Rug Advice Please

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HBrae2

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Hi all! Help needed from those with horses turned out most of the time in winter.
I'm hoping that my mare will be able to spend more time out in the field next winter (hopefully gradually move to 24/7 but obviously only if she is happy). I'm thinking it would be cheaper to buy some good quality winter rugs now since there's some sales on! Can anyone recomend a type which they really like? She's a native x so I don't think I need too thick, more it needs to be VERY waterproof yet breathable. I have Weatherbeeta rugs for her just now but I tend to find that they can leak / get pretty wet through in very heavy rain. Was thinking FAL? I don't want her to boil though. What about the Rambo ones that you can buy the linings for to change the weight? What do you reckon is the best outdoor winter rug and why? :)
 
Personally I love Horsewear but I don't like their liner systems for turn out, IK always find they slip. Mine have lived in the Rambo Supreme in varying weights this winter and they are brilliant, you can take the necks off and they are really robust and waterproof, they do a medium weight and a heavy weight. Rhino are great also but Amigo might not suit the fit of your horse. As long as you go with a heavy denier ripstop it really helps with the waterproofing so 600 wouldn't be any use apart from spitting or a small shower.
 
love horsewear too - hope valley saddlery have some pony ones in the sale at great prices, wish I wcould shrink my mare!! On a more budget concious side I have been really impressed with the shires ones I have. Make sure you buy high denier ones - def over 600, and ideally around 1000. If she is a warm type then have a look for a 100g turnout - have got so much use out of mine this winter I wonder how I ever did without it!
 
Thanks for that, I think I'll have a good look at the horsewear range. She's not clipped or anything so I think a couple of medium weights and a medium light would be fine. I've got all her Weatherbeeta's too so I'd always have dry rugs. Does anyone have any opinions on the FAL Pro rugs, someone told me that they were really good, but they are also pricey if they're not actually any better than other brands.....
 
I'm with lochpearl and pony, horsewear are the only rugs I buy now. Rambo are my favourite, and this winter I was lucky enough to acquire a secondhand Supreme, which was exactly that! I don't like liners, I prefer to buy the different weights I need.

I have had Fal in the past, Bulldog and Terrier. I haven't found them as waterproof as the Rambo rugs although the fit is good. I think you might be OK with the heavier denier rugs like the Viking though. I did briefly have a Viking, but resold it as it was too bulky. A lot of people swear by them though.
 
Shygirl said:
Thanks for that, I think I'll have a good look at the horsewear range. She's not clipped or anything so I think a couple of medium weights and a medium light would be fine. I've got all her Weatherbeeta's too so I'd always have dry rugs. Does anyone have any opinions on the FAL Pro rugs, someone told me that they were really good, but they are also pricey if they're not actually any better than other brands.....
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I have to admit that if she is native and unclipped then I wouldn't bother with medium weights. My hunter clipped sports horse mare only has a medium weight on a couple of days a year as she runs so warm!! A couple of light fill rugs so you always have a dry one to hand, and maybe one under-rug that you could use as a back up on super cold days would prob do you well.
 
Horseware Rambo and Amigo rugs all the way. My connie x tb wears a meduim weight 1200d amigo rug through the winter which he has had for 7 years now. I have it washed and reproofed every spring and the rug is still as good as new. My mare has the Rambo range and again, I love the fit and the durability of these rugs.

They may be expensive but IMO worth every penny!

ps Amigo have just brought out a lightweight ( 100g) as opposed to a no fill, 1200d outer turnout rug which I have just ordered and should be ideal for a native during winter.
 
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Rambo rugs are probably the best ones on the market. I have a Duo which is one of the original navy ones when they came out. I also have the brown one for my other horse. Both very good quality, totally waterproof and with the liner system, are very flexible according to the weather. I love them and they wash and reproof every season and come up like new.
The liners come in varying weights now so are very inter-changeable and easy to keep clean. Fab rugs!
 
I'd say horseware are really good but I've never had a problem with weatherbeeta?!

I would echo the advice to rug minimally... my boy was first rugged in november - in a lightweight and to be honest only wore a mediumweight a hand full of times - when it dropped well below freezing! he was lightly clipped from boxing day onwards too!
 
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