Cooler rugs/Fleeces

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Clofox

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I'm looking to buy my pony a cooler rug for when we get back from our rides and she's all sweaty.
I'm completely lost at which type to go for or more importantly what type is best.
I've looked at the Weatherbeeta Wick Dri cooler and am now looking at a Weatherbeeta Joules Fleece Cooler Rug (I'm worried the Joules fleece will just soak up the sweat opposed to "wicking" it away?)

It's mainly after hacks but sometimes she may have sweated a bit after schooling and jumping, i'd love to buy her Thermatex rug but i can't afford that:o

Anyone who can explain/recommend or just offer some advice will be greatly appreciated:)
Thank you.
 
I use an old style sweat rug with a fleece on top, this works brilliantly. The benefit of fleeces is that you can chuck them in the washing machine, they don't shrink and can be washed over and over again.
 
Just get a Weatherbeeta fleece - they dry my horse beautifully after either a bath or sweating.
The Wick-Dri I usually use in Summer as it isn't really warm enough for Winter use. I use the Combo fleece on my grey show cob
 
I was thinking that, the Weatherbeeta Wick Dri for summer and a fleece one for winter.

Do the fleece coolers wick the moisture away? opposed to a "normal" fleece which would just absorb it and make my pony even more damp? I just don't want to put a fleece cooler on her only for it to absorb the sweat and make her damp.

Sorry for all the questions i really don't have a clue!:o
 
Kal's Rambo fleece does a great job of wicking moisture off him when he's wet/sweaty - I just have to remember to take it off once it has done its job. Expensive, yes, but washes beautifully and still looks fab two years after buying it.

P
 
I'm not sure what you mean. It absorbs it and you can see it on the outside of the rug. The inside still feels dry really but obviously you take it off and air it to let it dry properly.

I have a jersey fleece one which is thin and does what I said above, then once she is dry or we are ready to travel home, I swap it for a heavier woven cotton affair. When we get home she is ready for her turnout rug.
 
I got given an Amigo fleece and tried it on my big lad and it worked really well so i bought 2 more for the others so they have one each now. My Amigo also doubles as an extra layer in winter too. It is now 5 yrs old and still going they are tougher than they look :O)
 
Try Goyt Mill saddlery - I just got a Weatherbeeta fleece combo in the sale for £22.50, they are £44 in some places! Equestrian clearance has them for £35. I now have 4 of them, they are such useful rugs.
 
Clofox said:
Thank you:)
I was worried a cooler fleece would absorb the sweat leaving her damp and causing a chill?
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The fleece dries the horse out by wicking the moisture through the fleece where it sits on the outside of the rug, leaving the horse dry underneath the rug.
I bathe my grey (lots in Summer!) and rug up soaking horse after using a sweat scraper to get the worst off and he's dry in an hour or so. All mine have integral necks as he's hogged.
Hope that helps
 
Synthetic fabrics like fleece wick away moisture from the coat/skin and it evaporates from the outside of the rug. The bodyheat ensures that this continues working until everything is dry. It's the same as thermal/wicking clothing designed for humans, indeed, fleece and synthetic work exactly the same way. Unless fleece has had a soaking, it will dry on the horse and stay warm at the same time.
 
Clofox said:
Do the fleece coolers wick the moisture away? opposed to a "normal" fleece which would just absorb it and make my pony even more damp? I just don't want to put a fleece cooler on her only for it to absorb the sweat and make her damp.
Click to expand...

No they don't! I think fleeces are uselss rugs — most of them are not even made from breathable fleece, just the cheapest fleece going, plus they get hairs and bedding stuck in them and can become dreadfully itchy. For a sweaty horse, go for a proper wicking thermocell cooler like a thermatex — Weatherbeeta do one at a very reasonable price and they are super. Here's one: http://www.redpostequestrian.co.uk/...ler---Chocolate-Pecan.aspx?utm_source=Froogle
 
I'm trying to find a Weatherbeeta fleece combo rug to replace my brand new one that was ripped withers to tail by an aggressive travelling companion yesterday - if anyone spots one 6ft 3 for under £30 I will be eternally grateful!
 
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