How a Hyltarp Rug Comes to Life
Everything starts with the horse’s needs.
We’ve been around horses since we were kids, which has given us a deep understanding of what they need to feel their best. That’s why we spend countless hours selecting materials, shaping fits, and refining details – until everything feels just right.
Designing a horse rug always means weighing different properties against each other. It might be about finding the balance between a fabric’s durability – to withstand play out in the field – and its flexibility, so the horse can move freely. But one thing we never compromise on: the horse’s comfort.
The best solutions often come from everyday life.
Our ideas are often born in stable conversations – about what our horses are missing and what could have been better in all the gear we’ve gathered over the years. Like how a tail flap needs to be shaped so water runs off instead of down the horse’s hindquarters, or how the backline should be cut so the rug doesn’t feel like it’s pulling backward.
It’s also in the stable – and now at trade fairs and events – that we get to know you and everyone else who uses our rugs. We want our rugs to be easy to handle for everyone, whether you have ten horses at home or share a stable where you take turns swapping rugs each week. That’s why understanding your needs and preferences is a key part of our design process.
Our manufacturers are true craftsmen – and they understand us.
When we develop a new product, we let all our impressions flow freely – then we sort, sharpen, and distill them into a rug we can’t wait to put on our own horses. To bring an idea to life, we collaborate with people who have deep expertise. We work closely with experienced rug makers – experts in textile and equestrian manufacturing – who not only master the details, but also understand why they matter.
Together, we’re working to give more horse owners the opportunity to dress their horses in truly great rugs.
We believe in continuous improvement.
Before a rug ever reaches your horse, it’s been carefully tested by us – and sometimes by our team riders – to ensure it not only meets but ideally exceeds your expectations. We test our rugs in real-life conditions – in wind and rain, during stall rest, and in muddy paddocks – to make sure they hold up when it counts. But our work doesn’t stop there. We gather feedback and fine-tune every detail – so the next version will be even better.
Got questions, thoughts, or experiences to share? We’d love to hear from you!