Changeable weather horrible horses

[AutumnDays]

Since the dry spell has broken, it's windy and heavy showers here all the time, even when they promise a dry day. Horses have shelter and access to ad lib hay, all hairy beasties, but they all shiver with the driving wind and rain (right on the coast, and don't blame them, I would too!) so I thought I'd be nice and chuck lined 0g 1200d rugs on them to keep the worst off. They all thought this was fantastic of me, and proceeded to merrily take turns in grabbing each other by said rugs and tear chunks out of them... And come next spell of weather, look like neglected souls in their rags, drenched and shivering. Not even 48hrs of wearing! Would I be absolutely evil to say you had your chance now suffer the consequences of your actions for the rest of the winter?!

 

[eggs]

I feel your pain as years ago my horse was out with a serial rug ripper. In desperation we ended up painting Cribox on the rugs to try to stop it. The other alternative was to double rug with the ripped rug on top in the hope that the under rug remains intact.

 

[Polos Mum]

i have three boisterous geldings in a mini herd, nothing is safe with them - fly masks last a few hours, rugs are an absolute no.

I did have some success spraying hairspray all over them - tastes grim, presumably not totally toxic if they lick it and less disgusting than cribox (which I did try but it makes the rugs grim to handle!)
But it washes off too easily.

I haven't rugged for 3-4 years now - they get an appropriate clip with the bum left on and have access to shelter - I haven't had any ill effects

 

[poiuytrewq]

It's so so annoying. We had one that tore the others rugs constantly. The one in the wrecked rugs was grey clipped and in work so rugging wasn't negotiable but I couldnt afford the way we were going. I bought a secong hand 1200d LW and he wore that over the top of everything, appriciate its maybe too warm for that atm but although it looked awful It really did save his decent rugs being destroyed.

 

[AutumnDays]

Glad it's not just mine! They could tough it out, they aren't worked and are full fluff, I just had my heartstrings tugged by the sad, shivery, soggy beasts after a particularly wild spell. That feeling soon disappeared when I saw the three of them standing in a triangle so no one was without a rug to tear, and no one had a rug going untouched!

 

[dorsetladette]

i have three boisterous geldings in a mini herd, nothing is safe with them - fly masks last a few hours, rugs are an absolute no.

I did have some success spraying hairspray all over them - tastes grim, presumably not totally toxic if they lick it and less disgusting than cribox (which I did try but it makes the rugs grim to handle!)
But it washes off too easily.

I haven't rugged for 3-4 years now - they get an appropriate clip with the bum left on and have access to shelter - I haven't had any ill effects

I have 3 boys in herd too. The younger ones play very rough and have destroyed countless rugs. Until this year I haven't bought new rugs in a long time, mostly because of growing youngsters, but also due to them not lasting a winter. I mean if your paying £20 for a washed and reproofed rug (and the money goes to charity) you don't mind seeing it in pieces hung from a tree or pee'd on in the field, but a decent brand new rug would bring a tear to my eye.

So my method is having 2 or 3 of each weight required for each pony bought cheaply from a lovely lady up the road who raises money for charity along side her rug repair business.