Full neck rugs/Mane Rubbing/Fully clipped - ARGHHH

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FemelleReynard

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Happy New Year all.

My horse is fully clipped, but lives out quite happily in a heavy weight full neck rug (he has a fully made up stable open which he can dip in and out of as he chooses if the weather is bad etc).

The issue - where the rug hood meets the main rug it rubs his mane out something rotten. It's just starting to go now - it falls out when I brush it, and he's left with unsightly tufts about half way along, with the mane either side being lovely and an even length. I know the seam on the full neck rug is the issue, and while I continue to use this rug, the mane will continue to rub. I will add it isn't sore or anything, it's just the hair fulls out obviously from the friction and lack of air.

My question - would it be desperately cruel to buy him a heavyweight rug WITHOUT a neck to prevent this happening/stop it getting any worse (while liberally applying MTG to help it grow back)? I think that now he's acclimatised to having the full neck on all the time, he'll feel the cold without it?? I could keep the full neck for really cold days, and he can just wear a heavy weight standard neck day to day? After all, he does have a stable to go into if he wants (which he frequently does).

I have received differing views on this, so any advice would be helpful.

As an aside, if I do decided to just stick with the full neck and suffer the tufty mane, would he look completely stupid if he was hogged halfway up to the point where it rubs, then leave the mane up to his ears? I've seen it done before on horses, but didn't know if it's a massive faux pas and he'll look ridiculous?

Thanks all!
 
AJT92 said:
Happy New Year all.

My horse is fully clipped, but lives out quite happily in a heavy weight full neck rug (he has a fully made up stable open which he can dip in and out of as he chooses if the weather is bad etc).

The issue - where the rug hood meets the main rug it rubs his mane out something rotten. It's just starting to go now - it falls out when I brush it, and he's left with unsightly tufts about half way along, with the mane either side being lovely and an even length. I know the seam on the full neck rug is the issue, and while I continue to use this rug, the mane will continue to rub. I will add it isn't sore or anything, it's just the hair fulls out obviously from the friction and lack of air.

My question - would it be desperately cruel to buy him a heavyweight rug WITHOUT a neck to prevent this happening/stop it getting any worse (while liberally applying MTG to help it grow back)? I think that now he's acclimatised to having the full neck on all the time, he'll feel the cold without it?? I could keep the full neck for really cold days, and he can just wear a heavy weight standard neck day to day? After all, he does have a stable to go into if he wants (which he frequently does).

I have received differing views on this, so any advice would be helpful.

As an aside, if I do decided to just stick with the full neck and suffer the tufty mane, would he look completely stupid if he was hogged halfway up to the point where it rubs, then leave the mane up to his ears? I've seen it done before on horses, but didn't know if it's a massive faux pas and he'll look ridiculous?

Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Some rugs unfortunately do this and is usually down to the join seam being at the point of the bed in the neck when grazing or it is down to the neck being too tight so when the head is lowered it pulls on this point.

You will get the *well take the neck off brigade* Yes I was right !!!!!

Having had a mare with Staph Aureus I found if the inside of the neck is kept fee of grease and dirt, the mane kept clean and maybe mane conditioner/baby oil it does reduce the rubbing, that along with certain turnout rugs which are not as tight as others.

Other thing Op you can try the lycra hoods under the neck cover so rug slips over the mane and does not rub it.

All my horses have long manes and I ditched all my turnouts without necks I wont buy a neck less rug again
 
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Have you tried rugs with the detachable neck covers as well the incorporated full necks? I just ask because I bought new all-in-one full necks for my horse last winter on the basis that I would never turn him out without the neck cover (he's grey!) so it seemed silly to buy detachable ones. His mane rubbed exactly the same as you describe but this had never happened before when I had him in detachable neck rugs (but with the neck cover attached). He's started to rub again in the same place this year so I've decided I will buy him detachable necks again and hopefully that will solve it. Might be worth a go but if not I'm sure he'd be fine with no neck, it's what we always used to have isn't it?

I envy your open stable set up by the way. This is what I dream of having for my horse if I was ever lucky enough to have my own place.
 
Thanks, I hadn't thought about detachable neck ones - the one I currently use and the previous were combos, so all in one.

I have been eyeing up a Ruggles rug with a detach a neck, so may have to spend the Christmas money and give that a go. I'm inclined to think that with the option to go indoors (which I am SO thankful to have Charlie31, it is brilliant), he should manage. He also has ab lib hay, still a bit of grass on the paddock, and a nice big feed, so plenty to keep the engine running.

The downside is he is grey, so I will have to assign myself to more grooming, BOOO!
 
That is what I mean ester the detachable are more roomy so don't rub specially if your horse has a big neck, also detachable necks more often than not have a lower neck seam as in the classic neck than the full neck incorporated. So the seam is not pulled down on the withers but it really does depend on

1. Horses neck
2. Strength of the mane
3. Type of mane
4. If it is clean or not
5. If there is an underlining condition (making hair weak)
6. If the horse is itchy or too warm under the rug
7. If the neck cover is greasy making it grip the mane and rub it
8. Type of rug/neck cover
9. Allergy to anything consumed or what the rug is washed in
 
Ditto - try detachable necks!

My friends have also had great success with snuggy hoods as a buffer - and I believe they do a shower-proof one now as well to be used in corporation with turnout rugs?
 
