You rugged your horse for winter — because you're a good horse parent and you care. Then one day you pull the rug back and there it is. A bald patch. Maybe two. Possibly a sad little red spot that's definitely going to make you feel guilty for the next week.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. Rug rubs are one of the most common skin complaints in horses during cooler months — and honestly, even the most well-fitted rugs can cause them.
The good news? You can do something about it. Here's what's actually going on, why it happens, and how to help your horse's skin look and feel more comfortable. 🐴
So What Actually Is a Rug Rub?
A rug rub (sometimes called a rug sore) is exactly what it sounds like — friction between the rug and your horse's skin that causes irritation, hair loss and sometimes dry, flaky or sensitive-looking patches.
They most commonly show up:
→ On the shoulders and withers (where the rug sits and moves most)
→ Along the chest and neck where the rug's front buckles sit
→ Behind the elbows where leg straps rub
→ Along the spine if the rug is sitting too low or too tight
Even a well-fitted, correctly sized rug can cause rubs — especially if your horse moves a lot, has prominent withers, or if the rug gets wet and dries stiff.
Why Does It Happen Even With a Good Rug?
Great question. Here are the most common culprits:
1. Rug fit isn't quite right
Even a 'correct size' rug can sit differently on different horses. A horse with high withers, a chunky shoulder or an unusual topline might experience rubs that a more 'average' shaped horse wouldn't. If the rug is too tight across the shoulder, it restricts movement and causes friction with every step.
2. The rug gets dirty or wet
A rug that's been rained on, rolled in or covered in mud gets heavy, stiff and abrasive. Grit and dirt trapped between the rug lining and the coat acts like sandpaper over time. This is why regular rug washing (yes, it's a chore, we know) makes a real difference.
3. Your horse moves a lot
Active horses, horses that roll frequently, or horses that sleep lying down for long stretches tend to get more rubs. The rug shifts, creeps forward or backward, and suddenly there's friction in places there wasn't before.
4. Sensitive or fine-coated horses
Thoroughbreds, warmbloods and horses with naturally fine or clipped coats are more prone to rubs. Less coat = less natural protection between the rug and the skin.
5. Layering rugs
Stacking a liner under a heavyweight rug sounds cozy in theory — but if the liner shifts underneath, you can end up with double the friction in double the spots. Make sure liners are specifically designed to be used under rugs and aren't moving around.
How to Help Prevent Rug Rubs
You can't always prevent them completely — but you can reduce how often they happen and how severe they are.
👑 Check rug fit regularly — especially as your horse's condition changes through winter. A horse that loses or gains weight will need a different fit.
→ Wash and re-proof rugs at least once a season so the lining stays soft and clean
→ Check under the rug every day — even just a quick feel of the shoulders and withers takes 30 seconds
→ Consider a rug bib or shoulder guard for horses that are prone to rubs — these sit between the rug and the skin in high-friction areas
→ Rotate rugs if you have more than one — this gives each rug time to air out and dry fully
→ Keep the skin and coat underneath conditioned — healthy, nourished skin and coat tends to experience less friction damage than dry, flaky skin
What To Do When You Find a Rug Rub
First — don't panic. Rug rubs look worse than they often are. Here's a practical approach:
Step 1: Remove the rug and assess
Give the area a gentle look and feel. Is the skin just hairless or is it also red, warm or sensitive to touch? A simple bald patch with no broken skin is very common and manageable. If the skin looks broken or your horse is showing signs of significant discomfort, check with your vet.
Step 2: Keep it clean
Gently clean the affected area with warm water. Pat dry — don't rub. You want to remove any dirt or sweat without aggravating the skin further.
Step 3: Give the skin some love
This is where daily skin care makes a real difference. Keeping the affected area — and the surrounding skin — feeling soft, comfortable and conditioned helps support the appearance of healthier skin.
This is exactly what we made Soothe It for. 💜
Soothe It is our purple comfort cream — designed for exactly these moments. It's gentle enough for daily use, kind to sensitive skin, and leaves the area feeling soft and nourished rather than tight and dry.
A lot of our customers use it as a daily preventative during rug season — a little applied to the shoulders, withers and chest before rugging helps keep those high-friction areas feeling conditioned and comfortable.
👑 Apply Soothe It to rug rub-prone areas before putting the rug back on. It takes 30 seconds and your horse will appreciate it — especially if they've got prominent withers or a spot that always seems to rub.
Step 4: Check the rug before putting it back on
Before you re-rug, check that the lining is clean and soft, the fit hasn't changed and the buckles aren't sitting directly on any irritated spots. If the same rug caused the rub, it might be worth trying a different one or adding a rug bib while the area recovers.
Step 5: Be consistent
Skin care isn't a one-time fix. Checking your horse's skin daily during rug season, keeping the area nourished, and being consistent with a simple routine makes a huge difference over time. Most rug rubs respond really well to consistent, gentle daily care.
Will the Hair Grow Back?
In most cases — yes! Hair regrowth depends on how deep the friction damage went and how consistently the area is cared for. Keeping the skin feeling healthy and conditioned supports the best environment for hair to grow back naturally.
Some horses with recurring rubs in the same spot may find hair grows back slightly different in colour or texture — this is normal and usually improves over subsequent coat cycles.
👑 Grow It, our natural mane and tail serum, is loved by our customers for supporting hair growth in patchy or rubbed-out areas. A number of our community members use it on rug rub spots to help support regrowth — just apply gently to the skin around and on the affected area.
Meet Soothe It — Your Rug Season Essential 💜
We created Soothe It because rug season is real and rug rubs are real — and horse owners needed something gentle, effective and easy to use every single day.
It's a soft purple comfort cream that:
→ Leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable — especially under rugs and gear
→ Is gentle enough for daily use on sensitive horses
→ Helps the appearance of dry, uncomfortable skin look more nourished
→ Is made in Australia with natural ingredients — no nasties, no harsh chemicals
→ Safe for daily use across the season, not just when things go wrong
Our community uses it on rug rub spots, dry patches, sensitive skin under leg wraps, saddle areas and anywhere their horse's skin needs a little extra daily comfort.
"Soothe It is the best stuff ever. My itchy horse loves this — soothes her and helps with any skin irritation. Wonderful stuff." — Trish ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"lol so the large tub of Soothe It I purchased is now being used at the feedlot on everyone's horses that have gotten sunburnt — 17 horses have purple noses!" — our community 😂👑
👉 Shop Soothe It here → SOOTHE IT
Rug Rub Quick Checklist 📋
Bookmark this for rug season:
□ Check under the rug daily — shoulders, withers, chest, spine
□ Wash rugs at least once a season — dirty linings cause rubs
□ Check rug fit as your horse's condition changes through winter
□ Apply Soothe It to high-friction areas before rugging
□ Consider a rug bib for horses with prominent withers or recurring rubs
□ Keep bald patches clean, dry and nourished daily
□ Be consistent — skin care works best when it's part of a daily routine
From One Horse Person to Another 🐴
Rug rubs are frustrating — especially when you've done everything right and they still happen. But they're manageable, they're common, and with a little daily attention your horse's skin can look and feel so much better.
If you've got questions about caring for rug rub spots or want to know if Soothe It is right for your horse, just hit reply to any of our emails or send us a DM on Instagram @horsequeened. We're real horse people and we actually reply. 💜
Boston the CEO approves this message. He's personally inspected every tub of Soothe It. 👑🐴
👉 Shop Soothe It — Your Rug Season Essential →
— The Horse Queened Team 💜🐴