I am about to get a foal and a light horses. Which blankets/rugs do each of them need and why?
you still need to let hem be outside to graze even if for a few hours. if they are in a stall for ALL winter, they will get so stiff that they will be extremely sore for a long time. the only difference between a rug and a blanket is the way that it is spelled. i say a medium weight blanket will be perfect.
Depends if your horse is going to live out all year, or in on a night, whether it's clipped etc etc. As you are getting a foal, don't buy anything too expensive as it's going to grow out of it pretty quickly. You'll need a waterproof rug for outside and a stable rug for inside. It also depends where you live, what sort of weather you tend to get, if there is good shelter in the field. You can get different weights for rugs, a bit like tog rating on a duvet. Don't get one to warm as it can make a horse soft, the main thing is to prevent the worst of the weather getting onto your horse.
In England we used to call them rugs, in the US - blankets. I think rugs was the term used for the old fashioned jute ones that were held in place with a wither pad and roller and then they had additional wool blankets added underneath for more warmth. If the foal is still on her mother, they shouldn't need rugs. For a horse that you are riding, you might want to get a medium weight stable blanket and a medium weight turn out for when it gets really cold. You can get foal blankets but they are really only used if the foal is sick, underweight or unable to sustain body temperature. I prefer not to use foal blankets unless there is a medical need or they are being shown.
Well since you didn't give any information as to where you are and what the weather is there we can't answer the question very well. I blanket my horse because I keep riding all winter. He gets sweaty from working and a wet horse can get sick. So I clip him to prevent the sweaty mess. As I have now removed all of his hair - he needs a blanket to keep him warm. If your horse is not working (foal) and he is stabled at night there is no reason to blanket the foal. If it is wet the horse needs protection, but their coats are warm and somewhat waterproof. It all depends, but remember that over blanketing can cause more problem than underblanketing. A too warm blanket can cause your horse to sweat and that is the last thing you want in the cold. Congrats on your new horses and good luck.
it depends on which country you are from.rugs are the english name for american blankets.kind of like the differance between a girth and a cinch they both do the same thing.in america it would be easier to find horse blankets than rugs but in reality if you live in a really cold climate you can get blankets to keep your horse and foal warm on the really bad days.but otherwise horses need shelter from the wind and rain and snow if they have these they will be fine.horses will grow a winter coat which will keep them warm in winter.make sure you feed them sweet feed or other feed that will keep their energy level up or make themhot for winter.my horses are pastured but have unlimited use of the barn stalls and other run in sheds around the pastureto shelter them from the weather.i am not too keen on blanketing horses unless i can keep watch on them all the time.buckles can get caught on things or cut the horses blankets get torn and under hoof.horses survived the ice age and millions of years without blankets and rugs by using natural shelters. edit; i live on the high plains in colorado where it doesnt snow it snows sideways and drifts and my horses have had no problems in winter
