Lycra rugs / hoods

[Leam_Carrie]

My horse lives out 24/7 and I need her clean enough to clip. I started thinking about a rug with a belly flap and found these exist in Lycra (wetherbeeta, shires, snuggy hoods etc.). I thought I could get her clean ready to clip and then pop the rug on, so stays clean ready for when the person arrives to clip.

This has got me looking at different styles and thinking what would be most useful. She could do with a rub vest and could wear a hood rather than a neck cover, if a snuggy hood which I think are water resistant.

Thoughts on Lycra rugs and hoods welcome. What did you buy? When do you use it? Is your horse happy wearing it? Face or no face? Zip or no zip?

Thanks ?

 

[doodle]

I wouldn’t turn out in a Lycra one. I use them overnight in the stable to protect plaits. Lycra ones will just get wet and move about. Snuggy hoods are great but are very expensive just for the odd use.

 

[Mrs B]

I'll be honest in that I don't like face hoods: I've seen a fair few regularly slip sideways towards the eyes and also seen a couple where they've actually gone across the eye, meaning the horse has been rubbing to (unsuccessfully) try to shift them. Both horses were fine but I'd say that was luck more than anything else.

I'd rather do a bit more grooming than risk it myself.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine basically live out but I wasn't comfortable with the full face snuggy hoods so I bought the ones without the head but I found they slipped down whatever I did and they were on tight and were the right size, I would be fine with a belly rug on overnight they are quite tight and I don't think they have the same danger element as a face hood, I would try and cover as much as possible, but you could beforehand hot cloth really groom then keep spraying with coat spray it makes the clipping easier.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Rugs with belly flaps do exist, as you've discovered, but a cheap option might be the QHP belly flap which apparently fits onto any rug for £15. The mini horse shop has them.

 

[Carrottom]

I wouldn't turn out in a hood that could move and cover the eyes, I have heard of this happening and causing a horse to panic.

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Rugs with belly flaps do exist, as you've discovered, but a cheap option might be the QHP belly flap which apparently fits onto any rug for £15. The mini horse shop has them.

Thanks everyone. You’ve saved me a lot of money, as was considering a snuggy hood and the matching rug. Sounds like the belly flap is the easy answer (and adding a neck onto her rug). She likes to have a snooze lying down so can get a bit damp in odd places - no good for clipping!

Is hot clothing as simple as a bucket of hot water and flannels? I could give that a go. Do you add shampoo or anything? I take it then just a nice warm fleece until fully dry.

 

[Bernster]

You can get snuggly hoods with just the neck and no head/face.

 

[Sprig]

Mine lives out and is fully clipped. He wears a combo rug but that is it. I just pick a dry day to clip. No particular grooming regime in advance. I just get the worst of the mud off. I probably end up sharpening my blades more often than other people but apart from that there are no issues.

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Mine lives out and is fully clipped. He wears a combo rug but that is it. I just pick a dry day to clip. No particular grooming regime in advance. I just get the worst of the mud off. I probably end up sharpening my blades more often than other people but apart from that there are no issues.

I need to book someone to come and clip, so unfortunately have to plan for less than good weather. She’s the first horse that has needed clipping so not a skill I’ve learnt (and can see it’s an art to do it well).

That said I think I may be overthinking this. It will be a low trace clip so just the belly and neck to get clean .

 

[Sprig]

If I was you I would just get some battery clippers and get practicing. It's really not hard (and even if you don't do a great job it grows out quickly!). By the time you have paid for a few clips you could have bought a set of second hand clippers.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Thanks everyone. You’ve saved me a lot of money, as was considering a snuggy hood and the matching rug. Sounds like the belly flap is the easy answer (and adding a neck onto her rug). She likes to have a snooze lying down so can get a bit damp in odd places - no good for clipping!

Is hot clothing as simple as a bucket of hot water and flannels? I could give that a go. Do you add shampoo or anything? I take it then just a nice warm fleece until fully dry.

Hot clothing;
groom first to get rid of as much mud and grit as possible and then using a bucket of water as hot as your hand can stand, add a very few drops of shampoo, splash of dettol and a few drops of baby oil. Wring out your cloth as you go, you don't need to saturate the horse. Finish off by brushing the coat smooth and put a fleece ( or whatever you have) on your horse until dry. It's usually best to do this on clipped horses in winter.
Everyone has their own preference for making up a solution for hot clothing, some people like to add a couple of drops of an essential oil instead of dettol.

 

[Equi]

I would never turn out in one. It won’t protect them from the dirt totally and the risk of it going wonky is high. I’ve only ever used it in a Cctv stable and on two occasions almost had a very injured horse so I don’t even know where mine are anymore.

 

[Leam_Carrie]

Thanks @dogatemysalad that sounds straight forward and doable.

@Sprig it’s a good point, it would be easier if I learnt to clip from a logistics point of view. Will see if I can find a thread on battery clippers .