Eco friendly rugs

[SO1]

Bert is currently in a no fill Bucas Freedom mainly to keep him clean as he is a hippo and comes in plastered in wet mud which makes it hard if he needs to be ridden. My instructor rides him a couple of times a week.

He is not clipped as only walking at the moment following his lameness. Vet coming back to review on Tues and if is ok to start coming back into full work he will need clipping and a warmer rug.

None of Homey's 6ft Rambo collection will fit him as he is 5.6ft at the moment. However I think he may grow a bit more and need a 5.9 next year. He is 5.

I want to go down the environmentally friendly route.

Options I have found for rugs that are made from recycled plastic are

Weatherbeta
Amigo - bit annoying as only comes with detachable neck which pushes the prices up but I don't use neck covers.
Bucas - not sure if the fit will be ok if he contines to fill out.

He is not a wide chested NF at the moment but he starting to fill out.

Has anyone used any of the eco rugs on the market are there any other companies making them.

Bucas and Amigo take the liner systems.

 

[gallopingby]

I bought some Bucas ‘big’ horse rugs for my chunky rug wreckers this year and they’ve been super so far. The quality is excellent. The old girl has a smartex turnout on to keep the rain off her back and it’s working well. I’ve liners that can be added if needed. I don’t think the standard rug would fit but the big range seem fine and so far are still looking good after about six weeks of almost constant wind and rain. I bought 6’ for a 14.1 pony they also fit the 14.2 sizing seems to be pretty accurate.

 

[SO1]

So back to rug frustrations.

Bert has the LW bucas freedom in 5.6 which was fine for last autumn and winter it is no fill.

I then bought him the 5.9ft 100g Bucas greenline. It was a little big but ok. See below seemed to fit better than the 5.6 freedom.

Based on the fitting of the greenline I bought the smartex rain in 5.9 and it is huge. Especially around the neck and the depth is huge it almost comes down to his knees. It also had unusual sursingles which clip under which was not obvious from the photos. The photos looked like normal sursingles. That I will need to return or sell on. I got it on special offer so only paid £110 for it thankfully.

I think his 5.6ft freedom will be too small round his shoulders but will try it on again the smartex is looking too big shoulder and neckwise and I think possibly too warm with the wicking lining and I don't like the design with leg straps and under sursingles.

I think he will be an awkward size to fit with 5.9 possibly being a bit large but 5.6 a bit small depending on the brand.

The Le Mieux rug storm tec looks nice and takes liners and no leg straps but not sure if that comes up big or not. Found one on sale.

Amigo I think does come up small so a 5.9 may work in that size and I have found a disc 12 on sale in 5.9.

I went through this with Homey when he was this sort of age and he eventually ended up in Rambo. I can't quite bare to part with his rugs yet they are all 6ft. He started in 5.9 and tried a few brands before getting his Rambos once he had stopped growing he had the wugs in all weights until the liner system started then he got an original with liner. I don't really want to buy Bert a Rambo yet when he is still changing shape so much he is still croup high and filling out.

There are some ethical issues with Le Mieux and what they did to with the cuddly pony range and the small company so slightly reluctant to go with them but the rug looks nice and a 5.6 many be roomy enough.

Bert in 5.9 greenline 100 but the 5.9 smartex is huge compared to this. There is no greenline no fill and the light green is the freedom 5.6 last year.

 

[maya2008]

Amigo Mio 5ft9, £60 or thereabouts. If a bit long he will grow into it and shouldn’t be too deep.

Although I have found them more prone to rubbing on the shoulders in recent years.

I like Shires for my natives, but appreciate they probably aren’t environmentally friendly.

 

[MuddyMonster]

If he's an awkward size, I'd be tempted to focus on fit rather than green credentials at the moment. Especially if he's likely to change size and shape at the moment, you can then always sell on second hand which helps off set the environmental factors.

My New Forest is a bit of an awkward shape (he's quite narrow chested but with big shoulders) and he has Swish and ive just bought a Shires turn out fir him - both their liners are inter-compatible which each other which helps too! No rubbing and he's practically lived in his Swish rugs the last two winters.

 

[criso]

If he's going through a changeable phase, is it worth looking on Facebook or eBay for second hand options? They partly fill the eco credentials by reusing old rather being responsible for a new item. Then invest in eco rugs once he's reached his final shape.

I found Amigo Mios too tight on the shoulder for a tb so not sure about a NF but I believe others in the range are more generous and the Rhinos are more roomy.

 

[dottylottie]

i find lemieux fit the same size wise as horseware - lily is 6”0 in lemieux and horseware, 5”9 in shires. i don’t find lemieux rugs roomy in the slightest, i think they’re designed for much fancier sportier horses than my little old welsh cob

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Why don't you just a get a 50g liner for the rug he has now then it will give you a bit of time in case he fills out before you buy another one.

I use all different liners and they go under all my turnouts as long as the back is clipped in I don't bother securing them at the front and they never move about.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Amigos don't fit my Arab's so I doubt they will fit a new forest.

 

[MatHalTed]

I have my retired TB lad in the Weatherbeeta Green-Tec 50g for when it's rainy and miserable. Had it 3 years and no rips or breaks so quite impressed with it as he often destroys his rugs. He practically lives in it through spring and autumn and it doesn't seem to rub so I would recommend, I think sizing comes up smaller as he's normally a 6"6 but in a 6"9 for this rug.

