How to make a rug safe for a youngster?

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Cedars

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Afternoon all.

My yearling (15 months) is starting to shiver when it rains and then gets cold at night. I want to get a rain sheet/v lightweight turnout for her because I'm nervous she'll drop weight and she is really shivering.

Does anyone have recommendations for rugs that are good for youngsters/ways to make them super safe? I've heard about elastic surcingle/girth type things that hold the rugs tight to their bodies?

Thanks all! xx
 
Always use a rug with a well fitted fillett string, not leg straps. And essentially make sure it's a well fitting rug.

You don't need elastic surcingles, just again make sure that any surcingles that are on the rug fit snuggley, and not hanging down around the belly.
 
i use leg straps with my youngsters, never had an issue!

make sure all straps are nice and snug and expect the rug to get a bit trashed while she investigates!
 
I got my filly an Amigo LW turnout and it was waterproof, a fab fit and has no leg straps. I managed to get it cheap from Cybercheckout, so I wasn't too bothered that she'd only wear it for a few months before out-growing it. :)

Make sure that the cross surcingles aren't baggy. I always make sure that I can get my hand in sideways (like you do with a throatlash) so that they have room to breathe etc... but it's hard to get a hoof through.

A photo! :D She was soooooooo tiny then!

Flossygrazing.jpg
 
Another vote for no leg straps for youngsters (actually I just do not like leg straps full stop!) all my leg straps come off then get used on the fillet string section across the backside.

I have a large collection of unused leg straps!
 
flamehead said:
Thanks love. Whats so dangerous about leg straps? xxxx
Click to expand...

Well apart from the fact that babies tend to be quite ticklish - their just an accident waiting to happen.

You can't have them too tight because they rub, too loose because of the danger of getting legs caught in them, and the general 'fit' of them on smaller youngsters tends to be poor.

It is also easier, safer and quicker to put a rug on outside with a fillett string rather than leg straps.
 
flamehead said:
Thanks love. Whats so dangerous about leg straps? xxxx
Click to expand...


For me it is my basic paranoia that my horse if he he is going to get a hoof, leg, head,half his body stuck in something he will! the words accident and waiting to happen spring to mind! as far as he is concerned and my Vet had a very nice holiday in Thailand last year thanks to me so enough!

It has never happend to me but I heard enough "horror" stories from people when I was growing up and training so it has had a bit of an effect lol
 
Don't put her in rugs that are too big, use the correct size and make ebay/cheap websites your new best friend. One day I'll get around to selling my filly's out-grown rugs, I have a fair few now! :)
 
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