Has anyone used a rug like this?

[Leo Walker]

My little mare is very, very broad across the chest and deep in the body so I was looking for rugs with shoulder darts etc and I came across this. I cant decide if I think its a genius idea or not. I do like the idea of it stretching as they graze and not pulling tight, but equally I'm not sure how that will really work in practice!

 

[tankgirl1]

No never seen anything like that before. Looks like a good idea in theory though

 

[cowgirl16]

I have the same problem fitting rugs to my boy too. This looks quite interesting - though I'd be concerned that the neck was not big enough - in the second picture this rug looks to be too small around the neck for that horse.

 

[Shay]

It looks a bit like those elasticated necks you get on PE these days just lower down. I suspect it'll rip the man out!

 

[Casey76]

I can see the constant tension on the crest/wither creating sores.

 

[ester]

I'd think it would just stretch and pull backwards?

 

[JFTDWS]

I would think that - even if it can be made to fit well and function as described when new - its lifespan would be fairly short before it stretched and contorted.

 

[Lexi_]

Not that type of rug per se, but we have fly rugs which go on over the head and have that sort of fastening (the neck part is a tube). There's never been a problem with the elastic and they stay in place well.

 

[criso]

One of mine has big shoulders and it looks like the point of tension would still be in the same place with that but maybe helpful for thick necks. For mine half necks like the Horseware Wugs work best and it takes the points of contact further forward.

 

[jnb]

I'd think it will leak through the the elasticated bit?
Both my old show cob, and my baby cob have huge necks and shoulders and Weatherbeeta Comfitec fit them fine...

 

[AFB]

The black part looks lycra-ish to me - so not going to be waterproof? Also imagine the weight of the rug will just pull the elasticated section back and be uncomfortable.

 

[C1airey]

I can imagine the elasticated bit pulling down the neck towards the shoulder when she grazes and then not running back up her neck, if that makes sense?

Ruggles do a heavy horse rug designed specifically for big shoulders and broad chests. Worth a look?

 

[Silver Clouds]

Elastic becomes more stretched/looser over time with usage, so I would worry that if it fitted initially it would gradually start to slip further and further back over time as the elastic neckline became stretched. I like the idea that there would be some 'give' when the horse puts their head down to graze though, I'm just not sure that the fit would remain the same in the long run.

 

[Orangehorse]

I had something called a Hug Rug which worked brilliantly as a stable rug, I think it was an American import. Shires, I think, also did one as an outdoor rug, but the fastenings were plastic clips and the second time my horse wore it the fastenings came apart and the rug slipped off him over his quarters. Luckily he wasn't spooked by this. But I took it back and got my money back as I said the fastenings were unsuitable. It was a shame because it was an excellent design for a large shouldered, large chested horse. Quite expensive to make as it uses much more material.