 

[SO1]

Have not been able to find anything suitable second hand as yet. There are are a lot of the amigo mios second hand but I think they might be tight round the neck shoulders.

I sold the giant smartex to another livery. I only paid £108 for it BNWT and the other livery is very pleased with it. It fits her 15h horse perfectly so no wonder it was huge on Bert.

If he's going through a changeable phase, is it worth looking on Facebook or eBay for second hand options? They partly fill the eco credentials by reusing old rather being responsible for a new item. Then invest in eco rugs once he's reached his final shape.

I found Amigo Mios too tight on the shoulder for a tb so not sure about a NF but I believe others in the range are more generous and the Rhinos are more roomy.

 

[Squeak]

Why don't you just a get a 50g liner for the rug he has now then it will give you a bit of time in case he fills out before you buy another one.

I use all different liners and they go under all my turnouts as long as the back is clipped in I don't bother securing them at the front and they never move about.

Agree with this - if the lw still fits fine liners could be an easy way to go.

Otherwise for a stop gap while he's growing maybe shires or Gallop Trojan - the gallop trojans have adjustable chest buckles so might work better. Neither are particularly green but maybe if you sell on once he's fully grown so that they can be used for a long time that can help balance it?

 

[m1stify]

Just remember all these “eco friendly” rugs are probably just a marketing ploy

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Just remember all these “eco friendly” rugs are probably just a marketing ploy

My thoughts exactly plus when my rugs get old they become covers to protect the new ones from swallow crap in my stables

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Dex has a le mieux kudos which fits beautifully - I hate it when rugs pull across the front of their necks when they're head down grazing, which I find SO many rugs do. This one is cut low, and then has two pads either side to make sure their chests don't get wet, I also like that it's cut around the legs and has big pleats (or whatever the right word is) plus has 3 surcingles which I prefer.

 

[SO1]

He is young ID so probably Le Mieux might be ok for Bert.

I also saw this which potentially might work in a 5.6 and looks roomy at the front.

rPET Turnout Rug Life Cycle, 0g - Kramer Equestrian

rPET Turnout Rug Life Cycle, 0g and more of Horse Rugs. At Kramer Equestrian's online shop for horse lovers.

www.kramer.co.uk

Dex has a le mieux kudos which fits beautifully - I hate it when rugs pull across the front of their necks when they're head down grazing, which I find SO many rugs do. This one is cut low, and then has two pads either side to make sure their chests don't get wet, I also like that it's cut around the legs and has big pleats (or whatever the right word is) plus has 3 surcingles which I prefer.

View attachment 146060

 

[SO1]

Last year he went from LW into 100g and his 100g will take liners should he need a thicker rug. He was not worked enough last winter to warrent clipping and didn't grow a very thick coat.

Homey was always clipped in the winter as he got too hot.

I am not sure how this winter will pan out Bert will be remain in full work he is still croup high and having regular osteopath treatments seems to help. Osteopath loves him thinks he is a super pony and said she would like to take him home. She can see improvements but said but until he evens out he will be on the forehand and find work harder and she has seen some natives continue to change shape until they are 10.

Agree with this - if the lw still fits fine liners could be an easy way to go.

Otherwise for a stop gap while he's growing maybe shires or Gallop Trojan - the gallop trojans have adjustable chest buckles so might work better. Neither are particularly green but maybe if you sell on once he's fully grown so that they can be used for a long time that can help balance it?

 

[criso]

Just remember all these “eco friendly” rugs are probably just a marketing ploy

They're not a marketing ploy and are made out of materials and use a process that cause less issues but you do have to offset the fact anything new will have a footprint of some sort so buying quality that lasts and not constantly replacing is something to aim for too.

I have some rugs that are 15 years old and still waterproof and looking good. If I decided to replace these with eco ones, then that would cause an impact. However if I need a new one anyway, then it's something to consider.

 

[zoon]

I’ve always bought rambo rugs because they have always lasted me 20+ years. Figured that was the most environmentally friendly way to do it

 

[m1stify]

I’ve always bought rambo rugs because they have always lasted me 20+ years. Figured that was the most environmentally friendly way to do it

Yes me too my Rambo is 14 years old & still going strong

 

[Gloi]

The most eco friendly rugs to buy are second hand ones.

 

[SO1]

I normally buy Rambo I have 3 of them as Homey had them and they do really last. I really ought to rehome them but can't quite bring myself to part with any of his things.

Bert will eventually get his own Rambo once he has stopped growing.

I’ve always bought rambo rugs because they have always lasted me 20+ years. Figured that was the most environmentally friendly way to do it

 

[P.forpony]

Recycling good quality plastic into other plastics is an 'almost' circular process.
Recycling plastic into fabrics means they can't be recycled again at end of life!
It also releases more microplastics into the environment and that means more exposure for you, your horse, your paddocks and water courses etc.

For actually eco friendly please go for natural materials wherever possible, second hand, or something that will last several years.

 

[fredflop]

I used to get laughed at as I would have my cheap new rugs, and cheap second hand rugs washed and repaired every year. One of the reasonings was better of repairing than filling up landfill sites. I got scoffed at “I just buy new ones every year and throw the old ones away.”

The same people now like to brag about how “green” they are with their life style and (not so green) electric car.