rug ripper

[cyrilsmum]

Has anyone got some brilliant ideas to help my horse's rugs survive a mad rug ripper. My horses rugs are being shredded on a daily basis, the young horse he is turned out with grabs the rugs and rips large holes in them or he's trying to mount him and pulls the leg straps off. I insisted they were kept apart during the summer but now they are on the winter grazing they have to share the field. The field is large enough to separate them but my horse will not stay at the lower part of the field on his own and the other owner will not walk for her horses so will not put hers at the lower end of he field.
I have tried cribox (just seeks out the one bit I've missed and bites there), I have tried scaring him everytime he goes for my horse (getting a reputation for being a mad person) and just smiling sweetly and sewing up the latest hole (face and fingers hurting)
I wouldn't mind so much if the other owner was a bit sympathetic or offered to pay for a repair or two, but she just shrugs it off and says thats horses for you. I know thats horses for you but its costing me a fortune. I don't want to move yards as for the first time in eight years of owning my horse he is really settled and happy.
Any suggestions?

 

[Louby]

I know exactly how you feel. I had a rug wrecked in two days by another horse who amongst pulling tail flaps off, ripping out gussets and dragging my horse around by his rugs also gives them wedgies. I got to the point one day that I cried. Just couldnt afford to keep replacing them. My solution and it was hard, was to buy Rambo rugs as they were Ballistic Nylon and very strong. The other rugs are 600 denier or not much more and rip easily. My heart was in my mouth the first times he wore it as I cant afford to buy or replace such rugs but my Rambo is on its 3rd winter now without a repair!!! Also said horse seems a bit fed up not being able to rip them that he isnt half as bad now.
I also tried mixing a lot of English mustard and warm water and putting it in a spray bottle. It was better than the cribox spray.
Good luck, I really feel for you.

 

[Patricksmum]

Agree with Louby - Rambo rugs are TOUGH!!

 

[jayvee]

This is only an idea ok ........
I can only think of them muzzles that restrict grazing. i know that is not what you want to do, but maybe drill large enough holes for ample grazing but not so large that it can grab a rug, dunno that be any good?
Ok if it's your horse, but I guess you have to convince the other owner to put it on their horse .. hmmm! ???
(food for thought anyway)?

 

[cyrilsmum]

Thanks for your advice, I shall ask father xmas (hubby) very nicely for an early pressie and try the stronger rugs. Looking at the catalogues Masta srt seem to be the strongest in the middle price range. Not sure my nerves will survive paying out for a Rambo.

 

[flyingfeet]

I have the same problem with our sweet itch boy, who pees off the other horses so I am always patching rugs.

Horseware ones (Rambo) were not really up to the job, so I wouldn't waste the money. Shires do a 2000 denier rug, which is very good for biting.

However the best bet is to find an old fashioned canvas rug or an extremely tough one to use on top of the normal rugs. We have a really cheap one by Cameo that has never ripped, depsite having leg straps etc ripped off.

A speedy stitcher is also a really good investment!!

 

[dixie]

I have the same problem. The Masta rug was ripped the first day it was put on, so I wouldn't invest my money in that again. I also want to try the Rambo but am nervous about it ripping like the others.

I have invested in a canvas rug which I got off e-bay in the hope that this will work bu tit's too warm to put it on at the moment. Robinsons catalogue also sell them quite cheaply.