After a days hunting - opinions on fleece/wool vs Thermatex or similar

[Happy Hunter]

I usually stick to the fleece or wool rug - as when I check previously wet horse an hour or so later i find a nearly dry or dry horse with the moisture all on the top of the rug.

Do these Thermatex and similar have any real benifits - are they the Miracle dry in ten mins solution????

If anyone has a Dryatex or whatever cheaper version could you reccomend?!?!

Its my Birthday and I'm thinking of asking for one - But I am not adverse to sticking to the fleece and asking for a handbag instead!!!

I am posting specifically in the Hunting forum - as in the NL I know I would be advised to buy a pink, really expensive thing that Olly Townend or Katie Price had last week!!!! and im just not that kind of girl!

 

[Dogstar]

Personally I really like my Thermatex, all the traditional hunting people I know use them. They are nice and thick and do wick the horse dry well. Defo navy or green, not pink!

 

[JenHunt]

I have wondered similarly.... I have a good heavyish fleece rug which I use from the moment we get back to the box until he is washed off and dry at home.

I know a lot of people use thermatex but I worry that they wouldn't be quite as good at wicking away the moisture, or wouldn't dry off themselves as quickly.

would be interested to know what others ahve to say though!

 

[jnb]

Thoroughly recommend the Weatherbeeta Thermo cell combo - dries my show cob off a treat and doesn't stretch or clamp back on the shoulders.

http://www.equestrianclearance.com/weatherbeeta/thermo_cell_cooler_travel_rug/index.html

 

[Daddy_Long_Legs]

I use the Horseware Newmarket Fleece on ours and they work a treat.

 

[QassiaDeTouzaine]

I got a Thermatex rug for christmas and it is amazing!!!! Horses always dry (and warm!) by the time we get home!

 

[Doormouse]

I have a wool rug (old style hospital blanket turned into a rug), a thermatex and a weatherbeeta cooler and they are all excellent for drying the horses. Nothing is a miracle dry and to be fair a jute rug inside out is probably just as effective!

 

[Maesfen]

I was an old school mesh rug under the day rug until they got home type person and perfectly happy with it too, I'd still go back to that method if necessary, until a visitor brought her Thermatex with her. TBH, it was the first time I had seen one let alone used one and I was hooked.
Amazing rugs, horse is not only warm which is good for the muscles so he can cool down gently, but he's dry very quickly too. Only disadvantage I can see is if you wash off normally, horse would be dry before you got home so you'd have to get him wet again which I hate to do; but if you just brush off after hunting, then they're a boon. I also like to replace them with a warm rug too, hate putting cold rugs on horses that are tired.
I've tried a Thermalux, very similar but a bit heavier, same results though but haven't tried the pretend versions so can't comment on them but unless it's warm - and when after hunting is it warm? - I wouldn't like to just use a thin fleece, think it could cool down the muscles too quickly.

 

[DollyDolls]

Hate fleece as I find the static builds up too much & I get zapped taking them off.

Thermatex are worth the money, but I've recently discovered the bucas cooler rugs. The shamrock is the better one & having both thermatex and bucas, I prefer the bucas as it's a bit lighter on their backs.

 

[sonjafoers]

I have a Thermatex and a Mark Todd Coolex and the thermatex is far superior - it's a better fit and it dries the horse quicker.

However I find one of my horses gets far too hot in a thermatex so be warned they are very warm. I can't travel her to a meet in it as she is always sweating & shaking during the journey (anticipation!) and if I travel her home in it after the meet she is still steaming and sweating once I unload her. It is mainly down to her enthusiasm for hunting but the fact the rugs are very warm doesn't help the situation.

I find my thermatex fine for after a hack on a cold day but too warm for anything else.

 

[autumn7]

Sonjafoers - our horses must be very similar! Mine actually overheats in her Thermatex if I'm not careful so do swap to old fleece cooler under old rug once home to turn out before rugging "properly" for the night.

Use fleece cooler to travel to meets too for same reason, quaking flanks under Thermatex = sweaty horse on arrival! This horse never requires rugging in more than 100gm fill outdoor rugs throughout a normal winter though. Put a medium weight Weatherbeeta on her on approx 4 or 5 days/nights when it hit below -10 this winter but feel that was more to pacify me than her!

 

[kick_On]

Thermatex is the best investment you'll ever make. I've had mine for well over ten seasons and it's prefect for keeping my boy warm whilst wicking away a hot a sweatly horse after a days hunting.
Make the investment................... and your horses will 'thank you' for years to come