Best lightweight turnout rug for use all winter?

EllieBeast

EllieBeast

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2005
Messages
2,587
Location
Suffolkland
Visit site
Hey guys, just after some guidance about which filling free rugs you have found to really stand up to the elements through the winter? I plan to keep my girls out all winter, only bringing them in if the fields start to suffer. They are both fatties, will be unclipped and have plenty of forage and shelter, so I'm really looking for a couple of really waterproof and well fitting rugs that will stand constant use. One girl seems to fit mark todd/jhl rugs very well as she's very broad shouldered. The baby has a big neck and is starting to broaden out but is still a bit narrow so I'm conscious of not wanting to cause discomfort on her shoulders and wither. I'm happy to spend upto £70 on each. Any recommendations very welcome, would rather something that I know has stood up well for others!!
Cheers!
 
My Amigos have always stayed lovely and dry although I didn't use the lightweight all winter it was almost all winter! If it got a bit colder I put a 100g stable rug underneath. Unfortunately the QH they were bought for have now bulked up so whereas they are in the same length I now need an adjustable chest. So if you need any 6ft 3 rugs we have 3 of them with detachable necks going begging!

Have heard good things about Premier Equine rugs and my old boy was in a LW Shires Highlander all winter with a fleece underneath if he needed it (he's wide) and that stayed lovely and dry too. Hope this helps!
 
Second horse I would say Rambo/Rhino Wug
First horse that might come up a bit snug, I find bucas very good for the chunkier ones
 
The most important thing is to get a minimum of 1200 denier.

I would get the Amigo 1200d for the baby, but possibly in a 6ft6 because they do come up small. Could you borrow a Horseware rug to try on?

For the chunky beast :D Shires might be good. They do some lovely high denier rugs (one is 2000d) but they are hard to track down in the summer versions at the moment. Shires rugs are true to size and grat for big, wide sorts. :)


ETA. RE bucas, my best LW rug is a bucas smartex rain, however unless you find one in a sale they will be out of budget. The Irish would be in your budger but I don't know what denier the outer is (and I have one ;) ) however it's not had any leaks in proper downpours.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bucas-Iri...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item6b1c114c6c

Although I don't know if this model comes in the wide-necked version. The standard neck fits my anglo-arab beautifully.
 
Last edited:
You guys are absolute stars :)
And Faracat - I'm happy to spend a bit more on the big girl as she's not going to grow anymore and is a good old bird so definitely worth it. The baby however is wearing a rug for the first time ever tonight so don't know if she's a destroyer or not... Will get googling - how exciting. I havn't bought rugs in aaaages!

Akindofmagic - what are the rugs you have going and how much are you looking to get for them?

Thanks again everyone!
 
Faracat said:
Do you need to go up a size with the XL?
Click to expand...

No, definitely not. My mare definitely measures a 6'6 but because of the cut of some rugs I have had to go up to a 6'9 to accommodate her front but the 6'6 XL is really roomy across the shoulders and front, and fits well across the backside. I'd been struggling with rugs for this horse for ages and wanted to try the XL when it was a Rambo XL but it was always a bit too expensive to 'try' but when I saw it for £65 I jumped at it and can say I'm happy to recommend it. Only gripe I had was getting a neck cover for it (those costing an extra £40+) but if you're not bothered about a neck cover, go for it.
 
Oooh, that IS a good deal! The only thing that worries me about the amigo though is the lack of shoulder vents... Have never had a rug without them that hasn't rubbed the tank pony. Even baby horse is pretty big moving in the shoulder department so need to be aware thats she needs the room. Do the amigo's seem ok even without the darts?
Ooh, Fal... *dribbles* lol, Might have to splash out on the oldie! I'm not too worried about necks tbh - as long as their massive behinds are covered...
 
The only thing that worries me about the amigo though is the lack of shoulder vents... Have never had a rug without them that hasn't rubbed the tank pony.
Click to expand...

I think that it should be OK with the XL from what Spyda says.

I've never had a problem with Horseware rugs rubbing, but they do fit my neddies really well, which I think is the key (plus the nylon lining ;) ).
 
I've just bought a Premier Equine 40g for my boy and I'm delighted with it. It's the only rug he's ever had that stays exactly where it should be.

I was worried because this doesn't have shoulder darts and my boy is also large around the shoulders but it fits him perfectly and so far so good - I think the nylon lining also helps.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top