Other horses destroying rugs

[Amb3r22]

Since a new gelding arrived at the yard my pony has had the straps pulled off her rugs 4 times! Im going to try adding something nasty tasting to the straps but is this horse likely to continue? My pony needs rugging on winter and needs a fly rug in summer for sweet itch. They all live out as a herd. Currently separated but this isn't possible long term. No one has actually seen him.do it but a week after him joining the herd the first rug was broken.

 

[dorsetladette]

My old Cob ripped rugs. I was open to everyone who's horses shared with mine. We got old rugs to put on top and put cribbox on the tail flap seems to stop him biting them. Eventually he stopped doing it, but his favourite trick was to grab tail flaps as the other horse walked past.

What straps are being pulled? If it's surcingle straps it could just be your horse has got it's legs caught and they need shortening. Chest straps may have got caught on fencing. It could just be coincidence.

 

[Gloi]

My pony loved swinging on tail flaps and pulling them off and I kept having to fork out on having them mended. Fortunately he seems to have grown out of it.

 

[Amb3r22]

My old Cob ripped rugs. I was open to everyone who's horses shared with mine. We got old rugs to put on top and put cribbox on the tail flap seems to stop him biting them. Eventually he stopped doing it, but his favourite trick was to grab tail flaps as the other horse walked past.

What straps are being pulled? If it's surcingle straps it could just be your horse has got it's legs caught and they need shortening. Chest straps may have got caught on fencing. It could just be coincidence.

Its the surgingles. But she has worn the same rug all winter with zero issues. A week after the new gelding joined it started. Rug repair lady feels another horse is doing it. Straps are already very short as pony is skinny so doesn't have alot of body for the rug to wrap around. They are pretty snug to her belly already. Also if she gets separated for a few days no issues. 24 hours after going out with the herd rug gets broken

 

[Highmileagecob]

We used to have a tail ripper/rug ripper (thankfully, he's calmed down). Slathered target points in vaseline. It made a mess, but did the job. Surcingles were never a target though. He would latch onto the back corner of the rug, the tail flap, and the horse's tail.

 

[Exasperated]

My pony loved swinging on tail flaps and pulling them off and I kept having to fork out on having them mended. Fortunately he seems to have grown out of it.

Ha! Tail flaps!
I once had a big gelding used to grab tail flaps and haul back hard, to stop the other horse from progressing, jerking them up short, a naughty little game, rather like schoolboys twanging the girls’ bra straps. Wasn’t doing the rugs much good, so I bought a couple of cheapies from Robinsons.
However, these had Velcro-detachable tail flaps (why? No idea, never come across this feature before or since), anyway very first time outside, laddo went to stop the little mare accessing the trough - he pulled so hard he sat straight down and went over backwards in the snow - with the flap in his mouth.
Poetic justice! And seemingly cured him for good.

 

[nutjob]

I'd try a rug with the surcingles like this one which might make it more difficult to grab onto

Fieldmasta 100g Lightweight Combo NeckTurnout Navy Blue

Upgrade your horse's comfort with Fieldmasta 100g Lightweight Combo Neck Turnout Rug in navy blue. Waterproof, breathable design prevents mane loss. Shop now!

harryhall.com

It would be easier to work out what to do if someone sees it happening.