Caribu Horse Rug Waterproof and Breathability Ratings.

• Waterproofing & Synthetic Rugs
• Waterproofing & Canvas Rugs
• Breathability
• Checking Waterproofing & Breathability

Synthetic Horse Rugs

Any synthetic rug advertised as waterproof is referring to the fabric used for the rug, rather than the whole product. No rug is ever 100% Waterproof. This is because rugs contain stitching, webbing & fastenings that can not always be tape seamed or heat sealed to prevent water penetration. Waterproof synthetic rugs use a chemically treated membrane to prevent water passing through the fibres while allowing air to pass in between the fibres. Synthetic rugs are the best rug for keeping your horse dry and out perform canvas rugs in this regard.

The industry standard for measuring a fabric’s water permeability (or it’s waterproofing ) is to place a column of water on the fabric and increase the level of water on the fabric to find the point at which the water starts to penetrate the fabric. This column of water is then measured to give the fabric’s waterproof rating in mm. e.g. 1500mm. (1.5 meters). For a material to be rated as waterproof it has to pass a minimum Hydrostatic Head test of 1500MM.

All Caribu Synthetic Rugs and Combos are rated to at least 3000MM - more than twice the minimum requirements. Our Synthetic Rugs have a breath ability rating of at least 3000gr/m2/per24hrs.

Ideally you should always be prepared to change a rug that has been subjected to hours of moderate rain for a spare dry one, & dry off the original. While the rug may be keeping the rain out, at the same time the horse's perspiration can build up under the rug.

You will also find that water can wick in around the edges of the rug - this is often only obvious along the skirts. Its quite normal for the bottom area of the skirts to get wet – you usually only see it from the gusset back, as the water runs down the outside of the rug it pools on the bottom lip of the trim and finds its way into the rear lining of the rug where it can wick up the lower lining. Heavy rain, combined with strong winds will also blow water under the edges of a rug and force water into places that would normally be dry in light rain.

You will find most manufacturers use the two tone design in their waterproof rugs, apart from looking good, the tapped skirt seam prevents water from wicking up any further into the rug. The belly surcingles are also located on the lower skirt and water will try to find its way in via the reinforced stitching. Any water entry thru these areas usually reduces after the rug has been in the rain a few times as the thread and materials swell to fill the stitching holes.

You will also notice in lined doona rugs that the poly fill starts upwards from the taped seam, you wont find many quality rugs with poly fill below the taped seam for the reason that it will absorb water – and the skirt generally hangs below the horse rather than being up against their coat.

Breathable - What does it mean?

For any turnout rug to keep your horse comfortable on the inside, both the outer fabric and the lining should also be breathable - because even in cold conditions, your horse will perspire and if a garment does not have sufficient breathability, the moisture (from perspiration) and difference in outside/inside air temperature, will build up as condensation on the inside of the rug.

Keep in mind that regardless of the rugs breathability rating - in wet conditions, it will be reduced to almost zero as water covers the rug's fabric pores. This can cause condensation to accumulate on the inside of the rug. This extra moisture on the inside may also give the illusion that the garment is letting water in from the outside, when in reality it is your horses perspiration and condensation from the difference in outer air temperature. This is more common when using rain sheets, especially in open neck rain sheets, where water enters in around the neckline and then condenses from body warmth

Most Synthetic Turnout combos have a fill or lining of up to 300grams and this alleviates this problem, as it assist's the rug to breath and keeps the horses excess perspiration off the horse's coat. If you are using an unlined rain sheet in humid, extended wet or cold conditions – you may need to use in conjunction with a light cotton under rug or similar with a good moisture wicking properties. The horses perspiration and condensation needs to be transported away from their skin.

It's much like us wearing a raincoat against our bare skin - with your body heat and perspiration, you will soon be very clammy under your raincoat and any moisture that enters via a neckline etc – will condense under the raincoat. You will end up very damp in a short span of time. However if you wear a T-shirt you will help alleviate the problem.

Ratings are expressed in the amount of moisture that will pass thru a fabric in a 24 hour period.

Caribu Rugs are rated for breathability of a minimum of 3000gr/m2/per24hrs.

How can I check if my denier is still waterproof or breathable?

With synthetics, the waterproof membrane is on the underside of the denier. If you hold the rug up to the sun and look up from the underside – you will see the thousands of little pins holes of light – these are the waterproof pores in the fabric that give the rug its breathability. The waterproof membrane insures the holes are smaller than a water molecule – so water cant enter the rug.

Denier Fabrics can be made breathable via using ultra tough hi-tech fabrics which are then coated with a micro-porous formula making the fabric completely waterproof and yet fully breathable. This means that the outer fabric will protect your horse from the rain and elements while still allowing sweat or condensation produced by your horse's heat to escape through.

Canvas Horse Rugs

Not all canvas is created equally and just because a rug its called canvas - don't expect it to be waterproofed. The fabric construction and waterproofing process can vary greatly.

Canvas can range from a 100% cotton blend, which is cool and breathable, to 100% Polyester which is very strong but also can be hot. You will see a huge range of Canvas rugs that fall between the two extremes and their performance will vary significantly. The type of weave and machine the fabric is manufactured on also plays a huge part in the success of the rugs ability to perform well in the waterproofing arena.

With Canvas, its important to understand how canvas has been waterproofed. Their are two different processes used to waterproof canvas. The good old fashioned Canvas, that some of us remember from days of old, is treated via an emersion process. In simple terms, the fabric is submerged in a waterproofing agent and the agent is forced deep into the fabric. This is the best process for treating canvas, as if the canvas is scraped or torn, water wont wick through the fabric..

The alternative waterproofing process is where the fabric is simply sprayed with a wax coating. These rugs are at best only light shower proof, and it's how most of cheap canvas rugs from overseas have been treated. We see many marketing them as 100% waterproof - you will be disappointed. The wax coating wont tolerate more than a heavy shower and the wax coating begins degrading extremely quickly when exposed to the elements.
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At Caribu we have worked hard to develop a Canvas that has been emersion treated, but not empty your pocket!

Our canvas rugs should provide up to 24hr protection from wet weather. This will vary depending on how heavy the rain is, as well as humidity levels. With exposure to heavy or prolonged periods of wet weather- you will need to remove canvas regularly and allow to dry out completely. Canvas will absorb moisture over prolonged exposure to rain as well as condensation that will also form under the rug in humid conditions. You can expect to get a little water thru the stitching in a canvas rug - especially the first time its exposed to rain - as the baric and stitching will need to swell to fill the needle holes.

We suggest for best performance that you apply a waterproofing treatment to your rug after the first 12mths to increase its life.

If you live in a high rainfall area - we suggest a synthetic rug will be better suited as they provide 100% waterproofing.