Rug Problem?

[Britestar]

This is a little strange, but any ideas welcomed.

My horse has been wearing the same rug all summer - he's a wimp and is out at night.

Anyway about 10 days ago he came in with a cut on his leg, I didn't think much about it, and it scabbed over fine. The last 2 mornings, I have gone out to take his rug off and he has his leg caught through the surcingle. He just stands there pathetically, whinnying at me til I rescue him. Last night I tightend the strap and first thing this morning he was fine, but when I went back an hour or so later to take it off, stuck again!

I think this is how he must have cut the leg in the first place as each time he's knocking the scab off it.

He must be doing it when he gets up, any ideas how to stop him doing it, or why this would have suddenly started?

He has become leaner in the past few weeks, due to an increase in his work load - prep for MK 3DE, so wonder if it affecting the fit of the rug.

Rug is PE 200g, which as I said he has worn the whole summer, and in the winter he lives in a PE 450g with another rug underneath (he really is pathetic) and never had this problem before.

Cheers!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I know the weather's dreadful but if he does this all the time I'd put my best waterproof mac on, grab a folding chair and an i-pod and sit and watch him for an hour or two. Are the straps TOO tight and rubbing him somewhere? is he maybe not as much of a wimp as you think and he's too warm? Honestly don't know but if he keeps getting a leg through a strap, he could cause himself a very, very nasty injury. You might have to make some changes and go for a rug with just a fillet string and then swap the cross belly straps for an elastic roller, just to keep him safe. Good luck!

 

[Madasmaz]

This may be a stupid suggestion, but if he's getting his legs through the surcingle straps...wouldn't they be fitted too long? I leave enough room to fit my hand between the surcingle and the belly...mainly cos mine can wriggle out of them.

 

[Britestar]

Thats what I'm thinking too, so I'll move it up again tonight. Because he's a skinny little runt I think the way it sits on him has change. Strangest thing is that it has never slipped, even when he's standing there with his hind leg stuck!