When shopping for rugs, especially turnout rugs, you’ll notice that the “denier” of the rug is commonly included as part of important features to consider. This term specifically references the thickness of the individual thread used in the yarn weave of the rug’s outer shell. The higher the denier, the thicker the weave which produces a tougher and more hard-wearing fabric.
When shopping for horse rugs the most common denier rates you will see are 210D, 600D, 900D and 1200D.
The very lightest denier of 210D is the lowest strength. This fabric is normally only used for stable rugs, not turnout rugs which will need to put up with more wear and tear.
The lowest denier you will normally see in turnout rugs is 600D. This has a medium level of strength and would only really be recommended for horses who are easy on their rugs, or for owners looking to replace their rugs seasonally. If your horse is calm, in a well fenced field and doesn’t play too much or too rough with other horses, a 600D rug should be suitable.
Choosing a higher denier of 900D or 1200D will mean you are spending more on your initial rug purchase but the rug will be more durable and out-live other options. They are more economical in the long run and are safer for your horse to wear. If your horse is spending a majority or all of his time turned out, is very playful or typically trashes his rugs, a tougher 1200D turnout will stand up to more wear and tear and will last well.
