Snowflake is a 25+ yo paddock mare. She is been an outdoors lady all her life, and never had a rug. Currently it is a hot summer here in the Hunter Valley, Australia, and she has grown her natural summer coat. However we have had some freezing wet nights and early one morning when she came for her ''senior equine friend (gumnuts)'' breakfast, she was shivering.
l am going to increase her food, and get the farrier to check her feet, but l thought l would also get her an unlined canvas rug to put on her on a cold or wet night.
l thought it might be a good idea to have some kind of lightweight lining under the rug, so l can just wash the liner and not have to worry about trying to clean a canvas rug too often.
My ideas on this are:
1. Buy a lightweight cotton or jute rug and put on under the canvas rug like lots of folks do.
2. Drape a rectangle shape of fabric over her back, under the rug, ( likely scenario:just going to slide off and maybe tangleup...)
3. Drape a rectangle shape of fabric over her back, clip on with one of those surcingles you can buy separately for stable rugs, and put canvas rug over. (possible problem: she has a ticklish belly, what if thisupsets her while she is trying to snooze?)
4. Attach velcro to the Canvas rug and velcro to the piece of fabric, and make them the one rug, but separable ( possible problem: where to put the bits of velcro in case they might rub and annoy Snowflake)

Any ?

yeah l think that number 1 or 4 . 1 is easier. you could put the velcro over the wither and either over or down the rump that should keep it in place also if the under rug is not lined with satin on the shoulders buy a bib as her shoulders will rub out. hope i've helped. good luck.

I'd put a fleece sheet on under the canvas, or just a regular light weight sheet just to add a layer. make sure they have surcingles and leg straps, you dont want it to fall off or move under the canvas blanket, that can cause rubs

Why not just get a turnout sheet? Overall l think it will cost u less money, be less maintainance, etc. l know u want to save on laundry by having a removable liner but the reality is that the gap between the canvas & whatever material u have on the inside (which u need to keep her hair where it belongs) will collect moisture, dirt, dust & grossness (probably insects too) & the outside of the blanket is going to become filthy anyway.

l honestly would go with #1. Personally l only wash my blankets once a year & that is with my horse outside 24/7 (he has an in-and-out stall, he prefers to be out). Turnout sheets r super easy.

l am not sure how cold it gets there, but a light-medium weight turn out sheet is probably ur best bet. The more u layer, the more u ask for problems like blanket sliding, irritation, bugs & debris between layers & such. Turn out blankets r water proof & if u get a good one they last many years with only needing small repairs.

Velcro will work, but u can not put it anywhere it might rub on her, so the sides & around the neck r probably the best, possibly the butt area depending on weather or not it has a tail flap.

we used a new zealand rug on our old boy for turn out. He was in his 30 is & the weather here is nasty in winter. The canvas rug alone kept him warm thru most of the winter, for especially cold wet nasty days l used industrial strength self stick velcro. A strip along the center back & down chest of the blanket. A old wool blanket was cut to fit as a liner & had the matching bit of velcro added. the amish saddler up the road charged me $10 to stitch the velcro in once l had it set right. Put the fuzzy side on the inside of the blanket. Then if u dont want the liner there is nothing to aggitate the horse.