Mark Todd combo heavyweight?

henryhorn

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www.narramorehorses.blogspot.com
Chocolate has managed to trash his stormcheeta combo on our tree branches and scouring the websites I have found a bargain Mark Todd heavyweight, has anyone used one of these?
How effective are the necks, is there a big gap between the rug and the neck?
I know from the livery horses rugs that fal, rhinoe, rambo stand up to any amount of tree branches etc and up to now weatherbeta have also lasted well. Rugs that haven't are Rhinegold, Masta, Shires. Plus a few other cheaper makes.
I don't really want to spend a huge amount on a spare rug as his will get mended so would really appreciate some feedback re the MT rug.. We use his travel boots and they are great.
Only other cheapo I can find is the Landa combo, any views on them?
 
Both B and Berry are wearing MT HW TO's. Though I am confused - do you mean the combo with a fixed neck or the standard neck with separate neck cover? I have the standard version with separate neck cover and I have found them to be fantastic - though B's is only in it's 2nd week of use! They fit really well and are lovely and deep and there is literally no gap over the withers. I'm really impressed with them! MT HW's are not true HW's though IMO, as they are only 350 gms - a HW to me is over 400 gms. Tonight, as the weather is so gastly, Berry is actually double rugged... I can't comment about how they stand up to trees and the like, as where my neds are atm there is no direct shelter. Hope this is of some help sue.
 
I have found the Landa combo fantastic, and bought one for the pony too because the shape and everything was so good, there was never any mane rubbing, or anything.

Also I have had Mark Todd waterproof summer rugs and found them to be excellent, good shape, with quick clips and totally waterproof. His stuff is always brilliant value and still quality I find, leg wear too.
 
i love the mark todd i have for ther cob, excellent quality and hard wearing......you may wangt to look in tescos, full neck HW for £79!
 
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Only other cheapo I can find is the Landa combo, any views on them?

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What size do you need Sue? I have a 6ft 3ins Landa Combo that I don't want anymore. New in Nov 07......
 
Just been and checked out the Tesco rugs, sadly they are only 600 ripstop which won't last five mins here, we need minimum of 1000, preferably more.
I've found someone in Saltash who has a new MT rug so provided we can agree on the price I'll drive ther tomorrow and pick it up, he is out in the daytime in a normal neck rug which being clipped out isn't enough if it rains hard. SN it is supposed to be a standard but is shown with a full neck on the ad, so I've emailed her to ask how it's attached and if it's included with the rug or sold as a neck cover, as some sites sell the cover on it's own .
I have to say the testing rugs get here is superb, and without a shadow of a doubt some last years compared to weeks in other cases.
I have fal./rambos etc that have done six winters outside and have hardly any holes in at all, yet three rugs we bought from the feed merchants haven't lasted three months..All the Rhinegold ones ripped like someone had used a knife, but it was done by tree branches as they walked underneath them.
In most cases it's cheaper to replace than pay for a repair.. A repair must be washed first and the charge for that is £20, then the repair is on top..
I am sorely tempted to pay someone to design a new rug for us, years ago I came up with a really good idea of fastening rugs on with two cross over straps. I wrote to Masta asking what they thought. They replied saying they had their own designers and basically bug**r off, so I was somewhat peeved six months later to see their "new" rug design which was mine. Yes I truly believe I had the idea first..
Well not this time, I would manufacture them before telling anyone so don't even ask!
There are some things I would happily say which is I don't like leg straps at all, a well fitted rug with a fillet string is far better.
I think the modern fastening are fine, but the material of the rugs could be improved on. There should also be some form of padding taking the pressure off the spine..
It's one of those things you think about and say "well one day when I have time..!"
 
I have a mark todd combo heavyweight and found this rug to be quite hardy, i think its hardier than my WB landas. However I prefer the rambo rugs because they seem to be very hardy!!
 
I have had MT turnout rugs since they were introduced to the market. Dont worry about a gap between the rug and neck cover, the way they are cut seems to work well. I also have found that they are well cut around the neck and sit higher up the neck than other makes, well over the slope of the shoulder.

Have recently had some Shires and Weatherbeeta rugs but the only design that fits my new stockier little horse are the MT ones. They are imo excellent rugs.
 
