How do I get rugs to fit my In Foal Mare?!

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Liz H

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She' s getting very rotund to say the least, all her rugs can just ( and I mean Just) fasten now with a squeeze. How do I extend the surcingles? This may be a stupid question but It's not something I've every had to think about ( or thought I'd need to....). Thanks
 
why does she need rugging? it is an ideal time of year to rough her off and leave naked, having something growing inside you is like central heating, just feed more forage than normal and no rugs
 
id imagine if the rug fits correctly the surcingles could be loosened to fit, as every rug I have had them done up on the tightest setting for my horses, they are very long! However, my vet told me when I was looking after a pregnant NF mare, to get rid of the rugs and let her toughen up as we did not want a rug on her when the foal was born and trying to feed, so she'd have to get used to it !
 
Agree with others that she should be roughed off but when is she due? If not till spring I would be concerned at her being so big already. There will be massive pressure on her joints
 
Hi, unfortunately we are not sure when she is due, some time late Sep to end Nov (loose stallion, claimed to be a gelding, see my first ever post) . She only gets a no fill rain sheet normally, unless it's very very cold, it's Amigo, but I'm at the end of the surcingles now. She is quite a hardy girl but when it's teeming down and blowing a gale she does get chilly without anything at all. I know it's still " summer" but it doesn't feel like it here and I don't want to be stuck if it gets realy nasty over the next couple of months so I thought I prepare now
 
Liz H said:
She' s getting very rotund to say the least, all her rugs can just ( and I mean Just) fasten now with a squeeze. How do I extend the surcingles? This may be a stupid question but It's not something I've every had to think about ( or thought I'd need to....). Thanks
Click to expand...


The belly strap surcingles move and slide wider, I rugged my in foal mare right through her pregnancy and beyond. I would not let her get cold during the vulnerable time.
 
Hi, sorry, I haven't made it clear, the surcingles are at their longest point, I didn't know if anyone knew if you can get extenders for them before I cut up another rug to (try to) make my own.
 
HGA-12 said:
The belly strap surcingles move and slide wider.
Click to expand...

I imagine that the OP has them on full extension and they are still only just long enough.

I have seen surcingle extensions (on ebay, but was a while ago) which have the male/female fittings at both ends so that you can just add them to your existing rug without cutting/adjusting anything. Or you could take the rug to your local rug mender/washer and get them extended, or maybe they would make you some extensions? If you want to make up your own extensions, you would need webbing and the fittings.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREATE-YO...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item19d80dda3e
 
I don't think I'd want any sort of rug on a mare that is quite close to foaling due to the risk of legs getting tangled up in the straps. At this time of year I'd rough off anyway. Good luck with the impending foal.
 
Is it possible just to add baling twine onto the ends of the surcingle straps if she's only due between September to November? Can't imagine that'll do any harm.
 
Our pregnant mares all wear rugs over the winter and I've found that the older Rambos and the Bucas rugs have the longest surcingles and fit some of the mares all through the winter. The newer Rambos I've had to make them longer - it's quite easy to do; cut the surcingle and sew on another length of surcingle to it, et voila! I only use filet straps here with pregnant mares, never ever cross leg straps.

However, I do make sure ALL of my mares are out of blankets by the time foaling comes around.
 
You wouldn't want her foaling unexpectedly with a rug on, it could cause all sorts of problems. Additionally, you don't want a foal suckling a mare who is wearing a rug either, the risks of entanglement are just too great.

Ideally, she would have enough shelter outside to protect her, so she doesn't need rugging. Can you organise this?
 
I would get her rug off now too. It is still warm enough and she will acclimatise better as I would hate to have a cold or rugged mare with a foal due it is far too risky especially as you don't know when it is due and they can be born anything up to a month early or late. Up her hay and make sure she has good shelter and safe fencing from now on
 
Liz H said:
Hi, sorry, I haven't made it clear, the surcingles are at their longest point, I didn't know if anyone knew if you can get extenders for them before I cut up another rug to (try to) make my own.
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IS it not worth borrowing a rug a size up till she gives birth?? You can buy webbing on ebay



what about this ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DETACHABL...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item461a4980bd

Or make your own extension piece with a male and female clasp at each end to attach to the exiting, then remove it after the foal, so you do not have to damage exiting straps



<-----------[] < like this it will give her more room

you can buy these clasps on ebay




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25mm-1-Wi...s_Sewing_Supplies_MJ&var=&hash=item27d83e3c74

and the clips

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-NEW-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item1c1706fb51


OP if you want to rug you rug, my mare foaled with a rug on, just depends on when the foal is due if its warm remove it if its cold she can wear a rug. 3 of our horses mares wore rugs the foals had no reouble with their mums wearing them.

Be guided by the weather and YOUR mares tolerance of how cold she gets, if she is a warm mare and the weather is warm I would be inclined to remove them if its born early April and still chilly I would keep a light rug on with no leg straps on
 
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Liz H said:
Hi, unfortunately we are not sure when she is due, some time late Sep to end Nov (loose stallion, claimed to be a gelding, see my first ever post) . She only gets a no fill rain sheet normally, unless it's very very cold, it's Amigo, but I'm at the end of the surcingles now. She is quite a hardy girl but when it's teeming down and blowing a gale she does get chilly without anything at all. I know it's still " summer" but it doesn't feel like it here and I don't want to be stuck if it gets realy nasty over the next couple of months so I thought I prepare now
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Try, try, try not to rug. Once the foal is born they'll have to come off - so much better to let her rough off completely.

As long as you're providing plenty of forage, shelter and a warm stable over night she'll be fine.
 
I think the newer Horseware rugs have shorter cross surcingles too.
Like Springfeather says you could attach longer surcingles or as HGA-12 suggests, make some surcingle extensions. I have an old Lavenham stable rug that actually has detachable surcingles basedon the same principle.
 
Liz H said:
Hi, unfortunately we are not sure when she is due, some time late Sep to end Nov (loose stallion, claimed to be a gelding, see my first ever post) . She only gets a no fill rain sheet normally, unless it's very very cold, it's Amigo, but I'm at the end of the surcingles now. She is quite a hardy girl but when it's teeming down and blowing a gale she does get chilly without anything at all. I know it's still " summer" but it doesn't feel like it here and I don't want to be stuck if it gets realy nasty over the next couple of months so I thought I prepare now
Click to expand...

If she is due this November then definitely get rid of the rugs ASAP. She needs to toughen up now while she grows her coat and conditions for the weather.

Rugs and foals are a danger, heads & little legs can get caught up in straps and surcingles. It would be very detrimental for her health and well being if you remove the cover the day she foals.

Even our TB broodmare's winter unrugged here in NZ where in some areas we have the cold as bad as UK.
 
Agree with those who say don't rug. She cant wear a rug once she has foaled and that will be much further into winter. Leave her be for now, she'll grow a coat and she'll then be able to cope ok
 
My mare was a complete wuss about being naked. At night she had a red heat lamp in her stable so she could be bare. She loved it. She did wear a rug out during the day but only because I was always around, once she got close to foaling.
Good luck.
 
Could you perhaps use a totally separate elastic surcingle, the sort that go in the girth place? That'd keep everything secure and be a bit safer maybe. Best of luck with your mare.
 
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