Can I use fly rug?

[LittleP]

Hi
My mare has a fly rug, its a thicker cotton type material like a sweet itch rug. After a wet day last summer she rolled and covered it in mud. It was too dirty for me to put in the washing machine so I sent it away for cleaning. The lady that cleans our rugs thought it was a turnout rug and "reproofed" it. Can I use it as it is or should I give it a good wash first?
I know I'm not going to use it anytime soon, just thinking ahead!

 

[Fransurrey]

You can use it as it is, but it won't be waterproof. The denier normally isn't high enough for that. When rugs are reproofed, they're normally done in a washing machine, so the lining is coated in it, anyway.

 

[beingachicken]

Hope you didn’t have to pay for a re-proof?!
I sent a cotton summer sheet for washing as it was exceptionally hairy years ago and they tried to charge me for a re-proof, the argument being it had leg straps and was therefore a turnout

 

[Hack4fun]

It will be fine. I hose my rugs down if they are that bad. Washing machine copes really well, but it is best not to let the OH find out about it - it is surprising that I am still alive.