08/10/2025
DOES WEARING A RUG CHANGE A HORSE'S BEHAVIOUR?
Horse owners often rug ‘just in case’. Concerns about over-rugging have frequently focused on the horse overheating, but a new Royal Veterinary College study carried out in mild autumn conditions shows rugs also change horse behaviour.
The research took place at two UK livery yards: the RVC teaching herd and a private riding-school. Horses were mixed ages, sizes and genders, many ex-rescues; all were healthy and accustomed to rugs. Each horse was observed with and without a turnout rug in 30-minute sessions (172 sessions total).
Weather conditions were about 1–15 °C with a light–moderate wind. Rugs were owner-supplied waterproof turnouts with 0–200 g fill. No heat or cold stress was detected.
To observe and record changes in behaviour the team used a validated ethogram, observing the horses and timing every behaviour second-by-second during each 30-min observation.
When the rugs were on the horses walked less and self-groomed less at both sites; tail-swishing and head-shaking also dropped (head-shaking at one site). Grazing increased at one yard, not the other — so local environment (e.g. flies, wind, management) matters.
Tail-swishing increased as temperature rose and decreased with wind. Importantly, no tail-swishing was observed below 5 °C in this dataset. These patterns fit reduced insect activity in cooler or windier conditions.
So why did tail-swishing drop in rugs? Could it be the horses found it uncomfortable to swish their tail when wearing a rug, or were there fewer insects? The authors argue the most likely driver was reduced midge irritation (the rugs acting as a barrier), though they note rugs can also block self-grooming and add weight/straps that might subtly affect movement. Keep both interpretations in mind for your horse.
The take home message here is that rugs in cool, still weather may reduce horses being bothered by insects, but they can also reduce movement and natural self-care. So make rugging decisions on a case-by-case basis. Base the decision on your individual horse, the day’s conditions, whether the rug fits well and their freedom of movement – not just habit!
Study details: Daw et al. (2025) Effect of turnout rugs on the behaviour of horses under mild autumn conditions in the United Kingdom. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2025).
