Rug weights.

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Christmas_Kate

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I usually rug natives in the lightest weight i can find (if I rug at all).

I went to buy a rug today and asked for the lightweight turnout. It was a pretty decent rug, but the shop owner told me I'd be better off going for something with a fill, as lightweights tend to be for summer use and won't withstand heavy rainfall.
I ended up buying one with 180g fill,(typical they didnt have the size I wanted so I have to go pick it up in a fortnight).

There was only a fiver difference in price, so I don't think I've been "had". I've looked it up tonight and I got it at RRP.
I've just never heard of this before, has anyone else?
 
Some of the summer turnout rugs won't withstand heavy rain, just prolonged drizzle really. The Amigo is a good example of that. The actual no fill rain sheet is far more waterproof than their summer turnout we found. But the summer turnout was perfect for when light rain was forecast...

Horses, who'd have 'em?
 
All my summer TO are waterproof as much as any rug ever is, but I think a no fill rug merely flattens the coat, preventing warm air being trapped and they are colder in them than no rug, even though they are dry.

A light filling such as a Premier Equine 70g is vastly better IMO.
 
The older rhino lightweight summer turnouts had no fill and were the best lightweight waterproof rugs I have come across. I think they kept the horses warm as well.
 
I have the Funnell LW turnouts and my horses live out in them and they don't leak, even in heavy rain.

However, I also have a Masta LW and that does leak!
 
Never had any problems with lightweights leaking, Have had several varieties and all have lasted at least one season with no leaks at all mine that aren't working are out 24/7 and high up on an exposed ridge! I use lightweights for weanlings and youngstock just to keep the rain off their backs and save money on feed!!!

Have found horseware to be the best of my lightweights, one I have is 9 years old never reproofed and still doesn't leak. Mind you I wash them myself by hand in cold water with Horseware detergent.

Personally can't see where that comment came from as most lightweights are just an unstuffed version of the middle and heavyweights so are proofed in exactly the same way, otherwise it would be a whole separate manufacturing process making them more expensive?
 
Amigo do a lightweight turnout that is fully waterproof. As long as the outer shell is a minimum of 1000 denier then it will be totally waterproof.

The Amigo LW turnout is 1200 ripstop denier and fantastic.

Equally Mark Todd also do one that is brilliant.
 
The lightweight rugs tend to be less waterproof as the outer layer gets damaged more easily from movement. So the life of the rug tends to be shorter.

I've got a shires stormcheeta in both light and heavyweight. The light weight version lasted about 3 years before it lost is waterproofing because (after ripping it apart to have a good look!) the waterproofing was peeling off the inside.

To be fair my lightweights get a lot of use though due to sweet itch horse
 
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