Rugs, if money was no object, which would you buy

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JillA

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Okay all you rugaholics, now's your chance to show off all that knowledge :).
I find myself for once in my life being able to afford a good rug for Himself, and all my old ones need chucking out anyway. But I'm not used to this buying expensive stuff malarkey, so................I like the layered ones. For outdoors, only lightly clipped (chaser clip usually) and an under rug which would double as a stable rug on occasions, horse who is about to benefit lives out except for the very worst weather. As an investment for the future, is it worth spending the thick end of £400 on Rambo systems or Amigo which seem to do the same sort of system? Or get a med weight turn out and a stable rug which could in arctic conditions be worn underneath? Planning to take myself and my cash to Robinsons before long
 
I have a Rambo high end rug but it wasn't 400, got it on eBay new without tags for about 250 I think, it has one 400 gram liner and I could get more but I've got some other rugs to fill in the gaps. I've used it as a no fill (clipped out cob so she's worn it nearly all summer 24/7) and a 400gr for the best part of a year and it's looks almost as good as the day it arrived. Shop around would be my advice.
 
Agree. I only buy Rambos, they are worth every penny. I never pay ticket price. Most of mine are second hand.
 
For what you want, the Amigos would be a very good system (I have never used Rambos so can't comment on what it is about them that commands big bucks and whether the extra is worth it). I use the Amigo insulator rugs as liners under turnout rugs and as stable rugs in their own right - they do both jobs well. If you do go for Amigo it is worth spending the extra money and getting the ones with 1200 denier outers, as they are much less likely to rip than the lower denier rugs. Factors to check are:

RUG LINING - I prefer nylon to cotton - l find nylon linings mean less rubbing of shoulders, don't soak up much wet or mud and keep the coat nice and shiny
OUTER FABRIC - As above, 1200 denier outers are less likely to rip
FASTENINGS - Look for fastenings that can be done up quickly when hands are cold and wet (personally I avoid buckles). Amigo rugs have the same kind of fastenings as cross surcingles on the front of the rug. Another option is trigger clips on D rings. Leg straps are marmite - some people love them, some hate them. Some rugs have detachable leg straps that can be converted to a fillet string so give you greater flexibility than fixed leg straps.
 
I'd go Amigo. I wouldn't want PE because they're far too heavy and long. I'm not a layerer, my horse has loads of rugs for all weather occasions and a spare of each. If I were to start again, I'd have a mixture of Swish and Amigo. Oh hang on, I already do!
 
I'm a fan of Rambo - they are so light for the warmth/protection they give. My cob's original one must be 15 years old now and (with a few wee repairs) is still going strong - it has outlasted all the others over the years. I bought the vari-weight medium last year and was very impressed. It still looks brand new.
The only thing that would put me off Rambo is if I had a rug trasher (or if it just didn't fit of course!).
 
If I did not own Tatts the rug tearing terror who destroys his own and others clothes I would have Rambo rugs as I have a rug tearing terror I buy amigo outside rugs now .
For stable rugs I have Mark Todd's which I like a lot and amigos .
If I had an endless budget and space ( to store them ) I would have a light weight and traditional weight thermatexs in chocolate brown ( to match my truck ) for each horse and the same again in funky colours to match the horses to use at home ( ruggy matchy matchy )
I would have a huge collection of fleeces and coolers in different colours to match my mood .
 
Another Rambo vote! However I've just bought new horse a mark Todd heavy turnout because my other horse has one and literally wore it all winter last year with no leaks,tears or rubs. I particularly over the extra neck bit over the withers on them.
 
I'd probably still buy cheaper brands, like Weatherbeeta as one of my horse rips his all the time! or his field friend helps! no matter how much money i had, I'd still want to cry if he ripped an expensive rug!

My mare has had her old Weatherbeeta taka havey combo rug for a good 12 years and its never leaked and has always kept her cosy! was £150 all those years ago! but now I tend to get the Weatherbeeta genero, budget rug and they are just as good!! i tend to buy new every year as they are not much more to buy new as they are to clean and reproof
 
have to agree with above i it was me i would by a rambo (no longer have one of there turn outs as my boy had out grown the one we had and don't have pennies for a new one) but it was lovely when i had it!

i have horse sat last year for a friend wile she was away and her horse had the premier equine layer system but i found it rather heavy when dry, never mind when wet! but i mean it didn't let the water in so it did its job
 
An Amigo... in every colour and one for every day of the week. Complete rug hoarder, have about 20 just in the lorry, Always getting told off for buying more rugs... but do i care.. NOPE!
 
same as we have now, Ruggles!

i wouldnt be paying the silly money for Rambos or Amigos to rub manes out and drop to bits(had 3 basically new Rambo fly rugs all disintegrate within a week last summer).

The Ruggles comes in a variety of weights and dont touch the manes, love them.
 
I got CM a Rambo Duo plus an extra 100g liner (so I could use it as a 200g middleweight rug) shortly after they first came out. It's had a clip replaced on the front and a tear in one one surcingle sewn up, but the rest of the rug is still in fab condition and it must be about 10 years old now.

Are they really £400 now? Wow! IIRC I paid about £200 including the extra liner, although I did get a small loyalty discount from the tack shop selling it.

