Elsbells
Well-Known Member
After dragging Els's 6'6" Fal turnout rug across the yard to her this morning, I suddenly thought, this weight can't be good on her back all day can it?
So is it bad?
So is it bad?
Do big heavy rugs, ruin backs??
- Thread starter Elsbells
- Start date
AmyMay
Situation normal
I think that weight is dispursed quite equally on a well fitting rug.
The area that always worries me is the wither area.
The area that always worries me is the wither area.
MardyMare
Well-Known Member
I agree with Amymay about the wither area. I have a 16.3 TB (17 yrs) with huge withers and muscle wastage. He came to me last Dec from a poor loan home that I think had never changed his rugs and a massive sore on his wither which took ages to heal as I had to rug him to help get him right. He is looking great now but I noticed last night the tell tale signs of 'wear' in the exact same place! His rug is 6ft 9 and even the HW is not too heavy but keeps him cosy. I esp chose this rug because of this. Some rugs do feel very heavy.
BigRed
Well-Known Member
I have a very good waterproof jacket, but it has a thick collar. When I wear it, I keep dry, but I quickly get neck ache and head ache. I am sure this goes the same for horses, who are forced to wear rugs that don't fit well, or where people put 6 rugs on at any one time because they think their horse is warmer/happier. I only put one rug on, but it is the right rug for the circumstances.
AshTay
Well-Known Member
Also agree that if it fits badly across the withers it causes damage but a lightweight could also do that.
I once knew a pony whose owners had been told that heavy rugs had damaged its back. No one said a word about him being a little pony being ridden in a treeless saddle by a 16stone+ girl.
Once he stopped being ridden by said rider in said saddle, his back improved.....
I once knew a pony whose owners had been told that heavy rugs had damaged its back. No one said a word about him being a little pony being ridden in a treeless saddle by a 16stone+ girl.
Once he stopped being ridden by said rider in said saddle, his back improved.....
Blackwijet
Well-Known Member
I don't know about the horse, but when throwing the 7ft 3 heavy stable rug over the back the 18hh + mare that I ride I know it doesn't do me much good. It's like throwing a marquee up in the air, frequently I miss and it lands on me, or I don't realise I'm standing on a belly strap and it comes to an abrupt halt half way up! I get a fit of the giggles and the horse gives me a very funny look 
Seriously though if the rug is well fitted it shouldn't cause any problems......to the horse !
Seriously though if the rug is well fitted it shouldn't cause any problems......to the horse !
Izzwizz
Well-Known Member
As above really, if it fits well then shouldnt be a problem However, the mare I look after has a Premier Equine rug which when wet is extremely heavy (it doesnt leak) and its not particuarly light when dry. I would never leave it on overnight in the stable as some do so would say its not good to leave heavy rugs on 24/7. Just my opinion of course.!!
ISHmad
Well-Known Member
I don't think that the rugs would ruin backs. On that basis saddles and riders would totally cripple them!
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
I dont think any modern rug if regularly changed would be a prob - just think of those old green canvas NZ turnout rugs - now they were heavy....
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
Agree with this. I've seen more white "injury" marks on the spine around the wither from badly fitting rugs over my time with horses, than I have marks from bad saddles. I also think that if you have lots of layers of rugs, there is more likelihood of slipping rugs and the horse bing uncomfy.
amandap
Well-Known Member
Very interesting question. I wonder what the heavy rugs do weigh? I don't rug and assumed all rugs these days were light weight.
I have a horse with extreme,- and I mean extreme , lordosis, and his withers are very prominent. He absolutely hates his rugs but being a thin coated type has to have one. It does worry me so I try only to put them on when absolutely necessary
Tnavas
Well-Known Member
If heavy rugs were a problem for backs then I think the equine race would all be sprawled out in their boxes or staggering around their paddocks.
When I lived in Christchurch NZ - it snows there - mine were all double rugged, in canvas with thick real wool blanket liners 24/7 turned ouot. They used to hoon around easily and had no wither problems.
Cover fit especially around the shoulders and neck is crucial. We have a cover manufacturer here that makes covers especially for TB's & other high withered horses. All along the backbone the rug has a shaped gusset the neck has a draw string as does around the bum.
For anything with a past history of wither rub I'd make a special pad to go under the rug over the wither. You need a thick piece of foam 250 x 200 by 30mm cover with parka nylon and seew a wide strip of velcro hooks to it. Place inside your cover so that the pad sits over the wither and pokes out a little at the front. The hook velcro will hook into the lining and it will stay in place. This is also very useful if you have to dress any wither injuries as you can put the ointment on it and know that it will stay in place and can be clened up easily too.
When I lived in Christchurch NZ - it snows there - mine were all double rugged, in canvas with thick real wool blanket liners 24/7 turned ouot. They used to hoon around easily and had no wither problems.
Cover fit especially around the shoulders and neck is crucial. We have a cover manufacturer here that makes covers especially for TB's & other high withered horses. All along the backbone the rug has a shaped gusset the neck has a draw string as does around the bum.
For anything with a past history of wither rub I'd make a special pad to go under the rug over the wither. You need a thick piece of foam 250 x 200 by 30mm cover with parka nylon and seew a wide strip of velcro hooks to it. Place inside your cover so that the pad sits over the wither and pokes out a little at the front. The hook velcro will hook into the lining and it will stay in place. This is also very useful if you have to dress any wither injuries as you can put the ointment on it and know that it will stay in place and can be clened up easily too.
TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
It's like anything else - most of the time it's not a problem but that doesn't mean it never is. I've certainly seen horses "marked" by rugs and it stands to reason that amount of pressure/friction would cause discomfort, too. I've also seen ill fitting rugs that definitely contributed to discomfort severe enough it impacted on ridden work, particularly around the neck/shoulders and most often in young horses growing/changing shape and horses wearing multiple layers that bind/slip. I don't think it's the weight, per se, more fit issues.
It's true that if horses were routinely crippled by rugs there would be crippled horses everywhere but "not routinely" is not the same as "never". And the same could be said of saddles, which are only on the horse for at most a couple of hours a day.
I don't think it IS a problem for the vast majority of horses but I wouldn't rule it out as an area of investigation for a horse showing something suspicious. I had one super sensitive horse very prone to neck stiffness (he no doubt had something else going on we weren't technologically advanced enough to find at the time) who had to have his heavy rug "custom fitted".
I do think you [should] see much less of it today though, as blankets are generally much lighter and better tailored.
It's true that if horses were routinely crippled by rugs there would be crippled horses everywhere but "not routinely" is not the same as "never". And the same could be said of saddles, which are only on the horse for at most a couple of hours a day.
I don't think it IS a problem for the vast majority of horses but I wouldn't rule it out as an area of investigation for a horse showing something suspicious. I had one super sensitive horse very prone to neck stiffness (he no doubt had something else going on we weren't technologically advanced enough to find at the time) who had to have his heavy rug "custom fitted". I do think you [should] see much less of it today though, as blankets are generally much lighter and better tailored.
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Fee Fo
Well-Known Member
Only rugs that are too big, in my experience.
As the horse walks it tightens across the chest and exudes pressure around the withers. OUCH. It makes me wince just looking at it.
As the horse walks it tightens across the chest and exudes pressure around the withers. OUCH. It makes me wince just looking at it.