Recommend the Best Outdoor rugs for winter

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watertray53

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As per title really :
My winter turnouts are coming to the end of their lives so I need recommendations for the best make / type to invest in for this winter & beyond.

I would like a rug with a neck that does NOT rub out the mane .
If anyone has test driven rugs with liners eg Premier Equine or Rambo could you let me know if they are worth the money.
Thanks
Debby
 
I am pleased with my Weatherbeeta Combo rugs, which are very good value for money, fit my 2 very well.

However I have found that the base of the mane, where the neck kind of bends upwards :confused: there appears to be a bit of loss of mane, so could not guarantee they do not rub at least a bit :(
 
Rambo Duo every time! Used them for 3 years now after trying many different makes and would now never use anything else!

I use them with the liners and my biggest is a 6ft6 and I don't find it heavy at all. In fact far lighter than a weatherbeeta/masta of same size/thickness.
 
I have always had Rambo or premier equine. That is until a couple of years ago. I bought a Rambo and it leaked across the tail flap first time it got wet, took it back. 9 wks later I got a replacement. That one leaked too:mad: eventually nearly 4 months later I got my money back

Meanwhile I had bought a 'cheap' shires one to see me through, as they left me without a rug!! I got it half price at yhl I have rarely been impressed with a rug, as they have either leaked, or been too heavy when wet (Premier equine)
Since then I have bought several shires ones and have been extremely pleased with them. I always buy the higher denier though as I do think it makes a big difference
 
Thank you everyone who has posted replies :)

Sportznight which PE rugs would you say were best ? Some previous posters have mentioned their rugs with liners can be very heavy when wet. Have you found that ?

I am also interested to know which rugs with necks do not rub out manes...... anyone who has found one I would love to know the brand.
 
Everything I have tried rubs then mane out, Premier Equine, Weatherbeeta Combo, Masta etc. My mare is a TB with a fine, straight mane and i'm beginning to think that the only way to keep the mane in tact is to go without a neck rug.

It doesn't seem to matter if the rugs are combo all in one versions or ones with detatchable necks although the mane does seem to stay longer with PE ones (detatchable necks).

The general concensus seems to be that it's a combination of friction and lack of air getting to the base of the mane that causes it to fall out.
 
I'm very lucky the shape of Weatherbeeta combos is perfect for my welsh cob! I only have WB turnouts and don't have any problems with mane rubbing.

I did buy a PE trio a year or so ago, but that started to rub his mane quite quickly so I switched back to WB and sold the PE on.

Rambos just don't fit his shape :)
 
watertray53 said:
Sportznight which PE rugs would you say were best ? Some previous posters have mentioned their rugs with liners can be very heavy when wet. Have you found that ?
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Hi, I haven't bought or used the ones with liners. I have the 40g, 100gm, 200gm, 300gm and 450gm turnouts - all are awesome. My youngster lived out for most of last winter in the 200gm one. I have found that the ones that have the integral neck, rather than the detachable ones, hardly rub the manes at all, though even the ones with detachable necks hardly rub IME.
 
I'm another fan of PE rugs, I wouldn't buy any other brand; both of my horses are thin skinned types who get rubbed really easily but their manes survive the winter with the neck covers.
I did buy a liner last year which was great, one of my horses was ill last year & she wintered out in a 450g rug with a 100g liner. She was nice a warm at -10C.
 
handy has a HW weatherbeeta combo, fits him beautifully and keeps him nice and warm :) so weatherbeeta for me every time.
 
Last year I splashed out on a Rambo Supreme with no fill and a neck. This rug comes with all the fixings for their liners so I just add the one I require, the liners mean that the inside of the rug stays clean and the liners themselves fit inside a normal washing machine. I'm really pleased with it :)
 
Have Rambo improved the cut of their Duo rugs then? When I last had some (about 3 years ago) there was a problem with the necks on them being too small and the front of the rug was prone to gaping open. After being an ardent lover of the Rambo Wugs, then Rambo Supreme..... I was put off totally by my winter using their (then) new Duo's. I sold all of mine on eBay as soon as I could and either switched back to Rambo Supreme's and Amigo 1200d for the youngsters. The someone recommended PE (Premier Equine rugs) and I'm now a big fan of theirs. The rugs can tend to come up a little large for size but for quality, value for money, waterproofness and warmth they're great.

I highly recommend Premier Equine rugs these days (http://www.premierequine.co.uk/index.html). Or, Amigo 1200d turnout rugs. They have several types available now and the light weight ones I use on the youngsters wear REALLY well and last very well.

PS: If you have a chunky chappie I can also recommend the Rambo XL (http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Gear-rev...nout/Horseware-Ireland-Rambo-XL-turnout-rug-/). I've got a few of these for my WB and they all have the full nylon no-rub lining and extra big neck covers which really stops any nasty mane rubbing.
 
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MillionDollar said:
I love Premier Equine T/O rugs. I actually just buy their 70g rugs and then add stable rugs underneath when needed :D
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I do this with all my horses. I never buy anything heavier than a medium weight, but mostly light or no fill turnouts but all with a good weatherproof outer shell (1200 denier plus) and of a decent quality so they dont fall to bits over winter. Then I can use them with a liner underneath or with a stable rug, depending on the clip and weather. It's much better than having numerous different weight turnout rugs kicking about. I've already got far, FAR, too many rugs as it is!
 
Still wondering if anyone has found a combo/neck rug that does not
rub out the mane?
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No, I have never found a neck cover (detachable or combo) that doesn't rub my mare's mane out and I have tried lots of makes and even used the next size up neck cover.

So I have given up using neck covers full stop. I have also cut the necks off combo rugs so that I can still use them.

I have a Rambo Duo which is fabulous. I got it when they first came out and it is still waterproof with no rips, although I did have to replace one of the front clips. I love the fact that I can put the liners in the washing machine as they are small enough to fit. I got the 100g liner too so that I can also use the rug as a middleweight.

100_0992.jpg


I'm one of the few people that had a Premier Equine rug that leaked.

I also like Shires, Amigo, Rhino, Bucas and GFS rugs. I do search for the higher denier options where available.
 
watertray53 said:
Still wondering if anyone has found a combo/neck rug that does not
rub out the mane?
Click to expand...

None of the rugs I use (all combo versions BTW) have rubbed and I have the MOST sensitive WB mare on the planet when it comes to rubs and hair loss. I always opt for rugs that have a full nylon lining or use a separate satin liner. This really helps. Also, its IMPERATIVE to keep the inside of your winter rugs as clean as possible. If sticky scurf and grime are allowed to accumulate - rubs will inevitably occur. And boy, do I see some horrendously filthy rugs being used year in and year out on the yard I'm at. Some are unbelievably disgusting inside with black, sticky deposits built up that are literally years old. And people wonder why their horses coats look dull and get rubbed. :o

The rugs I have trouble with rubbing manes are the ones with the half-neck design. I used one of these last year -

db9020f2.jpg


Nightmare! Because the body of the rug comes part way up the neck, before the neck cover start, it really chaffed my WB mare along the 'join'. She's spent the entire summer with a 6in bald section along her crest. Only now have I been able to pull her mane to 4in long and have it all match in length the whole way along. NEVER again!!! That rug has been disposed of and I wouldn't recommend any designed like that if your horse is fine coated. I notice the newest version of this same rug doesn't have the same neck design.
 
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