This Arkle Full Neck Heavy Weight Turn Out Rug is a 350 gram rug that is perfect for winter weather.

The outer surface of the  Arkle Full Neck Heavy Weight Turn Out Rug is manufactured from 600 denier ripstop polyester. 600 denier ripstop polyester is a tough, durable fabric that is suitable for animal use. It is water resistant and breathable and filled with 350g polyfill filling. This is a warm rug that keeps the heat in, and the cold and weather out.

This Arkle Full Neck Heavy Weight Turn Out Rug is supplied with fully adjustable double front buckle fastening and double Velcro neck fastenings for increased security and peace of mind.

This Arkle Full Neck Heavy Weight Turn Out Rug incorporates Tailand shoulder gussets for that additional freedom of movement.

Key Features of This Arkle Full Neck Heavy Weight Turn Out Rug

• 350 gram rug.
• perfect for the winter weather.
• tough, durable
• water resistant and breathable
• Outer 600 denier ripstop polyester. 
• The inner surface - nylon lining.
• It is filled with 350g polyfil filling.
• supplied with fully adjustable double front buckle fastening and double Velcro neck fastenings for increased security and peace of mind.
• Tailand shoulder gussets for that additional freedom of movement.

A GUIDE TO BUYING THE BEST TURN OUT RUG FOR YOUR HORSE.

If you’re confused by the massive choice of turnout rugs on the market, here is everything you need to know about deniers, outers, linings, and fastenings to make sure you know how to choose a turnout rug and know it’s the best option.

The best turnout rug for your horse will keep him warm and dry while he’s in the field, providing a comfortable but durable layer against the elements. Rug design has come a long way from the days of the simple canvas New Zealand, but this does mean that choosing an outdoor model from the many variations on the market can be little overwhelming.

Panic not, because we’ve devised the ultimate no-nonsense guide to how to choose the best turnout rug. Whether you’re looking for the best rain sheet, lightweight, medium weight or heavyweight turnout – from filling weights to fillet strings – we’ve got the subject covered.

Which weight?

The first choice you’ll be faced with is rug weight: light, medium or heavy. In simple terms, lightweight is sufficient for spring or autumn, while medium and heavyweight are more suited to the British winter and the colder months either side of it. There’s more to it than that, of course, so let’s take a closer look at the weight factor.

The stated rug weight (300g, for example) refers to its filling – the polyester fluff that captures pockets of air to generate warmth (much like a puffy jacket or a sleeping bag). This ‘polyfill’ is measured in grams per square metre (GSM) and can vary from 0g in a no-fill rain sheet to 400g or more in the heaviest winter turnout.

The amount of filling will largely determine the warmth offered by the rug. It’s also worth considering the quality of the materials and the overall design and construction of the rug, however, as it’s the complete package that counts where warmth is concerned. We’ll move onto those important points in a moment.

So which weight will suit your horse? There’s no easy answer to this one, as his type, age, weight, workload and general health will all affect his ability to bear the cold. While a clipped-out and thin-skinned thoroughbred might need a weightier fill in the depths of winter, a more robust type or a part-native might swelter under so much insulation.

Living conditions make a difference, too – a paddock offering plenty of natural shelter is a different prospect to an exposed field on a northern hillside. With time, you’ll get to know your horse’s normal temperature range and how he copes with his environment.

Some rugs feature detachable layers or quilts as a solution to changing seasons and conditions, allowing you the flexibility to add or remove insulation as necessary. You’ll pay more for this option, but it might be a cheaper long-term solution than buying an extensive wardrobe of different rug weights.

The outer shell

A turnout rug needs a tough outer shell, able to withstand not just the elements but also hazards ranging from other horses’ teeth to bramble bushes.

Rugs come in different deniers, denoted with a D rating, which refers to the number of yarns used to make one thread. The higher the denier, the stronger the fabric.

When choosing denier, consider your horse’s lifestyle. A lower denier of around 600D may well suffice for the more placid horse or one living alone or with a quiet companion, but could turn out to be false economy for a serial rug-wrecker. A higher denier – some rate at 1680D – is a better bet for the rough and tumble of the herd.

Further fabric options include rip-stop construction, where an interwoven cross-hatch halts any rips in their tracks – a reassuring extra if you’ve ever been to fetch your horse and found him with his rug hanging in strips around his fetlocks. Another choice is ballistic nylon, a material that’s as tough as it sounds. A good rug will have some potential to rip, however, in the event that the horse gets himself caught up and starts to panic.

A dry horse will be a warmer one, so it goes without saying that a turnout rug should be waterproof. Although a high denier count does not indicate a rug’s waterproof qualities, a tightly woven fabric does tend to repel water (and wind) more efficiently.

The rug’s waterproof qualities come from the treatment of its outer material, so look for modern finishes and barrier technologies designed to keep the wet out. Some fabrics are rated for their waterproof qualities (5,000 WP would be high). Bear in mind, however, that waterproofing can diminish with age and wear, so be prepared to re-treat rugs when necessary. Incessant rain may eventually penetrate even a quality rug, most probably through any seams and openings, so opt for a seamless model to minimise this or invest in a spare.

