Rug is strangling my horse - any tips?

[laura_nash]

Was making a bit of a fuss of my horse in the field yesterday evening, when I noticed that his rug is practically strangling him when he's grazing. It seems to fit him well normally, but as soon as he puts his head down to graze it really digs into the bottom of his neck - I could barely find the top strap it had sunk so far in.

He's a traditional cob and does have a very low-set neck. It's an old-fashioned design of rug (canvas, leather straps etc), but I like it because it's thin but completely waterproof (his modern thin turnout leaks when we have sudden downpours like we have recently).

I think if I had the straps any looser the rug would slip backwards, I wondered if you can get elasticated straps or something? Alternatively, does anyone know of a generous-around-the-shoulders thin turnout that doesn't leak in heavy rain (the one that does is an Amigo 600D Lite).

 

[spaniel]

This may sound silly but why is a cob wearing an nz in June???

I find the Amigos are a good fit for the chunky monkeys and from what you say about what happens when his head goes down you might want to go up a size from the one you are using at the moment. You need the 1200 denier ones for waterproofness not the 600d.

 

[legaldancer]

Take it off?

Sorry, couldn't resist it.

 

[laura_nash]

Thanks spaniel - I guess I'll look at investing in a 1200 denier. I thought the higher the denier the thicker / warmer?

The size is right for him, I measured him up properly and the next size up is halfway down his tail, he's just a bit odd shaped (short back, big shoulders, low-set neck).

He's only wearing the nz at night, because he's been stabled at night until recently. I'm on a dressage / showing yard (the others are all TBx's etc) and he doesn't like being out at night on his own so I have to fit in with the others.

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Different shaped horse (TBxTrak) but we have the same problem, we couldn't find any brand or make that fit him perfectly, though Weatherbeata (unaltered - see below) are the best, solutions so far include:

Option 1: If the rug has 2 chest straps we do the bottom one up as tight as it will go and the top one looser. Helps a bit with some rugs.

Option 2: Is to get someones old rug and cut out sections to create an expanded chest section. Hard to explain but we took the 5cm of the front bit (begining of bit that goes around the chest infront of shoulder dart) of another old waterproof and sowed it in to his current rug.
With his cotton we cut of the neck bit that he hated and used that to modify the front so that it now has 4 buckles.
Basically get creative with siccors and a needle and thread it took us a couple of goes to get it right.

If you like I can get pictures just let me know.
Good luck.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

I would tend to agree with some of the others - just take it off.
A cob will be fine - mine lives out rugless most of the year and even in heavy snow he only has a medium weight on.
At the end of the day a horse is a horse, not a baby. They are designed to live outside!
I have had similar issues with this in the past and found nothing really sorted the problem out.

 

[miss_c]

I have similar problems with Genie when it comes to rugs, maybe try a different brand if he absolutely has to have a rug on? I personally would take it off, but I'm a mean mummy and shoved Genie straight out rugless the first night they went out and did the same to my Argentine TB her first summer over here. He's your horse so I'm sure you will do what's best for him individually!

 

[ester]

the v-neck that horseware do is excellent. bought my welsh the medium weight rhino one of these in the winter and it doesn't pull on him at all and must be much more comfortable for eating. They are pricey but as and when his rugs need replacing thats what he will have. Could do with a size bigger though as it sits so much further forward. Saying that he would only currently be rugged if it was absolutely going to throw it down all day or night.

Higher denier means closer weave polyester on the outside and doesn't change the warmth.

 

[spaniel]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks spaniel - I guess I'll look at investing in a 1200 denier. I thought the higher the denier the thicker / warmer?



[/ QUOTE ]

It means the weave is tighter but it doesnt make the rug any warmer.

Look out for the navy blue ones, I think all the fashion colours are the 600g and the navy ones are the 1200.

 

[martlin]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks spaniel - I guess I'll look at investing in a 1200 denier. I thought the higher the denier the thicker / warmer?



[/ QUOTE ]

It means the weave is tighter but it doesnt make the rug any warmer.

Look out for the navy blue ones, I think all the fashion colours are the 600g and the navy ones are the 1200.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can get the 1200 denier in Navy, Red Pumice and Khaki

BTW - I don't sell them, just have different colours for different horses

 

[shadowboy]

I would go for a fal or a rhino/rambo as they are cut slightly different- however cheep lovesons have a massive sut neck- as I find the legnth is right for my boy but the neck to big. They do a lightweight for £42.00

 

[bex1984]

I almost don't want to post a reply because I can't see any logical reason why a traditional cob would be wearing a rug this time of year?!

I seriously hope his weight is spot on and he's not carrying even a smidge of excess weight?

*takes deep breath and tries to be helpful*
Mark todd rugs are very generous around the neck and fit my HW cob perfectly.

 

[LickettySplit]

I'd go with a Fal or a Mark Todd....both are great for bigger horses.

But let's face it......it's June and he doen't need it