For those with SI rugs on 24/7

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sonjafoers

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What's your routine with regards to grooming/checking/washing rugs?

This is my first proper year with a SI mini and because he lives out he's wearing his rug 24/7. I take it off every few days to check and groom him and I'm washing his Boett about every 5 - 7 days. Is this right?

Once he gets his rug really filthy I feel I have to wash it incase the dirt build up starts irritating him but I'm not really sure if I'm overwashing it.

Any advice or tips much appreciated.
 
My SI boy isn't (yet) wearing his 24/7 but when he needs to I have a second rug of a different design so that I can swop around a bit to change any areas of pressure from straps. I also take the rugs off night and morning to check for any areas of rubbing or pressure, also stops them getting too 'settled' in one place that could lead to trouble in the future.

As to washing the rugs, I do so as often as they need it. I try not to do it too often in case residues of detergents build up. I try to use very little detergent, and really rinse it out well, dripping dry over a fence or line so that hopefully any bits that are still soapy will drip out rather than drying in.

If he rolls and one rug is particularly filthy I put the second on whilst the first is having a really good clean.
 
Mine stays in a night but still wears his 24/7. I have 3 snuggy hoods bug bodies - one to wear one to wash and a spare. I wash about once a week, once a fortnight. I don't want hair/grease/sweat etc to build up.

He's ridden so it comes off when he's exercised daily and he's groomed then. I have ridden in it when it's been particularly midgy!

I just re-adjust as in when is required usually which ever end of the day he's not being ridden. In your case as i assume hes not ridden I would just take off breifly to check over each day to check from rubs and to keep him comforable.

Another thing washing the pony once a week might help, keeping mine very clean helps his skin. Saves on the rug washing too!
 
Pony has a snuggy hood set - the hood is washed every 5 days or so and a spare used while its in the wash. the body bit gets washed every couple of weeks. They go back on damp as Snuggy Hood recommend that. I find with the Snuggy set that dirt on the outside does not equal dirt on the inside and although it looks bad its fine inside, just makes me look like I neglect him thats all lol

When its windy the pony wears his Masta or Rambo get up which lets his mane get some fresh air

I groom every other day and if its very breezy let him run around and roll with no rug at all for 20 minutes or so, if its not breezy enough he stays unrugged in his stable for an hour or so and he likes to roll in there. I think its nice for him to be unrugged for at least short periods of time
 
mine are usually in during the day so rugs removed daily. I would remove daily and check horse over in any case even if they were out 24/7
re washing, as and when necessary,maybe weekly maybe monthly etc
 
My boys rug is taken off at least once a day or grooming and riding so he is checked over without his rug then.

I have two sweet itch hoodies, leave one on for about a month depending on how dirty they get. The washing machine does all the hard work, pre wash, normal wash then medic rinse and only use non bio. Washing the rug weekly is a bit overkill IMHO
 
This is my first year of no SI pony :(

But I had two rambo SI hoodys that I would change every fortnight mainly because of mare smell. Maybe not full on wash but defiantly a good airing/ dump in bucket.

I prob took the rug off once a week unless needed adjusting (she was retired). I would also sponge on coopers fly repellent onto the rug once a week before putting it back on. But when feeding ran hand under it etc

Done this for 15years. She had rug on March-October and put a LW underneath if needed.

I wouldnt wash the rug that often OP as tbh I dont know how well they stand up to washing.
 
I checked horse everyday in full Boett. I didn't remove rug completely, but unclipped belly flap to look underneath and pull up sides of rug. I also ran my hands up under neck and peeped under hood especially ears/eyes.

She was ridden 5 times a week so always had rug off for that. I also used to take rug off a couple of hours each Saturday and Sunday just to allow her time to feel the sun on her back and have a roll naked.

I washed my Boetts every week for 20 years with no adverse reaction. Just stick in washing machine on a cool wash and I used to tumble dry them as well. Part of their price is their durability. I always had two rugs on the go so she was never without and also allowed me to repair one when needed as she was a rug wrecker :rolleyes:
 
Thanks everybody. I do run my hands under the elastic seams once or twice a day and adjust the hood, belly & sides of rug if needed but I hate pulling it over his little ears so I don't take it off fully every day only every 2nd or 3rd day to groom him. If his eyes need cleaning I do this daily without taking the hood off.

I just wondered about the actual washing of the rug, like WelshD I think he looks so neglected in a grotty rug covered in mud and dirt. I'm sure he doesn't mind but my conscience tells me to put a clean one on him! He has 2 boett sets so I just swap them over.

Pigpony I don't actually wash him so perhaps I should do so regularly - should I use any special shampoo or will any medicated type one do?
 
I always used to wash once a fortnight, more if they're looking grubby. The dirtier / smellier the rugs get, the more flies are attracted, more it irritates skin, etc. Having clean ones seemed to help.
 
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