Fillet strings Vs. Leg straps!

AstonishedTrowel

AstonishedTrowel

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Hi all!
So I got my boy a nice Amigo rug today, and noticed it only has a fillet string.
Now, personally, I prefer leg straps as I find they hold the rug in place better. This will be important as he is living out this year!
I can sew (by hand) very well and would like to add some leg straps to it if possible - does any one have any experience, ideas or advice on how to do this??
Also, what are your experiences with regards to fillet strings vs. leg straps in terms of keeping the rug in place?
(I have heard a couple of horror stories about leg straps, but since this 'fillet string' is just a leg strap across the bum, I don't think it'll make much difference)
Advice appreciated! :o
Xxx
 
Go for it. Line it up with a rug with legs straps that fit well too get the placement right.

Fwiw I tend to stay with the option the rug comes with because that's what's incorporated into the design. Haven't had problems with slippage but if you do then I can see why you would want to.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I swap everything for fillet strings and never have any move.
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They don't tend to slip but i have had a couple of the lighter weight Amigo rugs come up and over the horses back in high wind. I would always go for elasticated leg straps as they will snap if needs be without damage to horse.
 
I have 3 Amigos, and never have problems with slippage - and I prefer fillet strings, so that suits me fine. If I have rugs with leg straps, I'm forever undoing the front and belly straps, then pulling the rug off. My horses are all pretty resigned to it, but I'd still rather have fillet strings!
 
Auslander said:
I have 3 Amigos, and never have problems with slippage - and I prefer fillet strings, so that suits me fine. If I have rugs with leg straps, I'm forever undoing the front and belly straps, then pulling the rug off. My horses are all pretty resigned to it, but I'd still rather have fillet strings!
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I also use them with no problems apart from once when the clip broke on the fillet string and the horse ended up naked for several hours in the pouring rain, I have swapped a few fillet strings for ones with better clips on and still prefer them to leg straps.
 
I prefer filler string as my boy has been caught before in fencing with his leg straps...goodness knows how! And I'm too lazy to do them up I'd rather just flip his tail over the string for ease and time :)
I've never had a slippage problem but he doesn't tend to be very adventurous with his rugs. He's a good boy and keeps them on :)
 
I have both currently. Like a poster above mentioned, I tend to stay with whatever the rug comes with.

If a leg strap was to break, however, I'd convert to a fillet string with the remaining one if it fitted, or I'd remove both and pop a single strap on.
 
I prefer a fillet string because I often forget to undo leg straps when I'm taking the rugs off! But our fields are quite sheltered - I've heard people who keep horses in windy areas say they like leg straps because it stops the rug blowing back over the hindquarters in high winds. Some rug manufacturers do give you the option by having detachable leg straps - so you can either use the leg straps or take them off and use one of them as a fillet string - caters to both tastes then!
 
A fillet string rug blew up over one of mines back in high winds once and in his panic he ran in a blind panic through some trees and cut himself to ribbons. He always has leg straps now.

Cob mare squeals at you in disgust if you put leg straps on, she hates them being done up, so it's a fillet string for her.
 
I have fillet strings on all of my rugs as there are trees and bushes in the field that could snag on legstraps.
We are also quite windy here and the rugs stay in place. Maybe it depends upon the shape of the horse and the rug - we have big bottomed natives who fill the back of the rug so perhaps the wind can't get underneath?
 
Fillet strings, plus I also thread the tail through the designated loop on the bum flap.

It gets very windy here, we're in the Cheshire Gap, which often gets a special mention on the weather forecast :eek3:. I use Rambo rugs, and have previously used Rhinos, and have never had a rug blow over, even though mine mostly live out.

The plastic covered elastic fillet strings on the modern Rambos are a big improvement on the old webbing ones, which used to get disgustingly dirty very quickly. Don't miss leg straps at all, horrible fiddly things.
 
TGM said:
I prefer a fillet string because I often forget to undo leg straps when I'm taking the rugs off!
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^^ this. Did it just this morning with YOs horse :o he's a saint and didn't even twitch an ear while I scrabbled around getting his feet untangled :o

Tiddlypom said:
Fillet strings, plus I also thread the tail through the designated loop on the bum flap.
...
The plastic covered elastic fillet strings on the modern Rambos are a big improvement on the old webbing ones, which used to get disgustingly dirty very quickly. Don't miss leg straps at all, horrible fiddly things.
Click to expand...

^^ and this. Love the new fillet strings, I might replace all my old ones.
 
I've already replaced my fillet strings with the new plastic covered ones. I live on the side of a hill in Scotland where there is always at least a breeze and never had one blow up. Also have the issue of leaving leg straps attached by accident!
 
Leg straps are awful things (remember the rugs with front ones?) and I only very rarely fit them if it is exceptionally windy, and only to one rug. I think the deeper the rug, the less likely it is to blow over the back as the Bucas one I use the leg straps on is the least deep.
 
I use both, I prefer soft elasticated leg straps as you can do them up tight without them rubbing. Mine live out and have got them off with fillet strings before. I often unclip and turn it in to a fillet string if it is a new horse. Makes it less stressful for us both until we get to know each other!
 
If it's very windy, they have to have rugs with leg straps. I wish Horseware rugs came with the option of using leg straps as they are brilliant rugs, but they do blow off in high winds. It probably doesn't help that my lot are happy to stand at the top of the hill in high winds, rather than shelter or that they like to hold their tails high whenever anything even mildly exciting happens, thus rendering the tail flap loop completely ineffective.
 
fornema said:
They don't tend to slip but i have had a couple of the lighter weight Amigo rugs come up and over the horses back in high wind. I would always go for elasticated leg straps as they will snap if needs be without damage to horse.
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I agree! I have some with leg straps and some with fillets, but I always choose to put on leg strap rugs if it's really windy. Our yard is high on a hill and a funnel for wind. I've known of two horses now who've had accidents due to fillet strap rugs blowing over the back.
 
All of my rugs have fillet strings. I take the clippy ones off and replace then with bailer twine. My ponies are in the habbit of itching theur bums in fences and it stops them from getting clipped onto fences. I take the clips off of the front of rugs too for this very reason.
 
We're doing leg straps here this season for the first time in years, and as they all have them, I haven't forgotten yet lol...

Pony regularly poos on her tail/bum/back legs so I'm hoping not having a fillet string helps with this.

I've lost a detachable leg strap somewhere which is so irritating. Put it away so safely I can't find it :(

Fiona
 
I tend to stick with what the rug came with but the only rug that I have come off was a Rhino which blew forward and my horse then reversed/wriggled out of it.

Re the plastic covered filet strings, Premier equine sell them separately.
 
Really dislike legs straps. We are on the top of the Pennines, catch the wind from every direction but have never had a problem with rugs blowing up - and we don't spend a fortune on rugs!
 
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