Rugs. Generous fit?

PapaverFollis

PapaverFollis

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I'm sure this topic has been done to death but any recommendations for a big shouldered/generally big bodied horse? Her PE rug got washed too hot and lost waterproofing, grrr, and although it fitted nicely the apparent fragility of the waterproofing has now put me off a bit (she was also busting the chest velco a bit, but think the wash may have damaged the velcro too... good job I bought it in the sale and got a good year of use out of it really).

She's only 6ft6 in the PE but the 6ft6 Weatherbeeta she's in now as a temporary measure looks like a miniskirt and it's a good job it has shoulder gusset else it would be way too tight. We bought a 6ft9 Amigo today... she looks like an overstuffed sausage in it! So that's going back.

So any recommendations appreciated!! No fill initially but will need thicker ones too as I was using a 200g liner last year. Bonus points for one that will take a PE rug liner. 😖 And it needs to withstand strong winds as it's a bit blustery up here in The North!
 
I found weatherbeeta these days to be exceptionally big made and too baggy now for my guy. Maybe worth a try again? Amigos are a no no, like a mini skirt on mine too. For a cheapy no full, I got a Harrison Howard on eBay and his huge round the chest. I’m actually not a fan of the fit anymore for that reason.
 
The Weatherbeeta is a new Comfitec, bought last year. It's tiny on her. I have a 6ft9 medium weight one too... also a mini skirt.

Rambo and Amigo are both Horseware? Is that correct? Are they a different fit?
 
My friend uses John Whittaker rugs on her MW hunter. I have one for my young horse and its very roomy, so IMO def suited to the chunkier horse. Im up North too, maybe not as far as you but if you anywhere near Rochdale, the outlet has some very good deals, especially in bigger sizes :)
 
Sadly about a 9hr drive north from Rochdale. 😁 Local tack shop shutting down and we've exhausted the options from the tack shop 2hrs away today... internets it is! She has a John Whittaker fleece that does still fit so they could be an option.
 
cowgirl16 said:
I got a Weatherbeeta Genero Wide for my built like a brick s***house QH. He's really difficult to get a well fitting rug for - this one's pretty good.
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Yep second the Weatherbeeta wide rather than standard rugs if you can find one. They don’t seem to have them in this winters collection so would need to be lucky & find some of last years old stock.
 
I'm finding masta rugs a nice fit and good price, bigger than his old weatherbeeta... He is quite big in the chest/shoulder. Not tried this make before, I got them because they were cheap, after suffering with a leaking PE rug too 🙄 😁
 
PapaverFollis said:
The standard Ruggles or does he need the heavy horse ones? I imagine he's a bit bigger than The Beast too so that's good to know.
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Militaire = heavy horse (it's those shoulders!). The Appy who is part bred draft and is broad but not quite as much as her daddy fits into their normal range. I find their normal range seems to be good for those with a chunkier frame
 
Ive found these to be the best fit:
Amigo XL- (for broader horses) they are fab, fit perfectly, haven't leaked and lasted for ages, no miniskirts or sausages. Although I find the neck attachments and tail flaps on amigos aren't the best so there's bit of flapping and letting the water in if they are out in all weathers.
Rambo optimo- I even managed to go down a size in this one, but expensive and leaked a lot!
The big horse shop
Masta for cheaper ones
 
I found that Gallop rugs fitted my Westphalian Kaltblut (Draft) mare. I would say that she had massive shoulders, which is true but she was massive everywhere, except that she was short-coupled, She was 16hh and happily wore 6'6" rugs. The 16 hh cob is also wearing their rugs.
 
The Ruggles heavy horse range???

Or PE again.... I'm very happy with our PE busters, they normally do at least 3 winters before even needing reproofed by my washing lady.

Rambo were like mini skirts on our ID and TB :(

Fiona
 
Thank you for the suggestions everyone. I think we're going to go for trying some Ruggles. I've also realised I can use my non waterproof PE as a stable rug. It didn't occur to me until yesterday (there was much rug dram yesterday)
 
Ruggles heavy horse rug is winging its way to us... I thought the standard Ruggles might be ok but husband thought the heavy horse was a safer bet and it's his money that's buying it. 😂

Just for giggles (if it works) a picture of her in her 6ft9 Weatherbeeta...
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Got it. It fits well. But the leg straps are in a really odd place. Really far forward? Worried she will be able to get through them when she rolls. Hmmm. Have messaged Ruggles.
 
Oh, dur, I can just use the heavy fillet string from the PE and remove the leg straps! Problem solved. Why does it always take me so long to see the obvious? 🙈😂 In which case I'm very happy with the fit just await the waterproofness testing...
 
I have to ask which PE rug you were using that stopped being Waterproof so quickly?
I have one in it's 3rd year now and one in it's 2nd and they're my most reliably waterproof rug in the strong winds and rain that we keep getting. But I do get the Tybalt Stratus ones on principle as they have a higher denier (1200D) compared to the Busters (840D), which I've found personally seems to make a difference.

I know you've just bought the Ruggles which looks great on your girl, but as a word of caution, we bought a No Fill Shetland Turnout from them for our little man which slight arthritis and it wasn't waterproof at all in the consistent light-medium rain and strong winds we had recently. We may have got a bad one though and I'm tempted to phone Ruggles and query it to be honest, considering it's supposed to be 1200D and Teflon coated I would have expected better....
 
It was an Altus Stratus? Maybe... not a Buster anyway. I had it washed though and I think that ruined it sadly. Despite me asking that they don't wash it too hot.

I saw something about the Ruggles waterproofing maybe not being great but it was after we ordered it, and there was plenty saying their rugs were fine. I wonder if there's been some that have snuck past quality control or something? Mine looks ok so far with the water beading on the surface. It'll get wind and rain tested pretty quickly so we shall see.

If it isn't waterproof I'll have to go Masta or back to give PE another try.
 
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