A blast from the past - Greenham NZ rugs catalogue and price list

my ambition was a Kiwi. My friend at work had one for her horse but I couldn't afford one. There was another make as well I can't remember the name. They were green with a dark brown brushed nylon lining. I was doing someone's hunters at the time and hated them as the brushed nylon caught my finer nails.
 
I remember them so well, and the even earlier ones. I remember taking a wet but frozen one off my horse on a bitterly cold winter day, it stood up all by itself on the ground until it thawed out in the sunshine! My goodness I had forgotten how expensive they were then. :oops:
 
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I remember them too :) I had the Super New Zealand for my horse back in 1984 and thought it was the bees knees. I had dispatched my father to the tack shop in Bushey (he worked in Bushey) to buy it on my behalf. I do remember it being very expensive!
 
asmp said:
Am surprised to see a neck cover. Didn’t think they were around then.
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Just about to say the same! I got my first pony in 1992 ish and no neck covers. I remember the first cooler type rugs coming in and fancy stable rugs like duvets!
 
I saw some canvas rugs with brushed wool lining for sale on eBay earlier when wondering if I should replace rugs the horrors have destroyed. They looked really smart, made me think of a Barbour waxed jacket. I remember how heavy they were when wet!
 
I had, what I thought, was a lovely green canvas rug with a wool lining, looking back it can't have been warm! It had lovely leather buckles with front and back leg straps. No surcingles. It never moved. As above though, if it was cold it froze and was horrible to deal with when wet.
 
£100 in 1988 is about £280 today (according to BoE inflation calculator).
I’m assuming they were made in the uk with less plastic than modern rugs are made with, so perhaps that would still be considered a reasonable price for top quality rugs.
 
Spotherisk said:
I tried to sell a very good complete Chaskit with neck cover a Couple of years ago (for peanuts, just wanted to see it used really) but no takers and ended up burning it!
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They were really good rugs - had a sort of funny fastening arrangement underneath - called a spider I think.
Sussexbythesea said:
I’ve still got my pony’s Lavenham from the 1980’s it’s in near perfect condition.
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I have 2 Lavenham Cosy stable rugs. They are in as new condition. One of the surcingles always came undone overnight.
 
I'm Dun said:
Just about to say the same! I got my first pony in 1992 ish and no neck covers. I remember the first cooler type rugs coming in and fancy stable rugs like duvets!
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Earlier, Fal Pro brought their first, duvet filled Goliaths out with integral hoods, no filling in the hood and a fiddly lace system, in brilliant colours! So different to see in a field….
 
Archangel said:
They were really good rugs - had a sort of funny fastening arrangement underneath - called a spider I think.

I have 2 Lavenham Cosy stable rugs. They are in as new condition. One of the surcingles always came undone overnight.
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Yes a spider, with heavyweight brass clips. The neck cover was elasticated from behind the ears, reached down to the knees and the middle of the back!
 
I used to keep an old canvas NZ in my lorry to throw over my horse at shows if it was raining. This was into the late 2000s. I knew that in comparison to the more modern rugs I could just leave it lying around the lorry without worrying about it being nicked. Must have dated from the late 80s and I only put it in the skip when I sold my yard.

As regards stable rugs does anyone else remember a type of stable rug from the early 80s. It was supposed to be 'thermal' and very new and modern but very thin and light. The filling looked like shredded tinfoil and was supposed to reflect the horses own body heat back towards the horse. The 'foil' ended up drifting to the bottom edge of the rug over time - leaving the rug useless in regard to warmth. Nylon top, cotton lining and back leg straps instead of surcingles.

I got rid of mine when it got a few too many tears and the 'foil' shreds started falling out. I think the rugs were called Thermalite but google provides no answers.
 
reynold said:
As regards stable rugs does anyone else remember a type of stable rug from the early 80s. It was supposed to be 'thermal' and very new and modern but very thin and light. The filling looked like shredded tinfoil and was supposed to reflect the horses own body heat back towards the horse. The 'foil' ended up drifting to the bottom edge of the rug over time - leaving the rug useless in regard to warmth. Nylon top, cotton lining and back leg straps instead of surcingles.

I got rid of mine when it got a few too many tears and the 'foil' shreds started falling out. I think the rugs were called Thermalite but google provides no answers.
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I am pretty certain I have got one them stashed away in a trunk somewhere. It was as you say very thin and light and like you I seem to remember it being called Thermalite. I have to confess that I never actually put it on a horse!
 
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