fly rugs for youngsters

P

paddy555

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 December 2010
Messages
15,053
Visit site
my youngster is 13m, never been rugged but that is going to have to change with the flies or he will have no mane left. He is a nice quiet horse so I don't think he will trash it immediately. He is 5ft. Whatever I get won't go beyond this year as I will have nothing else that fits 5ft.
Has anyone used the mio? cheap and cheerful but are they any good. Would a rambo bug rug be better? We get midges but I don't think we need the sweet itch hoody. He is out 24/7. Quite happy to pay a bit more if necessary.
Any advice would be appreciated especially if someone tells me the mio is good or I am wasting my money.
 
paddy555 said:
my youngster is 13m, never been rugged but that is going to have to change with the flies or he will have no mane left. He is a nice quiet horse so I don't think he will trash it immediately. He is 5ft. Whatever I get won't go beyond this year as I will have nothing else that fits 5ft.
Has anyone used the mio? cheap and cheerful but are they any good. Would a rambo bug rug be better? We get midges but I don't think we need the sweet itch hoody. He is out 24/7. Quite happy to pay a bit more if necessary.
Any advice would be appreciated especially if someone tells me the mio is good or I am wasting my money.
Click to expand...

I'd go for a 5ft Rambo hoody secondhand on ebay. And with a bit of luck you can sell it for 85% of what you paid on ebay in 12 months.

When I tried a Mio it lasted 3 days and ripped beyond repair. PE and Rambo have lasted years on same horses.
 
I quite liked the Shires tempest I had for my youngster, it wasn't too generous and the price and fit was good
 
Just put our youngster (12.5 months) in a shires tempest 5ft 9 fly rug- fits his lean frame nicely-not too baggy around neck and shoulders, he has been in it a week and no rips or tears yet, although his young companion does like undoing the velcro straps and biting and pulling the rug!!!! It will probably not last the season but keeps the horse flies at bay, poor lad was covered in bumps last week, and at £24 I am not too worried!
 
serenityjane said:
Just put our youngster (12.5 months) in a shires tempest 5ft 9 fly rug- fits his lean frame nicely-not too baggy around neck and shoulders, he has been in it a week and no rips or tears yet, although his young companion does like undoing the velcro straps and biting and pulling the rug!!!! It will probably not last the season but keeps the horse flies at bay, poor lad was covered in bumps last week, and at £24 I am not too worried!
Click to expand...

thanks, that's really useful
 
paddy555 said:
thanks, that was what I wanted to hear. Hadn't considered the shires. Will have a look. My lad is pretty lean ATM.
Click to expand...

I also liked the Tempest because it has a stiffened top to the neck section so didnt slide down

I tried a Mio and didnt rate it however I have an Amigo Bug Rug which is the next one up in quality and that is virtually bomb proof, its years old!
 
My youngster had a Derby House £20 fly rug last year (he was 2 last summer, now 3) and aside from one hole on the bum it actually did pretty well! Yes it was dirty and had some small holes, but I was pleasantly surprised and it lasted the entire summer May - October. My boy isnt a rug trasher though and doesnt like to roll (odd horse!) - he sleeps in the stable so spends all his time in the field eating, hence his rugs seem to last a while.

He's got a Rhinegold fly rug with detachable neck this year, again only paid £22.94 for it (brand new) from Discount Equestrian - seems to be doing well, fits well and quality is reasonable for the price.

Personally I prefer to buy a cheap fly rug for my youngster as he outgrows it each year, hence not worth paying more than £20-£30 for it. And I dont really care if it gets ruined at that price, I only want it for a few months then it can go in the bin! He'll get a nice set of quality rugs once he finally finishes growing, god knows when that will be!
 
thanks for the replies. I have ended up with an amigo bug rug. Probably a little more than I wanted to pay but in the end I had little choice. We don't have many good saddlery shops around here. The one with the best selection and who are good on returning wrong sizes had few options in my size so i went for amigo. Did't have shires in his size and I needed it today.
I have explained the facts of life to him about the teeth! I have also explained he is not starting life in a cheap wardrobe but a more expensive one therefore he should respect it if he wants a nice rug for next winter.

It is a lovely rug.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top