The fal rugs here are still going strong but the outlay is just too much for me to stomach! If I just had one horse I probably would pay that sort of money, but would rather try others and see how they go.
I ended up not getting the MT, the woman didn't reply to my enquiries re collection today, so have bought a rug off ebay. It's not a known make, but the spec is 1680 ballistic outer, 400 gram fill, and the feedback from numerous people is all excellent. It looks awful on the horse standing still but the moving pic of a TB type makes it look a super rug. Only £65 so let's see! If it works I'll buy four or five more.
I do think Fal/Rhino/Rambo are a class above the other rugs, we must have over 75 rugs here and they have outperformed the rest every single year..
 
i had a premier equine rug which sounds like your e-bay job - not a bad rug at all.......i too would love FAL rugs but they do not fit my cobs correctly at all, especially the sec d, far too much pressure on the withers, so i stick to weatherbeeta and mark todd, fit well and no rubs at all! i didn't realise the tesco's rugs were only 600d, i have to confess i didn't take alot of notice, but might make an o.k spare, good luck on your e-bay purchase!
 
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a I am sorely tempted to pay someone to design a new rug for us, years ago I came up with a really good idea of fastening rugs on with two cross over straps. I wrote to Masta asking what they thought. They replied saying they had their own designers and basically bug**r off, so I was somewhat peeved six months later to see their "new" rug design which was mine. Yes I truly believe I had the idea first..
Well not this time, I would manufacture them before telling anyone so don't even ask!
There are some things I would happily say which is I don't like leg straps at all, a well fitted rug with a fillet string is far better.
I think the modern fastening are fine, but the material of the rugs could be improved on. There should also be some form of padding taking the pressure off the spine..
It's one of those things you think about and say "well one day when I have time..!"

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Can I add my thoughts too - I haven't come across one rug which is really deep enough for my 17h wide lad - some of them look like mini skirts on him.

Some of them could do with a larger tail flap, and the tail flap anchored a bit better for strong winds. And rugs to fit 'round' the bum a bit more.

I would like to see combo's which don't have gaps around the neck.

Maybe a removeable inner lining which you can wash and put in a tumble drier (when I had the old canvas NZ's many years ago I made some linings out of sheets and attached them with velco. It worked really well as I washed them weekly and it kept the horses so much cleaner).

I know one of the manufacturers has made a rug which comes apart so you can put the pieces in the washing machine - that seems like a good idea...

Maybe we should get together
smile.gif
 
I have always been a Fal fan, but over the past year my previously non-destructive mare has taken to wrecking rugs! I spent £220 on a Fal last winter and she totalled it after only 3 weeks
crazy.gif
So I'm now sticking with Weatherbeeta Landa and Oricon. They fit her well, look good, perform well and cost peanuts by comparison to the expensive makes!
 
I am really peeved as Shires stopped making their 2000D rug in a normal version. I am not a fan of combos as my horses tend to end up with rubbed withers and manes.

I have JHL rugs, made by same co as Mark Todd ones, they are very nicely cut and relatively deeper cut that most other makes.
 
Ours have some rubbed manes but in good weather I undo the neck and turn it backwards whenever I can.
I wish there was a sort of high neck-but-not full-neck option in rugs, as some full necks like the Landa are so restrictive.
I haven't had any rubbed shoulders this year which is rare.
The idea of a removable washable lining is good, they could even sell spares so you could still use the rug or if it got damaged.
I have learned to my cost not to buy low denier rugs, they have to be seen to be believed, one sharp tree branch and the rugs open like a knife has been along them..Always just the top layer too, not the under one.
Haven't come across JHL, am off to google them..
 
JHL = Jumpers Horse Line
Exactly the same specs as the Mark Todd rugs, but without the brand. I really rate their neck covers as it seems to be tho only brand that leaves a mane!
 
Removable washable linings need to come in different weights / tog - and still fit in the washing machine!
 
I have this rug and it's fantastic, so cosy and warm and because of the neck gusset, it comes right down to his ears even when he's grazing. He seems a happy horse in it (as much as they can do) and it's certainly very warm (I only use it on the coldest days). It seems built to last but as I've only had it a few months I can't comment. It's certainly much nicer than his Masta MW rug.
 
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