets along the spine. My horse wears this rug for travelling to competitions and for lessons. He travels well when wearing it and comes off the lorry looking relaxed. After a hard jumping lesson, or when we’ve been eventing, he seems to recover quickly while wearing it and he doesn’t seem so stiff the following day. The only downside, despite the material being breathable, is that he gets a little warm while wearing it. 4.5 stars
Value for money: Not cheap, but I feel that my horse benefits from wearing it. 4 stars
Total score: 13
Weatherbeeta Therapy-Tec Fleece Standard Neck
RRP £94.99
Sizes: 5ft – 7ft 3in
Fit: A rug that was my horse’s usual size and which proved to be a great fit. The fleece material isn’t very stretchy to the rug keeps it’s shape. I’ve had no problems with it slipping even when worn for longer periods. 5 stars
Performance: I’ve found this smart rug great to use for travelling. It seems to regulate my horse’s temperature really well. How effective it is as a therapy rug is a little difficult to judge. The manufacturer states that the ceramic fibre technology helps to prepare the muscles for exercise and assists in recovery. I can’t say I noticed a huge difference in his way of going, but I’m not sure that you’re meant to? Using a rug like this is more for peace of mind that you’re doing something for your horse’s all-round wellbeing and comfort. 4 stars
Value for money: A good price for a smart rug. 4 stars
Total score: 13
Felix Bühler Walker Rug Ceramic Rehab
RRP £114
Sizes: 5ft 6in – 6ft 9in
Fit: This rug fits well and the cross surcingles have plenty of adjustment to ensure that it stays in place. The Ceramic Rehab is cut out in front of the shoulders to allow complete freedom of movement while it still covers the back to keep the horse warm. 4.5 stars
Performance: This is a versatile rug that can be used during lungeing, in-hand work, or if your horse is on a walker. I’ve used it on both my horses and it has kept them dry (the outer material is waterproof) and warm. It features integrated ceramic fibres in the fleece lining, which reflect body heat and promote blood circulation, helping to aid relaxation and rehabilitation. I can’t say that I noticed a big difference in either of the horses who used this rug, but I’m not sure if a 20-minute lungeing session or in-hand work is long enough for it to have any effect. 4 stars
Value for money: Good value and useful during the cooler months. 4 stars
Total score: 12.5
