WeatherBeeta began making horse rugs in 1980 and were pioneers in the use of synthetic materials for horse rugs and dog coats rather than traditional canvas horse rugs. With over 40 years of experience producing horse rugs, Weatherbeeta is a horse cover brand every Kiwi horse owner knows. Weatherbeeta continue to innovate in rug design every season, and with a focus on quality weather protection, Weatherbeeta offer a 3 year rug warranty from the date of purchase on the outer shell fabric, the waterproofness, the breathability of the outer fabric, and other faulty materials or workmanship.
Weatherbeeta Comfitec Rugs - Essential vs Premier, Dynamic, Ultra Tough & Ultra Cozi
The WeatherBeeta Essentials range is a slightly more cost effective waterproof turnout rug range which are still excellent quality and made with high performance materials; the manufacturing savings are made on things like clip style, smaller tail flaps and fleece instead of memory foam padding over the withers, and this cost saving is passed on to horse owners who are buying the rugs.
Weatherbeeta's Comfitec Essentials rugs tend to be a more traditional fit, slightly less generous through the chest and depth, but many Essentials rugs come in 'Wide' fit for more solidly built horses.
WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Essential rug range is ideal for horse owners looking for a durable, reliable, and cost-effective horse cover, or people who own a lot of horses, or for fast-growing young horses.
The WeatherBeeta ComFiTec Premier and Dynamic horse cover styles often feature more advanced, contoured designs and wider, more versatile fit options ideal for horses with bigger shoulders, chest and deeper girth.
The more premium ComFiTec collections offer more specialized comfort features (like memory foam), advanced easy-snap closures, larger tail flaps, and more tailored fits (especially for wider built horses) making these rug ranges perfect for performance horses and broader horses.
Measuring your horse for a Weatherbeeta Rug
Choosing your Weatherbeeta Rug size
Selecting a Weatherbeeta Rug Fill & Outer Strength
Light Weight Turnout (no fill) - Ideal for warmer conditions when you may need protection from passing rain showers and wind chill.
Light Plus Turnout (50g) - Ideal rug for wet weather with mild temperatures, or more northern areas of New Zealand all year around.
Medium / Light Turnout (100g) - Ideal transitional rug between light weight & medium weight. Likely to be the warmest rug you need for an unclipped horse around Auckland and Northland.
Medium Weight Turnout (approx. 220grams of fill) - Ideal for use in between seasons when conditions are beginning to get colder or cool climates, or for clipped horses or older horses.
Heavy Weight Turnout (300+ grams of fill) - Ideal for winter conditions and colder climates to keep your horse warm in the field even in snow and southern storms.
How to fit your new Weatherbeeta Rug to your horse
Getting the perfect fit for your new Weatherbeeta rug is vital to keep your horse comfortable, protected, healthy and capable of performing at their best.
Step 1: First, lay your WeatherBeeta rug over your horse's back.
FIRST TIME RUGGING YOUR HORSE?
If your horse has never worn a rug before, take your time showing them the rug and allow them to become confident with the rug lying on the ground, on a fence, moving, flapping lightly, and with being touched with the rug before you ask to place it over them. Let them feel the weight of the rug while reassuring them, then lead them around a little so they understand how it moves. If they show any anxiety at all, it's a great idea to take a few sessions to ensure they feel safe before placing it on and doing it up. Having someone to help with holding them while you make adjustments might be a better idea than tying them, in case they feel the need to move. Avoid trying a rug on a young horse for the first time on a windy day or if they are already feeling elevated for any reason.
Step 2: Once you are sure that the rug fits well around the neck, slide the rug into position along your horse's back so that the coat lies flat. If the seam between the tail flap and the rug sits below the top of the tail, the rug may be too big.
Step 3: With rugs that feature leg straps:
- Take the left leg strap between the hind legs and fasten it to the back clip on the left hand side.
- Take the right leg strap between the hind legs and through the loop made by the left leg strap, and fasten to the clip on the right hand side.
- The leg straps are linked to prevent rubbing and act with each other to keep repositioning the rug into the right place. If you fit the rug well it will won't slip off to one side with cantering and rolling, but if the leg straps are too loose, the rug will be likely to slip. It's important to adjust the leg straps equally until there is room for the width of one hand (held sideways, so 10-12cm) between each leg strap and the horse's thigh to allow the right freedom of movement without being too loose.
Step 4: Buckle the chest straps. It is essential that a rug should fit well on the withers & shoulders so that your horse can move freely without the rug slipping back. Adjust the buckles and ensure you can still slide your hand easily down the neck of the rug.
Step 5: When fitting a rug with cross surcingles care should be taken to ensure that the straps are adjusted so they cross in the centre of the horse's belly - well back from the horses front legs and forward of the horse's stifle. Again, there should be a hand's width (held sideways, so 10-12cm inches) between the straps and the horse's body.
Ready to shop Weatherbeeta Rugs?
Here's our Weatherbeeta collection - use the sort menu to find the style you want!
