Recommendations for fly rugs

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aaudley01

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Can anyone recommend a decent fly rug that doesn't make them too hot?

I've not used one before as we are in an exposed, windy location but my mare is quite fine and does tend to get swollen if she is bitten badly.

I've read about a Rambo fly buster rug that had repellant in it and lasts for 25 washes - so what do you do after that? do you have to add more repellant or is it then useless?

Thank you for any advice!
 
Rambo fly rugs are great IMO as they stay put well and are tough!

I don't wash mine - if necessary I get a bucket of warm water and sponge the grease off the inside but that's about it. Any mud can be brushed off quite easily. I've just got a normal one without the fly repellent but someone else on here raved about it! I don't think you would need to wash it very often tbh so it should last a good while :)
 
Mine gets horrific sweet itch and if left alone he will rub his mane and tail raw. I immediately jumped on the Boett rug bandwagon which he hated as it rubbed him and he would still rub with it on.

I eventually got him a Masta flyrug out of desperation untill I could think of a better solution. Low and behold he stopped itching - the tailguard is long enough to avoid anything going near his tail (which is his biggest issue) and it survived a full three summers whereas the Boett survived for about a month. I bought a replacement last year which is into its second summer with no problems.

The one I have is the 'firm' style netting, not the thin flimsy stuff.
http://totally-tack.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Fly_Rugs.html

the £48.50 one. I'm generally not a fan of Masta rugs but this is the only flyrug I'd consider for him after he's trashed his way through Boetts, Shires and Weatherbeeta ones
 
I have tried every fly rug under the sun!

Last summer I tried the Weatherbeeta Kool Coat Combo for the first time and its definitely the best IMO. because its cotton is breathes well, stops the coat bleaching and it fits well. The best thing I have found with it is if there is a short rain shower it keeps the horse dry and dries off very quickly. I bought another 2 for my other horses in the winter sales I was so pleased with it.

So many of the polyester ones slide around-and the buckels pull off as polyester is not strong enough and I don't know about you but when its hot the last thing i want to wear when its hot is polyester!!!!!

I have a horse who suffers with Urtecaria and he wears a Horsewear one; its great and now in its 5 season (most of the cheaper ones get destroyed after a few months). Its heavy but hard wearing.
 
I had a Rambo Bug Buster and it was great until the great oaf did a large succession of bucks and kicks and popped all three tummy straps off! (I always go Horseware!) I now have a selection of Amigo Bug Rugs and Amigo Mio's. I do think the Bug Rug is better than the Mio. I also reckon that most fly rugs are intended to last a season! I am on 2nd season with the Mio's and the Bug Rugs are brand spankers. I did trial a non Horseware one and that wasn't very good. Mine have never sweated under their rugs either.
 
Look for one with a strong net type not the soft ones. I have tried loads (saxon, kool coat, mark todd) and all have been pretty rubbish to be honest.

The one I have at the moment is this one in green (only colour left lol):
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2880&cat=314&scats=314

Its been great so far and fits perfectly. It has not rubbed this far and is strong enough not to rip without being too heavy (and most importantly he hasnt been bitten yet!)
I team mine with a full face shires fly mask, he looks silly but it works and he is much happier!

Personally I wouldnt bother with the fly repellant rugs, I would just spray on some Phaser or something on exposed bits to keep flies off.
 
I've got a Shires maxi flow, I've had it about four years, its lasted really well there are no rips, its never rubbed and she hasn't got bitten, she has worn it in a field of 18 mares (massive field) with barbed wire and still no rips, she has lived out with my youngster who is playfull and still no rips. She has never got hot in it either the tail guard is nice and big and they aren't exspensive I think shires have changed the names now but I just had a look and there are lots still about I think I payed about £40.
 
Mine's got sweet itch and so I'm a bit of an expert as regards fly rugs!!! Plus rather lighter in pocket.

Forget the cheapy ones, they don't last (my record is two days) and go for something which is a bit more substantial.

I tried the Pagony which is basically the cheapy version of the Boett - totally naff and a waste of money. The quality was cr*p, all the seams were single-stitching so I had to get the poor old sewing machine out and go over all the seams, and they've got this stupid strap/elastic thing which basically goes on the back of the hood and then down to the withers, and my boy somehow got himself hitched up in it, and after that wouldn't let anyone put it on him again.

I've got a Pessoa hoody which is good, covers him well, also last year used the Premier Equine hoody which isn't all that expensive, and that worked well and lasted the whole summer.
 
I recently bought a Rambo Bug rug, always buy Rambo rugs as they suit my horse really well.

Have to say I am dissapointed with it, it has freyed where the edge joins the rug and now has a large hole and lots of snags are already showing all over, he isn't normally hard on his rugs, never had any issues before :( It has also started to rub him, so all in all not a good buy for us!
 
I tried the Boett and found that my mare was too hot and ripped it too shreds (not on fencing just destroyed it herself) so not very good - the Rambo rubbed my mare really badly and was very heavy.

Best thing by far snuggy hood - sweet itch hood with weatherbeeta summer sheet combo over - i think the combo is about £33 -its nearly identicle to the rambo sweetitch hoody but much lighter (and cheaper) only diff is it doesnt have the ears but with the snuggy hood you dont need them
 
I have Weatherbeeta AirFlow Combos on mine - they are nice soft mesh - hard mesh rubbed my girls something chronic - I like to keep a nice mane, having no plaits in half of it isn't a good look.
 
dont go for a cheap one . i did and it can rub so my gelding can only wear it for a few days then i have to stop using it. luckily he isnt bothered by the flys so much now. my friend got a rambo one and its much softer and doesnt rub.
 
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