Rugs being trashed in field

[Mitchyden]

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to stop horses in my field trashing my horse's turnout rugs?

There is one horse in our field that grabs hold of the neck covers and just rips them off completely. I have got through three rugs this week alone!

There is no way either of these horses can be moved to separate fields as there isn't anywhere else for them. Also, we are not allowed to fence off smaller areas. I have tried spraying fly repellent on the rug to deter this horse but it gets washed off in the rain. My only other option is to move yards but I really don't want to as I've only just moved and I really like it here.

Any suggestions please?

 

[MissChaos]

Not had any experience of this but my first thought was anti-cribbing paint? Having said that, not had to use that for its intended purpose, either. Spose it would depend on how it might affect the rug's outer layer. Or something like this whacked on? http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/equine-anti-lick-strip-pk-10.html

Am sure someone else will have more useful advice...

 

[Archiepoo]

you could try bot remover spray that tastes awful or crib stop ,also maybe talk to your YO im sure you wont be the first person to complain about this horse if its a rug trasher.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

It's the time of year when there isn't enough grass to keep them occupied all day. I've found that after mine have finished their hay, they play aggressively over the fence. (They have individual t/o) but last week still managed to box and pull each others rugs apart. I've currently got one rug at the cleaners so it can be fixed!

Solutions are:
1) Cover the rugs (particularly necks) in bitter spray. (Seems to be working so far!)
2) Give individual turnout and have double fencing so they can't play over the fence. (This is my next strategy if the bitter spray fails)
Or, 3) Put enough hay out to keep them occupied longer, though this isn’t usually practical as mine would be the size of whales if I did that.

 

[criso]

We have 4 rug trashers in our field including mine.
I don't use necks as it is so tempting and I get really high denier rugs which are a little more resistant.
But they still grab hold of the tail flap on the back and happily drag each other round the field.

Someone tried the anti crib stuff but it didn't help.

Luckily I have found someone who repairs rugs cheaply without washing for about £4 a time.

 

[LaurenBay]

I have this problem too. So I have put a no fill on top of her MW turnout. that takes the brunt of it! and has saved my expenisve rug getting ruined. I just sew it back together at the weekends (roughly I might add!)

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Yes, I agree about not using necks.
Most horses, even clipped ones don't actually need their necks covering at all, especially those who only have daytime t/o.
TBH, I only use necks for the purpose of keeping them cleaner, but with the rug trashing that is currectly happening, the necks can go if the bitter spray doesn't work!

 

[olop]

At one of my other yards my boy was turned out with a rug trasher - this horse ruined just about every rug I had. Tried the crib stop & fly repellant & nothing stopped him ripping the rugs.

The final blow was when he trashed my £200 boett rug, the only thing that stopped him was to seperate (this horse did it all year round not just a winter thing!) so not having enough grass was not the problem.

 

[Nikademus]

Don't even go there! I've gone through 4 rugs already this winter - 2 of which are beyond repair! Last week my horse was found in the field standing in just his under rug and his new zealand was lying on the floor with all the belly, chest and neck straps still done up with only the fillet string broken!!

One of the other horses must have pulled it over his head!

 

[bounce]

I feel your pain. Luckily I have my own field so seperate my two for the winter but they still have a go over the fence when they run out of hay or get bored. Once the last of the strip grazing has gone they will be double fenced to prevent it.

I tried spraying cribox on my rugs but the mud or rain just covers it or washes it off and I didn't find it any use at all. The other option is to put an old tatty rug over your better rug to give it some protection. Paint the cheap rug with creosote, its cheaper than cribox and is also very nasty tasting and more likely to last when rained on.

If it is another liveries horse which is doing the trashing then I would be inclined to speak to the yard manager about getting it seperated or alternatively take video evidence of it happening and pass it on to the owner and ask for money to pay for the repairs to rugs.