Abstract: A fabric (10) for an animal rug, having a mesh pattern of a size suitable for preventing penetration and biting by insects, has a mesh of woven fibres (11), forming rectangular spaces (12) therebetween. Each weft (13) and warp (14) is formed from a soft, inner, multifilament fibre (15) sandwiched between a pair of relatively stiffer, outer, monofilament fibres (16). The fabric (10) is strong and stable, yet soft and light, and it is also absorbent. The outer, monofilament fibres provide the stability of the mesh pattern by locking the soft, inner, multifilament fibre (15) in place. However, a certain amount of movement between the wefts and the warps is possible resulting in a fabric, which will mould around the body of the animal.

Abstract: A horse blanket (10) of the type which is secured under the belly (24) of a horse in use and the edge (23) of which falls below the line of the point of elbow (25) is provided with means, such as cut-outs (14; 15) allowing lengthwise extension of the blanket (10) when the horse extends its legs (26; 27), respectively and which prevent gathering of the blanket (10) between the inner leg and the body of the horse during a reverse movement of the legs (26; 27). The blanket (10) is conformable to the contours of the body of the horse and prevents the likelihood of friction-related injuries caused by wearing the blanket due to minimal contact between the material of the blanket and the body of the horse.