Keep Your Horse Happier (and Your Wallet Healthier) with Nikwax Australia

When you fork out for a decent horse rug in Australia, you want it to last. Between baking sun, sudden downpours and rolling in red dust or sticky clay, our climate can give horse covers a hammering. By the end of the season, even the best rug can end up filthy, smelly, caked in dirt and struggling to keep your horse dry.

That is where Nikwax Rug Wash and Rug Proof come in. These two simple products make a big difference to both your horse’s comfort and your bank balance.

Why clean horse rugs properly

It is tempting to hose off the worst of the muck and hang it over a fence, but ordinary detergents or harsh scrubbing can damage the water repellent coating on your rug. Once that protective layer breaks down, water soaks into the fabric rather than beading off. Your horse ends up wearing a cold, heavy, damp rug that takes ages to dry.

Nikwax Rug Wash is specially formulated to clean horse rugs without stripping away that important water repellency. It is tough on sweat, dirt and bacteria but gentle on waterproof treatments. It also keeps modern breathable fabrics working properly, so moisture can still escape and your horse stays comfortable.

Why reproof rugs

You've all had a feel under a rug to check how dry your horse is, that's because even the best quality covers lose their water repellency over time. You might notice rain stops beading on the surface and starts soaking in. That is a sure sign it is time to reproof BEFORE you chuck it in the tack shed and forget about it until next winter. 

Nikwax Rug Proof tops up the water repellent treatment, keeping the outer layer of your rug from becoming saturated. A dry outer means the insulation and fill underneath can still trap air to keep your horse warm, and your rug dries faster after a downpour.

Benefits for your horse

• Keeps your horse dry and comfy during unpredictable Aussie weather
• Helps avoid chills from soaked rugs
• Reduces rubbing and skin problems caused by damp, heavy fabric
• Maintains breathability so sweat can escape, even on warm days

Benefits for you

• Your horse and pony rugs last longer, so you do not have to replace them as often
• Reduces waste to landfill
• Saves you money by protecting your investment
• Keeps rugs cleaner, fresher and faster to dry between uses
• Easy to wash and reproof at home, no harsh chemicals needed

A simple routine that pays off

By cleaning with Nikwax Rug Wash and topping up with Rug Proof, you help your rugs last longer and keep doing their job properly. Your horse stays dry, warm and comfortable through every Aussie season, and you avoid the hassle and expense of constantly buying new gear.

PS: Looking for more tips?

Plenty of Aussie riders end up searching for all sorts of things like the best way to wash horse rugs at home, how to waterproof horse covers again, or horse rug cleaning and reproofing tips for Aussie weather. Others wonder if Nikwax Rug Proof works on canvas and synthetic rugs, or simply how to stop horse rugs leaking in heavy rain.

No matter what brought you here, the answer is simple. Look after your rugs properly and they will keep looking after your horse, season after season. That is the Nikwax way.