Properly securing detachable neck covers on winter turn-out rugs

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Hurricanelady

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I have a number of lovely winter turn-out rugs but they have detachable neck covers, fastened onto the rug with either clips or straps. The neck cover being detachable is good if it's a day when it isn't needed but in this current appalling weather it's not so good when it's raining - because the horses put their heads down to graze and immediately a gap opens up between the neck cover and the rug allowing rain in to run down their necks underneath the neck cover; therefore defeating the object.

Has anybody else had this problem and been able to do anything about it? I did order some industrial strength press studs which came from China with no instructions and I'm a bit stumped as to how to get them fixed onto the neck cover and the rug?!

Any ideas much appreciated :-)
 
Some of the newer type (wetherbeeta in particular) are much better nowadays. I find the old strap system pretty useless. If you are handy with the sewing machine you could attach Velcro and and insert made of waterproof ripstop fabric. Concertina a rectangular piece of fabric long enough to stretch over the gap. Secure at both ends with strong thread on the base of the hood and sew on Velcro along the other edge and the wither part of the rug. Concertina will stretch open as horse puts head down and stop water getting in. However, I am far too lazy to do that and so have bought rugs with attached necks and rugs without necks which I use as appropriate.
 
Im in Scotland where we are no stranger to rain & stormy conditions! I use horseware rugs & have never had this problem. Perhaps it's the particular rug that's the problem?
 
Wagtail said:
Some of the newer type (wetherbeeta in particular) are much better nowadays. I find the old strap system pretty useless. If you are handy with the sewing machine you could attach Velcro and and insert made of waterproof ripstop fabric. Concertina a rectangular piece of fabric long enough to stretch over the gap. Secure at both ends with strong thread on the base of the hood and sew on Velcro along the other edge and the wither part of the rug. Concertina will stretch open as horse puts head down and stop water getting in. However, I am far too lazy to do that and so have bought rugs with attached necks and rugs without necks which I use as appropriate.
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Wagtail that's a great suggestion, I'll try that, many thanks :-) I have 5 horses and they all have a selection of lightweight, medium weight and heavy weight turn-outs so you can imagine the size and expense of my rug wardrobe (and that's before we start considering the fleeces and stable rugs!), so I'm having to use these rugs rather than replace them with ones with attached neckcovers! :-o

el-Snowflakes, these are expensive but old (about 9 years old) and in very good condition Mark Todd and Masta rugs, I guess they make them with a better design these days!
 
I have this problem with one of my horses heavyweight rugs, the solution i found was to put her no fill rain sheet with neck on top. This keeps the neck cover in place.
 
Thanks very much for the additional suggestions everybody! Maybe I shall also have to see if these can be donated in due course to a charity and new rugs sneaked in one at a time to avoid OH beady eye on (in his opinion) non-necessary horse expenditure ;-)
 
horseware - velcro strips (though mine was removed in a bit of rough play the other week and it does pull on the lining.

Fals seem to have zips on them which I like!
 
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