Help me choose a rug

[YoLaTango]

I have a 3 (or 4 - everyone’s a bit confused about this - long story) cob. He is currently turned away, out 24/7. Plan is to bring him back in in a few months time and hack a couple of times a week and then have him out the rest of the time.

He seems happy enough w out rug at the moment, but will need one I m guessing soon. How do I go about choosing one for him.

Hes 14’1. Chunky but not massive. Short back. Low withers. Broad ish in the neck. Not massively deep in the chest. He’s hairy and doesn’t look like he ll need a massive amount of rugging (not like some tbs)

I don’t mind spending a bit if there’s a bit difference in quality.

Any ideas?

 

[TheMule]

I would go for no rug in preference, with a back up 50g if the weather is relentless rain/ wind with a real chill

 

[meleeka]

I wouldn’t rug at all if you don’t need to. Each horse is different, but cobs don’t generally need it unless it’s tipping down and there’s no shelter, or you need them clean to ride. I’d stick with a 50g or 100g. I liked Amigo or Weatherbeeta on my cob but for budget, you can’t beat a Gallop rug imo.

 

[YoLaTango]

Excellent. If I save money on this I can re invest into the pit that is horse ownership!

 

[Arzada]

I only rug in prolonged wet weather or if a couple of days are wet and windy. Other wise unrugged. Last year the 100g was used for about 6 days in total. I also have a 0g but I prefer the 100g for wet and windy. The 0g was unused last year.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have a yak who pretends to be a Connie and WB, unless they are fully clipped they don’t see a rug in winter. This year they will be out 24/7 and the most they will have on if the rain and wind is horrendous will be a no flll Rhino, max 100gm liner if needed.

I would much rather heat them from within and I know if the yak sees a rug and doesn’t want to wear it he won’t.

 

[tda]

Depends on if you have mud and you want to ride. If not riding don't bother with the rug.
If you get peer pressure, Gallop no fill rugs are roomy and last well for little money

 

[YoLaTango]

I have a yak who pretends to be a Connie and WB, unless they are fully clipped they don’t see a rug in winter. This year they will be out 24/7 and the most they will have on if the rain and wind is horrendous will be a no flll Rhino, max 100gm liner if needed.

I would much rather heat them from within and I know if the yak sees a rug and doesn’t want to wear it he won’t.

Love the idea of owning a horse/yak. I’m seeing this as one of the many many advantages of owning a cob.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Love the idea of owning a horse/yak. I’m seeing this as one of the many many advantages of owning a cob.

Most horses are far hardier than we give them credit. We have about 40 polo ponies who over winter on the farm and not one of them is rugged. They arrive thin coated, fit and very lean and go out onto huge grass fields and have nothing more until January when they get hay. They leave having grown thick coats, a Mohican and much fatter than when they arrived,

 

[Widgeon]

The way it works is, you must buy a number of rugs, say six or eight. Then the only one you will use is the Gallop 50g to keep the mud off.

Joking aside, I agree with all the others who have recommended Gallop as a good option for cobs. I have a 0g and a 100g Xtra, both with neck, and they are pretty much all I use for my cob once he's clipped out. The Gallop Xtras are very good quality for the price IMO. If it's truly truly vile weather I might put one rug on top of the other.

Regarding clipping I mostly clip for my sake - it's much easier to ride a clipped rugged horse. There's nothing like having to scrub wet mud off a hairy yak to put you off riding in the winter. If you're not riding I would fully embrace the hair and just chop the bottom off his tail whenever you think he's looking too disreputable.

 

[Surbie]

Our RDA herd of mostly cobs is unclipped, floofy and out 19 hours of the day. We don't rug and they are still ridden 7 mornings a week. We've got very good at getting off the worst with towels and dandy brushes and their saddlepads are washed regularly.

My cob will be clipped and is a proper tank - Ruggles are about the only rugs that fit him, and I generally only use the 50g. I have a 100g but he rarely wears it. (He is in at night though)

 

[Two Fs]

If you decide to get a rug this year I wouldn’t spend too much. A 3/4 year old could need a bigger size by next year. (The more expensive the rug the more likely they are to grow!)

 

[Annagain]

I wouldn't rug unless you find he's too muddy for you to be able to ride when you want. (I'd probably be tempted to leave him until the spring for this very reason!)

 

[KJ94]

I got a wetherbeeta 50g and really rate it for my Welsh who lives out 24/7, only gets it on if we have constant rain for days on end but is super waterproof and durable. Shires rugs are also great and very true to size I’ve found for mine.

Had a derby house one but that was super thin and did not last in the British winter weather and sure it just made her colder than not having a rug! flattening her coat and providing 0, anything haha!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use shires or weatherbeeta rugs with liners but mine are clipped so would need warmer rugs, on the years one of mine is not clipped the 50g rug is the one that is mainly used.

I have bought Gallop and Derby house turnouts but they leaked after one winter of use, mine are out alot over winter so they get used a lot and might be suited to horses that just go out for shorter periods through winter.

 

[Widgeon]

I have bought Gallop and Derby house turnouts but they leaked after one winter of use, mine are out alot over winter so they get used a lot and might be suited to horses that just go out for shorter periods through winter.

I don't know, mine is out 24/7 all winter and wears Gallop with no problems. Based on what others have said though, I think Gallop have upped their manufacturing quality over the last couple of years. I've only had my rugs for two winters.