Rainsheets (no fill) for big chests - NOT Shires - GRRRR!!!!

Coblover63

Coblover63

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I was recommended Shires for my big-chested cobby boys and I bought two lovely Shires Tempest Lites - both in the same colour - matchy matchy. My little cob has been clipped so he's worn his a couple of nights and I was super-impressed by the fit, lovely. The big one only has a bib clip so hasn't needed his but tonight I got it out of the packet and realised that instead of the nice, adjustable clip fastenings on the chest as per the little one's, this rug, despite the packaging and labelling being the same, has fixed clips, like the ones on the belly straps! It is FAR too tight on his chest and there is no adjustement, so I am going to have to return it tomorrow - doh! Having looked on ebay, it looks as if little coblet's is "old" stock and they have put the "new, improved" static fastenings on the chest as all the rugs advertised are not adjustable.

So.... back to the drawing board. I just need a bog-standard (ie, sensibly-priced!!) 6'9" no-fill that is roomy on the chest and shoulders and has an adjustable fastening on the chest. Recommendations, please?
 
Derby house. Shires are too tight on my boy too, but his Derby house rugs fit him beautifully. They're 20% off atm too ;)
 
Weatherbeeta work for my big shouldered Friesian. PE etc were all far too narrow. Amigo XL too are nice and roomy (but non adjustable iirc). Don't know if that will help chest wise!
 
Posted to say not a Masta. My mare doesn't have particularly big shoulders and i've had to get a chest expander for hers.
 
tallyho! said:
You can get chest expanders you know that don't you?
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Yes, but I thought they were just plain buckles. Would they fit this?

Shires%20Chest_zpsmigehpsl.jpg
 
Weatherbeeta and Ruggles both fit my big shouldered welsh D.

Premier Equine and Masta have both rubbed him as they're too narrow.
 
Thank you Janice, for the link to the chest expander!! I have just ordered one.

I did contact Shires to ask whether they make one and they said "Er, no sorry, not at the present time, but we have forwarded your idea to our purchasing team who will look into the possibility of doing one in the future" Hmmmm....
 
If his chest is that big I would probably suggest a mark todd, but they aren't cheap! if not, I would go for a cheaper rug that does have leg gussets, but most of the cheaper rugs don't have them these days.

Both of mine have fairly large chest and are happy in the weatherbeeta genero's, which don't have the leg bits but they are also fine in the shires rug like this, so I'm guessing your horse is very well built!
 
Mark Todd's don't fit mine at all - he is garrotted by them! Some of the Shires are fine - I think it is particularly the Tempest that come up smaller round the chest and have the stupid clips. I go with Derby House now. They are so adjustable and fit my skinny up to the wide boy! Can't go wrong and they seem to have sorted out all their delivery issues. You can track parcels and I have received multiple packages recently very quickly. :)
 
mark todd or JHL (who are made by the same factory as Mark Todd) bine is as tall as he is wide and never had issues with MT or JHL, MTs last a little longer and a slightly better fit, but JHL are not bad in anyway.
 
i hate the T bar fastenings too!

i have the Amigo XL with the chest expander on and it does work for my cube of a horse(old fashioned WB) so fingers crossed works for you too.

Ruggles are great for bigger horses if you need any more rugs in the future :) my boy has the LW,MW and HW.
 
Maxima Equestrian rugs have fully adjustable front trigger clips. You have a choice of two rings to clip onto, plus the other end of the strap can be shortened or lengthened via a buckle, making it suitable for a wide range of chest sizes. They are not expensive - lightweight turnouts start at £39.99 and delivery is free in the UK.
 
I have a shires lightweight for my highland, but its the highlander , they have big gussets at the front. Theres loads of room.
 
If you were pleased with the fit of the Shires, you could try a Highlander rather than a Tempest. These have proper adjustable buckles. I have one of this season's so they definitely haven't changed.
 
My friend's big chested cob has Weatherbeeta and Bridleways. Second PE being tight. Her boy can barely walk in his. Recommend Ruggles for quality but can't vouch for fit as mine are Exmoors!
 
I always find these threads confusing! I have a proper HW, wider than he is taller, drive a bus through his front legs, cob. Hes a proper tank of a horse! I find Shires, Mastas and Amigos fit really well and struggle with a lot of other makes. Weatherbeeta wont go anywhere near. I think mine must just be weird?! He is only 14.1/2hh in a 6ft/6ft3 so maybe that makes a difference?!
 
Slightlyconfused said:
Try the shires highlander, it's has shoulder pleats and adjustable front straps. I've got big shouldered boy in a 6'9 one and it fits lovely
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This is good to hear. I've just ordered a 6'9" no fill highlander in the jockey print for my cob, it'll be my first shires rug. At just under £40 inc delivery, it was worth a punt, I thought.
 
Tiddlypom said:
This is good to hear. I've just ordered a 6'9" no fill highlander in the jockey print for my cob, it'll be my first shires rug. At just under £40 inc delivery, it was worth a punt, I thought.
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I've got the petrol coloured one. It also has neck attachment D rings and loops in the inside for shires new rug liners.
 
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