Quick rug question ;)

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DDWexford

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Hello,

My niece is doing a project and has to do market research. Would you be kind enough to answer the following question:

What annoys you about the design of your horse rug and how would you improve it?

Be warned I started off with a simple answer then ended up ranting! lol

Many thanks for those that take the time to answer it will be very much appreciated x
 
ALL the rugs for my mare rub her shoulders except the one I paid £33 for 4 yrs ago when she was 2yrs old-I have 2 different sizes and 9 different makes and they all rub except the one that is about to disintegrate
 
Not knowing if they are more suited to a deep shoulder / wide etc horse. I dont like spending loads only to find it doesnt fit well...
 
Definitely necks, I've only found mark todd and premier equine to fit my mare properly and she isn't that giraffe-like!
None of my rugs do, but I hate seeing rugs that have slipped right round the side of the horse after rolling etc - like the ones that stay put.
 
That my rug is just right length and depth wise on my cob but for his size he has narrow shoulders so the neck is just a teeny bit wide even on the tightest the buckles go. I can either have that or a rug that looks like a mini skirt and doesn't cover his rump properly :(
 
I don't like tight necks that strangle the horse or pull on its withers as soon as they put their head down to graze, which is after all the position they spend most of their time in; sometimes I wonder if rug manufacturers think these things through. The weatherbeeta taka combo was a case in point, although the weatherbeeta belmont combo stable rug has a lovely loose neck. I also don't like heavy rugs or rugs with liners. I like breathable rugs that can be used both in the stable and turnout. Rambo are my favourite by far.
 
Most rugs I've tried seem to pull back at the chest and feel tight around that area - which makes me feel that I want to loosen the buckles/clips but I think that just makes then slip back more! It's a bit impossible to know which will be the best fit, other than being able to buy one from every rug manufacturer - recommendations only go so far as every horse is different. My horse isn't clipped and only wears a lightweight if needed, so I usually think it's best to just not bother!
 
Leg straps that you have to cut off because they only have a clip at one end an rd are stitched at the other. Hate them, why do rug manufacturers feel the need to put them on?
 
I wish rugs were lower cut below the neck (turnouts in particular) for grazing without straining the front buckles.

Also I wish they wouldn't rub manes like they do. I no longer use rugs with necks except in the most horrendous weather (I've managed to avoid using them all this winter so far!), but whatever rugs I seem to use, the first few inches of their manes are definitely much thinner than further up, which makes trimming for shows/plaiting much more difficult.
 
Have no probs with turnout rugs my issue is sweet itch ones (hope it still counts!)
They rub away his mane at the withers! So annoying as turnout rugs don't (its grows back lovely in the winter).
 
I also don't like to see the front buckles digging into a horse's neck when it's head is down. I'm pathological about pulling my rugs forward so there is plenty of room round the chest! Unnecessary seams that always leak. I prefer clips at the front as buckles are fiddly and take longer. Rugs that slide over to one side. Rugs that sit behind the withers - hate to see that!
 
Prefer buckles so they don't attach to haynets. Cross surcingles are always too long and need knotting. Separate necks are always too long and cover their heads. Filet string attachments are too low. Impossible to find rugs for narrow welshies.
 
I think all turn out rugs should have reflective bits on.

All rugs with no neck should have D rings so you have a choice to add a neck when the weather is bad. So many come without.

Leg straps should NOT be elasticated.

Turn out rugs should be waterproof, not shower proof. I have chucked out several because they leak.
 
Rugs that don't rub the base of the mane, clips not buckles but ones you can adjust, rugs that don't leave bottoms exposed, nice big tail flaps, reflective strips, surcingles that break away if the horse gets caught up (my new rambo has this and I think it's a brilliant idea), nice long necks and rugs that don't pull on withers. Liner loops are great too. That's more of a what I like than what I don't like! So far, rambo rugs tick the most bxes, the only thing I don't like is the price.
 
The Rambo wugs are just perfect for my pony but I just wish they would do one in 100g. There are very few rugs that are 100g around.
 
Can they design a nice little electrical bit that gives a horse a shock if it leans over electric. They seem to lose respect for lower electric after a while when they have big necked rugs on.

Can they also design nice little slip liners that I can interchange and wash easily and don't rub the horse.

Otherwise ditto most of the above.
 
I wish Horseware rugs had the extra metal rings on so that I could use them with leg straps in windy weather. They are such good rugs and fit my horses so well except for this one thing (I have seen them blow off my horses in high winds, so can't use them when it's really, really windy).

I hardly ever use rugs with necks as they rub manes, but my horses don't really need the neck covers anyway (they have loooong manes so it's not a problem).

I agree that more makes should have reflective strips and the really big tailflaps too.

High denier Ballistic Nylon at a reasonable price would be lovely - Rambos are sooo expensive.

Shorter surcingles. I haven't bought a rug for years that I can use straight away (I've needed to shorten the surcingles by several inches, so they aren't baggy and dangerous on the shortest setting). My old rugs definitely have shorter surcingles, even ones that are the same make and size - is this an indication of the equine obesity problem?
 
With regard to the shorter surcingle's on the Rambo wug the surcingle's are detachable. I emailed horsewear explained the surcingles were too long for my pony and they then sent me some shorter ones.

I have never had a problem with any of the Rambo's being blown off my pony in high winds he lives out and has been out in some big storms too. Yes they are expensive but you are getting a good rug that lasts years rather than a fashion accessory in funky colours that might last one or two seasons if you are lucky.
 
I agree, they are fab rugs. My Duo and Supreme don't have removable surcingles, but they aren't the newest models.

Some other people on here have also posted that their rugs have never blown off and I'd never had the problem myself until I moved the horses from flat, sheltered grazing onto a more exposed hill. They're staying on the hill though, so I have rugs with leg straps for high winds.
 
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