Yes, if money was no object I would get another one. The only downside is that they have no leg straps so I don't use it in high winds. I have a Shires Typhoon and a Shires Stormcheeta which I can use when it's windy. The Stormcheeta is about the same age as the Duo and had actually aged better (no broken clips or torn surcingles) but a blimmin' mouse has chewed it now. :( I have a Bucas Irish turnout which lasted about 9 years, so that's not bad going. I had wondered about the Bucas Select (which might suit your horse if it's the right shape for Bucas rugs), but haven't seen one IRL.
 
I'm quite frugal on the rug front in terms of the numbers I buy, but I do buy quality rugs. Unless your horse is a rug trasher, I think cheaper ones are a false econonomy. My boy has 2 lightweights (1 Fal and 1 PE) a 100g PE with a 100g liner and a 200g liner and a 200g Fal. I like Rambo too but they're the wrong shape for my horse. The two Fals are now at least 10 years old. I bought them second hand from a friend, hardly used, when I first had my boy 10 years ago. They have a few patches but still do a great job. They've been washed and reproofed every year, still don't leak and fit him really well. I also bought a Slumberdown (Fal's economy range, no longer available, I think) at the same time as a spare and although it's only had emergency use when he's broken his other rug it's not as waterproof as it was and the filling has moved around and gone all lumpy in places and bald in others. Likewise with an Amigo lightweight I was given not long after I first had him - it didn't stay waterproof for long and rubbed his shoulders. I wouldn't have been happy if I'd bought it.

I bought the PE ones in the last 3 or 4 years to replace the ailing ones he had. I went for them as I heard Fal switched production overseas and the quality isn't as good any more. They're not as old, but they're doing a great job so far and I don't find them heavy at all. I would always go for them from now on.
 
One thing I should add is, that if you are considering the Amigo rugs, then there is a huge difference in durability/weatherproofing between the bottom of the range Mio rugs and their top end Bravo rugs.
 
One that fits ;) One of mine is tricky to fit so I would find someone to make one for her (anyone know anyone who does this?). On my list of must haves would be - high denier outer, smooth inner, high/half neck, leg straps, adjustable fittings on the front (not those awful cross surcingle style clips) and a range of fill from 50. It would also be nice if it could be a jazzy colour rather than dull or sludge coloured.

I see lots recommending Rambo, I tried a Rambo, wasn't impressed at all with the lack of 'adjustability' and it came up very small, I couldn't get a 5'9 done up on my small 14hh and it would have been too long to have gone up a size.

The best turnout I've got is a Shires Typhoon, it still looks brand new and is several years old, if they did this in a range of fills that would be perfect. I've also got a 19 year old Weatherbeeta, it is showing signs of age but is still a cracking rug. I've decided to try a lightweight PE with liners this year, but not clipped yet so it is still untried.
 
SuperH said:
One that fits ;) One of mine is tricky to fit so I would find someone to make one for her (anyone know anyone who does this?). On my list of must haves would be - high denier outer, smooth inner, high/half neck, leg straps, adjustable fittings on the front (not those awful cross surcingle style clips) and a range of fill from 50. It would also be nice if it could be a jazzy colour rather than dull or sludge coloured.

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Click to expand...

You might like this rug then, from Maxima Equestrian:

http://maximaequestrian.co.uk/epage...7-df67-456e-8c8a-cd733661d38a/Products/ME8998

Front fittings are two straps with trigger clips and a choice of rings to clip to, plus the straps are adjustable by a buckle where it joins the rug, so gives you a range of adjustability around the chest. Outer is 1200 denier, lining is smooth nylon, it comes with detachable leg straps and it is definitely a jazzy colour!
 
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Bucas if my horses wasn't such rug wreckers!

Recently used 'chillout horsewears' stable rugs and I rate them! Nice fit on big warmblood shoulders.

My horses tend to get 2nd hand or cheap cheap light weight turnouts! They get destroyed in seconds!
 
I would buy what I have, rambo wug for the really cold outdoors, m/w amigo with separate neck cover for less bad times and to substitute as an stable rug if needed and an amigo 1200d unlined for change of seasons etc when little required. I tried a PE with liners and appart from finding PE too heavy it was a pain having to take off to put another liner in or out.

I'm not rich, just did a bit of googling on e bay and found some bargains.
 
Rambo rugs - would love to be able to justify the price tag!

I have Rhino rugs at the moment, which are also great, I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for :)
 
I would buy a Rambo too. I have Rhino's as well at the moment and definitely think the Rambo's are much more durable and better quality. I have a Rambo supreme with no fill (that I got brand new on ebay for around £150) and then just use a variety of liners under that.
 
I really like the bucas select which I have bought for this season. Lovely snug front, easy clips and lightweight. I have the no fill outer and 150 and 300 ( I think) liners.
I got all this for £200 and I think it will last and last! If they are good enough for Valegro!.......
 
I have a whole array of Rambos (LW original, MW original, HW wugs, Supremes) some dating back 15 years. I wouldn't change them for anything.

Stable rugs I have Bucas Celtics, but given any choice it would be M2M Lansdown
 
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