Anyone recommend a rug for my deformed horse

[rockysmum]

Want to buy my 35 year old a new rug or two for Christmas.

Problem is that he is a very strange shape now.

He used to be a 15hh well built but very long cob. A 6'9" Masta would fit great.

He is now a 15hh at the wither, 13.2hh in the middle, ancient old cob

He still needs the length and some depth through the body but his shoulders and neck seem to be disappearing. I know he has lost some condition this year due to the lack of grass in the summer, so he hasn't had much to loose when he inevitably drops some weight in winter. He's not a rescue case yet

He is currently wearing a heavyweight 6'6" turnout which belongs to our warmblood, it a bit better fit than his own. However he is finding it slightly embarassing as its pink and has her name all over it. His own heavyweight stable rug is hanging down at the front which I think will end up rubbing him.

Any ideas for something long and fairly deep with a small neck hole.

 

[dominobrown]

I find most rugs have very large neck holes, I find Rambos fit well, but I think you will find you will struggle with most rugs, the best thing would be to put darts in the neck.

 

[be positive]

The Shires rugs seem to be a bit smaller round the neck and are adjustable to make them smaller, my narrow PBA wears a stormbreaker and it fits well but still has plenty of depth.

Love the festive look

 

[meandmyself]

I wonder if a Wug would work for him.

http://www.barnstormers.co.uk/acatalog/HORSEWARE_RAMBO_WUG_TURNOUT_RUG_HEAVY.html

Same idea but cheaper!

http://www.thehorseboutique.co.uk/r...der-half-neck-combo-turnout-rug/prod_201.html

 

[Dizzydancer]

Amigo rugs tend to be small in the neck, that's why they say by a size bigger usually. X x

 

[rockysmum]

I find most rugs have very large neck holes, I find Rambos fit well, but I think you will find you will struggle with most rugs, the best thing would be to put darts in the neck.

Thank you, that a good idea, do you know how to do that, I'm not good with a needle Do you think the rug wash/repair people would do it.

The Shires rugs seem to be a bit smaller round the neck and are adjustable to make them smaller, my narrow PBA wears a stormbreaker and it fits well but still has plenty of depth.

Love the festive look

Thanks, I actually have a Shires medium weight somewhere that belongs to our other cob, I will find it out and try it.

I wonder if a Wug would work for him.

http://www.barnstormers.co.uk/acatalog/HORSEWARE_RAMBO_WUG_TURNOUT_RUG_HEAVY.html

Same idea but cheaper!

http://www.thehorseboutique.co.uk/r...der-half-neck-combo-turnout-rug/prod_201.html

Thanks, I like the cheaper idea not that I dont love him to bits but with three to keep I have to watch the pennies. The half neck would be a good idea, he isn't clipped but is currently in a high necked heavyweight which is probably overkill. They cut of these makes the neck holes look smaller too.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Horseware are brilliant for youngsters with no shoulders (well slim shoulders ) so maybe they would be good for your oldie too. A Rhino Wug - as suggested above - or an Amigo, should be suitable.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Worth asking friends if you can try their Rambo's for size on him (if they have them) as lots 2nd hand on fleabay at the moment.

Have also found them best for elderly once-was-bigger-than-I-was chunky types

 

[Abbeygale]

I would say amigo rugs too. My mare has a very strange shaped back and I always have problems with rugs disappearing into her dipped back, but the amigo is a great fit on her. She's welsh d x so needs a fair amount in the body

Also I find the amigos don't get over heavy when they're wet like some of the mastas / weatherbeetas which is another reason I like them

 

[rockysmum]

Amigo rugs tend to be small in the neck, that's why they say by a size bigger usually. X x

Horseware are brilliant for youngsters with no shoulders (well slim shoulders ) so maybe they would be good for your oldie too. A Rhino Wug - as suggested above - or an Amigo, should be suitable.

Thank you, I will have a look at the Amigo.

Never thought my old boy would be described as having slim anything

 

[meandmyself]

<snip>

Thanks, I like the cheaper idea not that I dont love him to bits but with three to keep I have to watch the pennies. The half neck would be a good idea, he isn't clipped but is currently in a high necked heavyweight which is probably overkill. They cut of these makes the neck holes look smaller too.

I can understand that and did wince a bit at the price! Robinsons do one too-

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...nout-rugs/maverick-high-neck-med-turnout.html

Or you could try one of these:

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/rugs/turnout-rugs/genero-combo-medium.html

 

[martlin]

I would say Amigo, too as they are straight cut at the front. Or anything with half neck would have a similar effect.

 

[rockysmum]

I can understand that and did wince a bit at the price! Robinsons do one too-

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/...nout-rugs/maverick-high-neck-med-turnout.html

Or you could try one of these:

http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/rugs/turnout-rugs/genero-combo-medium.html

Thanks, much better prices . I have a couple of days leave next week I might have a trip down to Robinsons.

I would say Amigo, too as they are straight cut at the front. Or anything with half neck would have a similar effect.

