What are the materials used in our rugs?

Acrylic is the chemical name of a family of thermoplastic resins used in a variety of products. Acrylic is lightweight, soft and warm with a wool-like feel. It is resilient, retains its shape, and resists shrinkage and wrinkles. It is often used in stable rugs and coolers. The quality of acrylic fabric can vary dramatically from inexpensive felt-type material to high-quality textured wovens.

The AquaTrans Hydrophilic coating is a solid continuous barrier applied directly to the fabric therefore it has very high adhesion properties - If cared for properly your rug should stay waterproof for years and years! AquaTrans coating allows, on average, 3 litres of water per square metre per 24 hours to escape. This is known as the Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate or MVTR.

Ballistic is a generic term used to describe a very tightly woven, durable cloth. Ballistic nylon was originally developed by the DuPont corporation as a material for flak jackets to be worn by World War II airmen. The term ballistic nylon takes its name from the fact that it was intended to protect its wearers from flying debris and shrapnel caused by bullet or artillery shell impacts. Today the word ballistic is often applied to any strong, sturdy fabric. Ballistic nylon and Cordura ballistic fabric are commonly used in horse rugs.

Cotton is a natural fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. It is a soft, lightweight, absorbent and breathable rug material. It is typically used in coolers and sheets, often combined with polyester to increase durability. Cotton quality has a broad range. Inexpensive cotton fabric tends to shrink and dyed colours may bleed. In contrast, high-quality cotton is specially treated to prevent these problems.

Denier is a unit of measure expressing the thickness of the thread or yarn to make a fabric. A high number indicates a large fibre and a stronger material; a low number indicates a finer fabric. Because of its association with durability, the denier of fabrics used in horse rugs often is included in descriptions; it ranges from 420 to as much as 1200. Usually denier is indicated by the abbreviation D, as in 'a 1000D nylon outer shell.' However, denier is only one of the ways to determine material strength or durability; the actual material used will affect the ultimate strength of the fabric.

A general term for synthetic insulating material used in heaver-weight horse rugs, fibrefill is typically made of polyester or olefin. The fibres are crimped or texturised and intermeshed to form a thick, fluffy mass. Even when wet, fibrefill traps body heat, keeping it close to the skin. The amount of fibrefill in a horse rug is generally measured in grams per square metre and is related to the warmth it provides - in other words, the heavier the weight, the warmer the rug.

Strictly speaking, fleece is the wool from a sheep but currently the term also refers to any number of soft, synthetic pile fabrics. Fleece provides warmth with minimal weight and it wicks away moisture from the wearer, making it popular for coolers. Fleece is also used to line the areas of a rug, such as the section over the withers, that otherwise might rub a horse.

The first completely synthetic fibre ever developed, nylon was originally used for toothbrush bristles followed more famously by women's stockings. Known for its strength and resilience, nylon is often used as the inner liner of rugs; its smooth surtace reduces friction between the garment and the horse. When nylon is used for the outer shell of a turnout rug, it is first treated to make it waterproof/breathable.

A manufactured fibre made from synthetic polymers, polyester is lightweight, strong and resistant to shrinking, creasing, stretching and abrasion. It is washable, holds up to the elements and dries quickly. Polyester clothing is generally considered to have a "less natural" feeling to it compared to natural fibers. It is often used for the outer fabric of many stable rugs. In addition, polyester is the most widely used outer material for waterproof turnout rugs because it provides relatively high performance at an affordable price.

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer, used in a wide variety of applications, including food packaging, textiles, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes. Polypropylene fabric does not retain moisture, which makes it a popular choice for the outer shell of turnout rugs. It is also used for binding or webbing. Worth noting:Polypropylene fabric has a relatively low melting point, so you'll want to avoid putting it in the dryer.

Rip-stop nylon is often used in hot air balloons, kites, parachutes, camping equipment, flags, banners and many other applications which require a strong lightweight fabric. Ripstop describes a quality that increases a fabric's strength and durability while adding minimal additional weight. Within the weave of ripstop fabric a heavy, usually nylon thread runs at half-inch intervals both lengthwise and crosswise. As a result, if the fabric is punctured or torn, the defect goes only as far as the tougher additional thread.

All Horseware Turnouts will use Thermobonded fibre. When your horse rolls and attempts to flatten his rug the fibre will get squashed but when he gets up the thermobonded fibre will regain its original structure and thickness. This is important as it is the loft of the fibre that determines how warm your horse's rug is and not just the weight. This is because it is the air that circulates around the horse that keeps him warm and so the thinner the fibre the less air can circulate between the horse and the outer of his rug.

The Horseware Nanotech Moisture Management system involves cross linking (chemical bonding) of hydrophobic (water repelling) molecules to the fibres of the yarns. This creates a barrier to prevent water droplets from penetrating the fabric while allowing water vapour and perspiration to freely pass through. Because the Horseware Nanotech System does not use a solid film to coat the fabric, the natural handfeel is preserved.