Almost as important as a rug’s outer waterproofing is its breathability. Unless you want your horse to be wrapped in the equivalent of a sweaty plastic bag, pay attention to the rug’s ability to allow perspiration to evaporate. If you over-rug him, though, no amount of breathability will prevent the formation of damp and sweaty patches.

Cut and colour

Modern turnouts are designed to cocoon a horse in an envelope of warmth, with many offering a choice of shapes to cover the extremities.

The standard neck shape stops at the withers and is good for warmer weather. A high-neck finishes further up for a more snug effect and tends to prevent rain draining down the neck and inside the shoulder area of the rug, while a ‘combo’ features full neck padding for the ultimate in protection.

Ensure your horse remains warm and dry during the coldest months of the year with our selection of the best

An added advantage of full neck cover is a cleaner horse, but downsides include the possibility of a rubbed mane and the fact that you can’t remove this extra insulation during a warm spell. A detachable neck offers greater flexibility, although the attachment area does pose leak potential in driving rain. Tail flaps offer further protection at the other end, with a choice of designs and extended lengths.

Take a look, too, at the gussets that shape the rug and provide a close-fitting, wrap-around effect to keep draughts out. These design points are not just a cosy extra. A good cut will allow the horse more freedom of movement and help prevent the rug from slipping or rubbing. There’s less chance, too, of excess fabric snagging on branches or flapping in high winds.

If you’ve a particularly wide-chested horse or a high-withered type, new build-specific models are available from some manufacturers to accommodate these shapes.

Gone are the traditional surcingle’s that put pressure on the spine – turnouts stay in place with innovative under-belly cross-surcingle’s, chest closures, wipe-clean under-tail fillet strings and leg straps that may be elasticated, adjustable and removable.

Much is down to your horse’s preference but think about when and where you’ll be fiddling with these fittings – if you’re changing a rug in the field in the dark, you may be glad you paid more for no-fuss or touch-close fastenings that can even be done one-handed.

Delivery Information

Delivery Service

Here at Agridirect we have joined forces with DPD to ensure all packages are delivered promptly and safely to you. We ship to all mainland countries within the EU. Deliveries take place Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Once your order has been dispatched from our warehouse you will be notified by email. If there is a delay with your order for any reason you will be contacted immediately. 

Due to Brexit we are temporarily unable to ship to the UK. Shipping to Northern Ireland will remain in place.

Delivery Times

Some products have an extended delivery time, this is noted on the products.

Delivery Rates

A selection of the products we sell are only licensed for sale within the Republic Of Ireland and can not be shipped outside of the country. These products are noted as only being available within the Republic of Ireland on the individual product pages.

There may be an addition charge on certain bulky items. This charge will be clearly marked on an applicable products and will be explained on the checkout page before payment has been made.

Agridirect Returns Policy

We’re sorry your purchase didn’t work out. But don’t worry; we have a great returns policy to help you out.

All purchases can be returned to us within 14 days of delivery and returned goods must be received within 14 days from the date you informed us of the return.

Purchases may be opened for inspection but must not be used and must be repackaged securely in the original packaging if you wish to return it.

If we discover goods have been used or there has been a loss in value of the goods due to damage to the goods, while in your care or whilst being returned to us, we will reduce the amount refunded, which may amount to the full cost of the product, to cover loss of value of goods.

All returns should be complete which includes boxes, manuals and accessories that may have been included with the order.

All returns must be packaged appropriately for shipping, we will not accept responsibility for damages or loss which occur during shipping of a return product.

We accept no responsibility for goods damaged or lost while in transit to us. 

How do I return a product?

We have partnered with DPD to make your returns process easy and secure. simply follow the steps below and bring your package to an official DPD pickup point.

1) All returns must be accompanied with a fully filled out returns form which can be downloaded here.

2) To print off your return label click here or visit www.dpd.ie/returns and follow the on-screen instructions. Make sure and use your order number as your reference.

• Select “Continue as Guest”
• Select “Agridirect” from the drop-down menu
• Select your reason for returning
• Select the size of the package you wish to return
• Accept DPD’s terms and conditions
• Fill in your payment details
• Fill in your own details
• Follow the instructions to print off your label

3) Bring your package to a DPD pickup point. To find your nearest drop off point here.

Once the returned product has been received into our warehouse and been fully inspected a refund will be issued.

If you choose not to use the DPD returns service we recommend that you use a method that can be tracked.

For the return of bulk products please contact us at sales@agridirect.ie

I have received a damaged product from you, what should I do?

First off, if you have received a damaged electrical product from us, do not plug it in. Any electrical products that are plugged in are deemed ‘as used and accepted’ and are not accepted as returns. All damages must be reported to us via phone or email within 24hours of receipt of goods. Please ensure you check your items upon delivery.

How do I begin the returns process?

If you wish to begin the return process, please email us at sales@agridirect.ie and ensure the following information is included in your email. Your name, phone number, Order id, the item you wish to return, reason for return and if the product is damaged we require photos of the product.

Once you have sent us all required information a member of our team will assess your claim and will contact you as soon as possible. Please hold off on returning products until a member of our team has called you to confirm.

Refunds

Once the returned product has been returned to us and fully inspected a refund will be issued.

Please Note: A typical timeline for a refund to show in your account is up to 10 working days from the date processed, depending on your bank.