Fly rug repair tips please?

AstonishedTrowel

AstonishedTrowel

Active Member
Joined
22 October 2016
Messages
48
Location
UK
Visit site
The horse I am riding is wearing a fly rug and, naturally, has ripped it. One of the front buckles has come off (luckily I found it!) And a large hole is torn horizontally on the side. It's a cheap one so I'm not sure how I'd go about repairing it without it fraying/breaking again...
Should I try to patch the tear? If so, what with as I don't have any spare fly rugs?
Can I just sew the tear back together?
Is there something I can use to strengthen the seam? I've used clear nail varnish on small tears before but I feel like this requires something more heavy duty...
I'm not really in a position to buy her another rug and she's not too bad with the flies, it'd just be nice if I could patch this one up for free/cheap!
I have some very strong polycore thread from previous repairs and am pretty good with a needle and thread but advice would be appreciated!
TIA
 
I've been patching mine with some heavyweight lycra/spandex fabric, as my Filly is a master at gouging holes in her fly rugs. That and just whip-stitching any rips where there's has been no loss of fabric, using good, strong upholstery thread.

You can pick up a half meter/meter of lycra for under £10 on eBay, and it lasts a good while. Just be cautious as to what you buy as you can end up with some naff, thin stuff. You'll want the really good, thick stuff :)
 
It depends how much fabric is lost how frayed it is and whether the rug has been pulled out of shape. For a straight forward tear I would just sew it back toget her, but if there is a lot of fraying or a loss of fabric you will need to patch it. I don't think I would buy fabric specially. I would either see if anyone is knew had an old fly rug heading for the bin or use a scrap of fabric I had at home, part of an old sheet or a shirt or the lining of a ruined turnout rug. If they have extensive damage they often aren't worth repairing and there isn't much you can do if they have been stretched out of shape.
 
If you aren't too bothered what it looks like a piece of an old bedsheet on each side, sandwiching the tear and stick together with copydex.
 
Use an old pillowcase as a backing and sew it back together . Doesn't matter if they don't meet up as you'll have the backing to keep it all attached.
 
after trying to repair trashed rugs I've given up they last a short while then rip again. gave in and bought a Rambo fly rug. strong mesh probably the best there is I've learned cheap rugs are false economy.
 
Brilliant advice, thank you!!
I've got an old ghost costume (a sheet with three holes cut into it..) I can use to patch it, I've heard of using dental floss apparently it's great!
The tear along the side hasn't lost any material however it has frayed so I will patch it and use something (CopyDex as above?) on the frayed ends.
The other rips to the neck will be easy and I think I can mend the front buckle using a patch as well now I think about it!
Thanks everyone!
 
i repair mine, with patches or using binding, but i save bits of rug, buckles, webbing, and material when people throw them away, we have repaired some pretty big looking horse adjustments.
 
The record with my cob and fly rugs is 4 hours from new to shreds....... he has sweet itch and I didn't fully appreciate at first how quickly he'd trash things.

Agree with another poster on here that cheap isn't necessarily cheerful as regards fly rugs. You're better going for something like the Premier Equine ones which are better quality and of heavier fabric, OR..... if your budget can stretch that far, go for the Rambo rugs (or look on e-bay!!).

As mine has sweet itch I use specialist SI rugs on him.

Re. repairs, we're lucky around here in that we've got plenty of professionals who can do repairs reasonably cheaply. For a quick fix, and if you've got a sewing machine that'll cope with it, you could have a look around recycling places and/or charity shops as they've often got fabric for sale cheaply (e.g. sheets) and you might find something that you can use to repair a rug. Just an idea.

I hated needlework at school.......... loathed it with a passion as all I dreamt about was ponies, ponies & more ponies. By god if only I'd known that I'd be spending much of my adult life repairing bleddi fly rugs.......... :) :) :)
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
The record with my cob and fly rugs is 4 hours from new to shreds....... he has sweet itch and I didn't fully appreciate at first how quickly he'd trash things.

Agree with another poster on here that cheap isn't necessarily cheerful as regards fly rugs. You're better going for something like the Premier Equine ones which are better quality and of heavier fabric, OR..... if your budget can stretch that far, go for the Rambo rugs (or look on e-bay!!).

As mine has sweet itch I use specialist SI rugs on him.

Re. repairs, we're lucky around here in that we've got plenty of professionals who can do repairs reasonably cheaply. For a quick fix, and if you've got a sewing machine that'll cope with it, you could have a look around recycling places and/or charity shops as they've often got fabric for sale cheaply (e.g. sheets) and you might find something that you can use to repair a rug. Just an idea.

I hated needlework at school.......... loathed it with a passion as all I dreamt about was ponies, ponies & more ponies. By god if only I'd known that I'd be spending much of my adult life repairing bleddi fly rugs.......... :) :) :)
Click to expand...


Hahahaha! Yes, I do agree, if it were my horse or on loan I certainly would - I spent the money on my own horse and never had to replace or repair a single rug in 5 years! But I'm just bringing her on and working her whilst her owner is pregnant/gives birth.
I must admit, all my old school books are covered in sketches of horses too ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top