A preliminary study investigating the effect of rug-wearing on measured stride length in horses

The use of equine rugs is common practise in colder climates to assist thermoregulation. Layering rugs in the stable for warmth is anecdotally common practise. Layering of clothing has shown to produce restrictions in human movement, limiting joint angles and causing participants to alter motion strategy. This study investigated the effect of rug-wearing on measured walk stride length and rug-layering over a 28-day period.

Highlights

• Wearing rugs decreases horses’ walk stride length, indicating a potential effect on horses’ musculoskeletal system.
• Layering 2 rugs over a period of 28 days significantly decreases the horses’ walk stride length to a greater extent than wearing only 1 rug for the same period.
• Understanding the biomechanical implications of rug use and layering rugs are important in support of horses’ comfort and well-being.

Authors: Troup M., Charlton S., Routledge N., Selfridge J., Hunnisett A. (2025)

Abstract

Poster

Poster presentation at British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) Annual conference 2025.
Abstract published in BSAS Proceedings 2025 (#197 on Page 464)