I might also add that although rhino have now made their necks a bit bigger I usually use the premier equine ones as they fit better :)
 
Having had this problem with fixed neck combos before I now use detachable necks with great success. However as some horses seem to overheat easily with neck covers I buy the lighter weight ones and fit to a heavier weight rug. OK so the neck cover is usually a different colour to the rug but at least the horse is comfy!
 
Or amigo do one that is all in one piece and so doesn't have a seam where the neck meets the body. Other brands probably do too, but I have used the amigo on a horse with a big neck with no problems.
 
This was my horses mane when I went to view her and she wore a rug with no neck
10645310_10204748301932009_2398758183257501454_n%20-%20Copy_zpsuywft4e7.jpg

Now she wears necks all time when wet cold/ or I fold them down on warmer days
20161023_161353%20-%20Copy_zpsrbppsqpl.jpg

Can I also add two on the list I for got to add

1. Horses neck
2. Strength of the mane
3. Type of mane
4. If it is clean or not
5. If there is an underlining condition (making hair weak)
6. If the horse is itchy or too warm under the rug
7. If the neck cover is greasy making it grip the mane and rub it
8. Type of rug/neck cover
9. Allergy to anything consumed or what the rug is washed in
10 Whether other horses play rights pull the mane out
11. If the horse rubs on trees or posts
 
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Hi, I had this problem a few years ago when I first started using the neck rugs, I now have a fully clipped horse and I use the neck rug only when necessary when it wet and windy, on other days he wears a fal 600 without the neck and is nearly always toasty warm, he lives out all winter too no shelter or hedges and thrives and now has a lovely full mane. You can try a bit of baby oil rubbed into the mane were it has rubbed, take neck rug off as often as you can. Fold it back when in stable too. Don't clip it down or you will have a sticky up mane when it grows back, it will grow through in spring and start next winter using the neck rug as late as possible especially now we have milder winters. I know the necks keep them cleaner but it doesn't take long to wash mud off the neck before you ride.
 
ceva said:
Hi, I had this problem a few years ago when I first started using the neck rugs, I now have a fully clipped horse and I use the neck rug only when necessary when it wet and windy, on other days he wears a fal 600 without the neck and is nearly always toasty warm, he lives out all winter too no shelter or hedges and thrives and now has a lovely full mane. You can try a bit of baby oil rubbed into the mane were it has rubbed, take neck rug off as often as you can. Fold it back when in stable too. Don't clip it down or you will have a sticky up mane when it grows back, it will grow through in spring and start next winter using the neck rug as late as possible especially now we have milder winters. I know the necks keep them cleaner but it doesn't take long to wash mud off the neck before you ride.
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This is what I do - horse is a fine skinned QH but is happy without a neck cover unless it is torrential - he wore on on New Year's Day and now it is off again.
Keeping the mane grease-free and using a conditioner (eqyss survivor serum is fab) also helps and the best thing about a separate neck cover is that when it is not in use it's easy to either sponge or wash to ensure that you don't get a build up of grease on it which can cause rubbing.
 
I've found that letting air get to the mane for at least part of the time helps, mine don't wear the neck section in the stable most of the time, if the wind is blowing directly in to the stables I fold the neck half way up

By folding the neck back UNDER the rug you lose that rubbing seam a few inches up the mane which is good

Mine wear necks in the field
 
I have a Gelderlander and have tried and failed for year to keep his mane in a full neck rug. I have tried everything. Full neck, detachable neck, snuggy hood, impeccably clean mane and hood, lotion up mane. I have resulted in having him in a heavy weight rug and only put the neck on in the absolute worst of weather! It seems to do the trick, I might have to clip a little more as his neck gets a little more hairy, but I'd rather this than he lose mane... also, he's still out and in the best condition he's ever been in over winter
 
dont no if it helps at all becuase they are alot of £££ but masta have brought out rugs this winter just concertina on the neck to try and prevent rubbing, i have been them in the local tack shop they are nice rugs, i would get one if i needed one but i am very lucky that my Tb doesnt keep to have the issue of neck rubbing
 
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I've decided to buy a detachable neck rug, which should arrive this week, so can't wait to try that.

I'm hoping that even though he's had a full neck on up to now, that with the option of his stable, he should cope with the change to having no neck protection, save for days with horrible weather.

Thanks again.
 
Detachable neck cover is the answer OP, Im in the same situation as you 2 greys living out fully clipped = no manes left with all in one combo. I bought bridleway detachable neck turnouts for both of them, = both have their manes, no rubbing at all
 
Bucking the trend..... my Fuzzy currently sports a bit of mane, its at least 18inches long, if not longer as is well past point of shoulder. (forelock down to nostrils too!)
Either has a PE no neck rug or a full integral neck (Weatherbeeta).
Mane still intact............
 
TYSSANDI said:
That is what I mean ester the detachable are more roomy so don't rub specially if your horse has a big neck, also detachable necks more often than not have a lower neck seam as in the classic neck than the full neck incorporated. So the seam is not pulled down on the withers but it really does depend on

1. Horses neck
2. Strength of the mane
3. Type of mane
4. If it is clean or not
5. If there is an underlining condition (making hair weak)
6. If the horse is itchy or too warm under the rug
7. If the neck cover is greasy making it grip the mane and rub it
8. Type of rug/neck cover
9. Allergy to anything consumed or what the rug is washed in
Click to expand...

Yep!

I use detachable necks in the field and stick to a light gram on the neck and never layer. Only use standard necks in the stable. I use extra clips and buckles to make sure the wither section sits well back from the mane.

It's really important that the horse doesn't get too hot - they will rub through being uncomfortable and also the pores open.
 
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