Rug Advise please!

Shellby27

Shellby27

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My 2 year old appaloosa colt Alfie is the first horse I have owned which requires a turn out rug. He has TB in him and has a very silky, fine coat. I have measured him correctly and he requires a 5Ft3".

I am now at the point of returning the 4th rug I have bought him as they just don't fit! (Very frustrated now!) The last rug was a Masta Zing High Neck. Gorgeous rug, but it is extremely tight around his chest. I thought this was because he has a neck like a giraffe and the high neck was causing the rug to be pulled upwards. So I bought a Saxon turn out. It fitted better, but was too short in the body and not deep enough and hardly covered the top of his legs!

I'm not quite sure what I'm doing wrong here! He is just over 14.2hh, TB build, doesn't have a wide chest, has a high wither and long neck. I cannot find any width measurements on any rugs, as he would obviously benefit from a deeper rug. Is it just trial and error or are there any rugs you could recommend?

Another problem I am having: when the leg straps are passed through each other at the back they rub his testicles! They were fitted correctly (not too tight) but as he has rather large ones the straps intervere. Would it be safe to just attach them back to their own sides?

I have owned horses all my life and want the best for my horses, so please no horrible comments. I am asking for friendly advice, but please do let me know If I'm being completely blonde about all this haha!
 
We have several stallions, and the rule here is never cross the leg straps on an entire! - just put them round the legs; or better still, take the leg straps off & use a tail strap across the back (much easier to put on & off then)
 
Maybe try a 5'6" rug instead of a 5'3", might help a bit with the fit round his withers etc, how close are you to your local saddlery, could it possibly be a bit easier to box him to the saddler and try various rugs on (bit like a saddle fitting but for rugs).
My 15hh WB X TB varies between a 6' and a 6'3" depending on the cut of the rug and the manufacturer, I normally stick with a 6'3" for Weatherbeeta and most of her rugs now are weatherbeeta, with the 6' being the Thermatex.
 
How about Weatherbeeta or Horseware? I've been told to avoid Mastas before as they apparently have been known to move around at the shoulder and neck and so rub. And, ditto what was said about the leg straps! xx
 
Horseware Amigo (poss next size up) or try Loveson rugs, my dinky 15.3 tb (6ft rug) fits both nicely and neither rub or drown him.

Could try Premier Equine too :)
 
Thank you so much for all the advice! I just had a thought about a chest expander! I'm sure the Masta would fit perfectly if the chest was a little wider, as it fits well in the body! I'm sure that he approved as he started to yawn and then fell alseep!

"MMMMMmmmmmm thanks for the duvet mum!"

This was only the second time he had worn one! He is such a good boy!
 
I think I would probably go for the next size up - it would give you the additional wither clearance and also he may shoot up being a baby!

Sort of like buying bigger clothese for school kids "they will grow into it....." ;-)
 
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