Thank you

 

[meandmyself]

Thanks, much better prices . I have a couple of days leave next week I might have a trip down to Robinsons.



Thank you

You're welcome! They had another one on the site, but it's out of stock. Might have it in-store though.

Don't forget to check Ebay, too.

 

[rockysmum]

"I know he lost condition in the summer due to lack of grass".

Why the hell didn't you feed supplements if you knew this ?

Because I'm an evil bitch who hasn't cared for him for the last 30 years

 

[SophieLouBee]

How about a half neck? My Aunt has a 4oish year old cob, who is 14.2 at the withers, about 12.2 in the middle and 15hh at the bum. She looks like a hammock, bless her. All rugs slip back past her withers and down her back (if you see what I mean), so we bought a half neck and it really helped.

I don't see what supplements has to do with fitting rugs & having a sway back...

 

[rockysmum]

How about a half neck? My Aunt has a 4oish year old cob, who is 14.2 at the withers, about 12.2 in the middle and 15hh at the bum. She looks like a hammock, bless her. All rugs slip back past her withers and down her back (if you see what I mean), so we bought a half neck and it really helped.

I don't see what supplements has to do with fitting rugs & having a sway back...

Thank you, I know what you mean about the hammock I will have to find some pics.

I think the comment about supplements was assuming that I left him in a field all summer with no grass. He is actually stabled at night all year and gets unlimited haylage and two massive feeds a day with loads of supplements. Unfortunately the only thing that really piles weight on him is some nice spring grass and we didn't have any this year.

 

[SophieLouBee]

Thank you, I know what you mean about the hammock I will have to find some pics.

I think the comment about supplements was assuming that I left him in a field all summer with no grass. He is actually stabled at night all year and gets unlimited haylage and two massive feeds a day with loads of supplements. Unfortunately the only thing that really piles weight on him is some nice spring grass and we didn't have any this year.

That's what assuming does for you All of mine lacked that sparkle that the spring grass gives them, we had none, and our none was more than most people had near me. I hope we don't have the same next year! I fed all throughout the summer, that's the first time I've had to do that in a few years!

 

[rockysmum]

That's what assuming does for you All of mine lacked that sparkle that the spring grass gives them, we had none, and our none was more than most people had near me. I hope we don't have the same next year! I fed all throughout the summer, that's the first time I've had to do that in a few years!

I'm hoping for a better year too for the oldie, have to say it kept the excess weight off our younger cob and warmblood though.

 

[SophieLouBee]

I'm hoping for a better year too for the oldie, have to say it kept the excess weight off our younger cob and warmblood though.

Indeed, it's the best our lami pony has ever looked.

 

[rockysmum]

Could someone please explain why a 35 year old horse has to rely on nature to keep weight on when there are so many feeds and haylages on the market ?

Please go pick a fight somewhere else. I really cant be bothered

 

[rockysmum]

I have a 24 year old lady who has had hay/haylage,carrots and supps all through summer.

If you had read all the post on this thread carefully you would see that you are making yourself look ridiculous

 

[rockysmum]

Because I'm an evil bitch who hasn't cared for him for the last 30 years

Already answered

 

[be positive]

I have a 24 year old lady who has had hay/haylage,carrots and supps all through summer.

24 is a mere youngster compared with 36, you cannot force them to eat, grass is the best feed for them and nothing else will keep them going as well as grass, I have a 32 year old, he will not eat much hay or haylage and only a small amount of feed, all he wants is grass and by his age has a mind of his own.

 

[Ladydragon]

Rockysmum... When our young TB arrived in the spring he had no shoulders or hindquarters and was in pretty awful condition - Shires particularly, and Robinson's own brand were a good fit and seemed a bit narrower in the cut... Some of the others I tried he could probably have stepped through the neck... There was some space above the middle of his back in the Shires but it was fairly snug around him...

We were lucky and had great grass this summer... After a few months of coddling, the field (read side of mountain) and conditioning work he looked like a brood mare...

Surely with that amount of experience you should have not let him get in that condition

The OP has already said the horse has been fed hard feed and supplements continuously...

He's an elderly chap...to a degree, by your logic, no 80 yr old in the country should have a stoop, be frail or have old lady ankles so long as they ate well and took their multi vitamins... I'd be pleased if I get mine to 36 yrs old...

 

[ThePony]

How about the bucas rugs? They have darts infront of the shoulders and a smaller higher neck hole which might help? http://www.toscarugs.co.uk/products/turnout-rugs/power-turnout/index.htm and you can get neck covers to go on too. Would love to be more helpful with regards to fit, but all I know is that I avoid them as my girl is built like a bus, so they might suit someone slighter in build!

 

[rockysmum]

Thank you Ladydragon and Thepony. I now have hope that I will find something to fit him. Its 30 years since I owned a narrow horse, all my rugs are for the slightly fuller figure.

Ladydragon my old boy would love the side of your mountain, I wish we still lived somewhere like that.

Just worked out that if you apply the 3 to 1 ratio, he's not just 80, he's 105 soon to be 108