Rugs - how do you know when they fit?

[Greenleaves]

Hi,

This might sound a very silly question but after having a horse for several years I m not sure i know that I can actually say a rug will fit without rubbing.

How do you know how tight to fasten it? Should I be able to fit a hand in comfortably or should it be snug or loose?
Should the fleecy bit at the withers be in front or on or behind the withers?
How do I know if the neck isnt fitting?
Would a standard rug cause less rubs than a full neck?

I ve got all these questions as my mare seems to be having problems with her rugs. She is regularly getting rug rubs from rugs that used to be fine and shes sore just in front of the withers where it is pressing down.

I ve got weatherbeeta hw rugs that have nylon linings which seem to be better but still pull back and give her rubs and masta lightweights that are cotton lining that are also rubbing. So i dont know whether the lining makes a difference. I ve also got MTs and a Premier Equine fly rug, the best fitting are MTs but they still look tight

All of her rugs pull backwards over her shoulders. Does this mean they are too big? When I fasten them tighter there isnt any space for her shoulders to move and she looks like shes in a straight jacket.

Hot chocolate or ice cream as reward for replying depending on what you fancy or the weather - I know as I m travelling back to uni in london from the north east and up north it is sunny and down here its miserable!

 

[Dizzydancer]

im lucky in that my horse is fairly standard for any 6'6 rugs. However if it is puling back on her shoulders then they are either too big or too loose. I prefer them to be quite tight over the chest as most have got shoulder darts and allow movement. I also have the fleece bit on top of the withers and the front of the rug sits just infornt of the withers. Although most of my boys are neck rugs. You maybe better with a higher neck (like rhino wug, alhtough you can get other makes) to take some release of the withers. i think thats how my rugs go anyway!! Also agree the nylon lining is much better for preventing rubs. It could be she is too hot aswell causing rugs to rub?

ETS all my rugs have wither pads that are a sheepskin triangle not just the thin bit over the edge of the rug!

 

[touchstone]

There is a video on rug fitting here:-http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/Improve-your-riding/Search-Results/How-to/Rugs---How-to-fit-a-rug/

If your rug is sliding back it sounds as if it is probably too big. The fleece wither pad should sit in front of the withers and you should be able to get a hands breadth under it. Same as for the front of the rug. Some breeds suit different makes of rug so perhaps that might be part of the problem? What breed is your horse?
I'd possibly try sewing extra padding at the withers if it is rubbing there.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

This rug is a good fit. She is slightly outgrowing it length wise (but she's a fast growing yearling in the pic, so nothing fitted for long ), but it's perfect around the neck and in the depth. It was replaced with the next size up once her bottom was poking out too much.

Here's a good example of a rug that's too short (length wise).

This rug fits the same horse much better. Incidently, both rugs are 6ft, so you can see how the Amigo (2nd photo) comes up smaller than the Bucas (3rd photo).

The same horse in a 6ft3 Rambo. This is perfect in the length and is still nice around the neck.

None of the rugs in the photos have ever rubbed or slipped.

ETA. I like Horseware and Bucas rugs for my LW horses because they aren't cut too big around the neck. A 6ft Weatherbeeta would fit my chestnut (length wise) but it would gape around the neck.

 

[Greenleaves]

Thank you for the quick replies

Shes 16.2hh ID x Holsteiner (WB). Reasonably width chest, large shoulders that slope quite a lot, long back and a broodmare belly. Her long back means she needs 6ft 9 rugs(6ft6 barely reach the top of her tail).

We ve had amigos in the past but to fasten them we need to pull the rug forwards they then slip back and get really right around her shoulders and then looks like shes walking like a penguin (if you can imagine what i mean)

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My big lad has issues around the shoulders due to big, extravagant movement (KWPN Gelderlander) we have tried many rugs and found that the Weatherbeta Landa Freestyle is best for giving room around the shoulders. They also are good on length, mine is in a 7ft and that is an excellent fit on him.
FDC

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I've found Shires rugs to be good with bigger shouldered horses.

I would definately get a rug with a nylon lining. It might be best to go for a half neck 'wug' style as she is sore infront of her withers. The half neck (IME) doesn't go tight when the horse puts it's head down to graze.

If you don't have any friends with rugs that you could try, I would try the new rug on over a summer sheet so that you can return it if needed. You mught need to go a size up, for example.

I would have a look at the Shires Typhoon.

ETA. Sometimes you find that one make of rug fits a horse very well, but it can be a struggle to find out which make that is.