Hoods, bibs and mane-saving tips?

[milliepops]

Last winter my horse lost a section of mane about 4 inchses long from the dreaded rug-rub. We were missing 2 plaits from about December -April when it grew back so this winter I'm hoping to get a grip before the rubbing begins!

She is clipped out and wears combo rugs most of the time when the weather is grotty. She doesn't get rubbed anywhere else, and the rugs all fit well, are changed regularly and I try to keep them clean on the inside. It seems to be friction rather than the fit of the rugs, so I wonder whether a hood or bib would help - anyone got any suggestions??

 

[Thistle]

I have tried everything, hoods and bibs slip . I am trying to resist putting a neck on the rug - hopefully that will save the mane, I'll just have to learn to like mud.

 

[milliepops]

That's a shame, I was hoping for a magic solution!!

Think I got off lightly last winter though, in the space of a week my friend's horse's mane came out at the roots and the bottom half went completely bald! Think that was totally the wrong rug for the horse (Mark Todd with gusset on the neck - it was the gusset section that fell out)

 

[Chestnuttymare]

i clicked on this hoping for some wonderful tip too. mine has the same problem. there must be some solution. i am going to try to do without the neck as much as i can this year, unfortunately she is a really wimpy tb and i am too soft. i would rather she was warm and happy, but i would quite like not to lose part of her mane. Mine doesn't come out at the roots, it sort of breaks off to leave it about 2'' long. It is only on daytime and only in the real cold and rain, and then she is in her jammas without a neck at bed time. please someone have a good suggestion for this.

 

[almorton]

snuggy hoods. amazing!!!!!!
if they are really bad for rubbing, just use them under normal rugs with no necks attached, they are shower proof if not better!

 

[scotsmare]

I have a dress circle turnout hood and they are brilliant.

 

[peanut]

You could try stitching a strip of satin/silky material along the neck of the rug.

 

[Scottish_Miss]

My friend had the same problem couple winters ago when she had a TB.
She used to swear by erby House after trying every other main rug on the market. The derby house ones did not have any seam at the neck but a loose flap that would back up on itself.
She had no probs the last 2 winters she used this.

Hope this helps.

 

[Theresa_F]

Snuggy hoods and dress circle are very good. You could also put a little dilutated megatek on the roots every few days to encourage growth and strengthen the hair. The survivor detangler is good for keeping the hair from being rubbed as it is slightly slippery.

 

[merlinsquest]

Does the Megatek really work.... and if so where can I get it from???

Merlins mane looked like it was rubbed from last winter, but it has not grown back this summer and is like a bald mans combover!!!! Its so thin and wispy at the base where the rug sits that I am afraid it will be permanent

I have just started turning him out in this in the hope it will protect what is left

 

[appennea]

Me too - I tried going without the hoods last year it didn't work. On to the hoods I think.

 

[Theresa_F]

Megatek and the Survivor detangler - best you can get and I think I have tried every one of them are from tailgator.co.uk.

I do love the ears - how do you get them?

Have you tried a bossy bib - this helped Cairo with the end of the withers going bald - plus the megatek rubbed in regularly - for him to start I used it neat and then went onto the 50 - 50 mix as he was bald as a coot and had been for many years.

Got a TB type mane rather than a thick clyde for the bottom, but far better than nought and I could finally do a proper heavy horse plait.

 

[merlinsquest]

I think you can get them put on when they are made.... but i cut the sleeves off of a fleece jumpery thing..... and sewed them on myself

I think they are a bit cumbersome though and will be replacing them with some thing a bit more lightweight

(when my daughter grows out of something suitable)