Rugs, quality? price ? does it matter?

H

Horsekaren

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 March 2017
Messages
1,300
Visit site
I am about to buy some LW rugs so I am ready for the change in weather.
I have a few cheap ones (£24.00 each new) they have been ok.. one has been ripped but other than that they seem fine.
There a couple of playfull youngsters in the herd so rips are inevitable :(
Are there any brands that are harder wearing than others? or am I best sticking to the cheaper ones and replace when they get pulled apart.

Any one have much to say about Rhinegold? they seem cheap, are they any good?
x
 
DON'T get a rambo, Premier Equine are good for light showers but a full night of heavy rain and they tend to leak along the seams. Kadence (the country wide ones) are very waterproof so are the Gallop ones
 
If they're going to get ripped then you might aswell just buy the cheaper brands - gallop have been surprisingly better than I expected . Don't have rhinegold but seen a few and they seem to rust quickly at the buckles . If your wanting a kind of inbetween brand then I like Shires - decent quality and they last and not overly expensive . I have a masts rainsheet too which I bought last year and that seems to be good after I swore I wouldn't buy another 10years ago! I wouldn't bother with Premier equine or anything overly expensive if there's a risk they could be ripped. They are good but I wouldn't risk it.
 
I've tried rhinegold and the standard amigo and hated them, leaked like nothing else! My shetland now only wears ruggles and the big boys wear weatherbeeta or shires, mainly as can be picked up for a good price on the ebay! Never tried PE as I am not prepared to pay those prices for something that's going to get covered in mud!
 
My usual policy is that if you buy cheap, you buy twice... so my horses have Rambos which last for decades! But if I was having to turn out with rug trashers I have found Shires to be economical and decent quality in the past. pretty good fit on many horses too.
 
Try to get 1200D (denier) rather than 600 as the material is tougher.....

Other than that, just buy whatever you like, and suits your budget.

I like PE and ruggles, both of which are 1200D

Fiona
 
Another vote for Ruggles. I also like the Derby House ones, so long as you get the 1200 denier. I hate PE rugs because they're so heavy, bith dry and wet. Hard wearing though (unfortunately).
 
RHinegold got some of these terribly badly cut leaked I chucked them.
RUggles leaked after about three months chucked .
Amigo good shape and cut and light, leak in around one year .
Premier equine good cut for large horses mine have lasted and lasted they are heavier .I have a brand new zero fill for my new horses it's a very very nice rug it been waterproof through all this terrible weather .
Rambo good rugs but pricey my oldest is around 25 this year.
Derby house nice shape and light but completely useless in the rain all chucked
Mark Todd where good rugs but I don't rate them now my newer ones are poorly cut badly made
 
I second shires and gallop! I was a cheap skate last year and bough one of ebay for around £20 and it didn't last the winter.
 
I tend to buy cheap, the cost of cleaning and reproofing each year is my reason for this - I would rather buy new for £25ish than pay £15/20 to wash and re-proof + any minor repairs.

Haven't had any problems with cheap rugs failing within a year.
 
I like my weatherbeeta rugs. Have amigos that come up slightly small but have proved pretty good. one is a 1200D and is far stronger than the 600D (obviously to be expected but it's a substantial difference). Bought equidor rugs and they have been good. Buckles aren't necessarily the strongest but to be fair, i've been relieved when the buckles have given way..
I bought ruggles 100g rugs a few years ago (2 rugs as 2 horses) both leaked in the first lot of rain.
 
I've got a Falpro with multiple liners -1680 denier (basically bulletproof). It was pricey, but it basically works out to about 7 rugs in one as you get 3 liners (100/200/300g) then 2 detachable necks (100/200g)

I love mine and definitely worth the investment!
 
I've tried expensive makes (Rambo, PE, Falpro) and the former two were trashed as easily as cheap ones. My heavyweight Fal has lasted well. I've bought a few medium and lightweight Shires rugs over the last year which seem to be lasting well and a good mid-range price.
 
Maesto's Girl said:
I've got a Falpro with multiple liners -1680 denier (basically bulletproof). It was pricey, but it basically works out to about 7 rugs in one as you get 3 liners (100/200/300g) then 2 detachable necks (100/200g)

I love mine and definitely worth the investment!
Click to expand...

Which one did you get? Link please.
 
Over the years I've tried numerous rugs. I've found that Rhinegold just don't fit right, also Masta are not a great fit. I've had Weatherbeeta & they are good & have lasted years. Townfield Rugs from Townfield Saddlery are made in the same factory as Weatherbeeta & are identical except in colour. My last batch of rugs I bought off Ebay & they were 'Axiom', they were cheap but well made, fit well, were deep in the body & of high denier material & I've never had leaks. They are still as good as new after many years. Unfortunately they appear to have sold out to another company. I think Gallop took them over :)
 
If you're looking for a tough rug, go by the denier. 1200D and up is what I use for my mare; she has CSNB and often walks into fences, particularly in winter, so ripped rugs are just a part of life. I like the highest denier I have seen for sale was 1680 but you could probably find higher somewhere.
Great business niche if anyone's looking for their own business ideas! Rugs for one-horse demolition teams!
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
Over the years I've tried numerous rugs. I've found that Rhinegold just don't fit right, also Masta are not a great fit. I've had Weatherbeeta & they are good & have lasted years. Townfield Rugs from Townfield Saddlery are made in the same factory as Weatherbeeta & are identical except in colour. My last batch of rugs I bought off Ebay & they were 'Axiom', they were cheap but well made, fit well, were deep in the body & of high denier material & I've never had leaks. They are still as good as new after many years. Unfortunately they appear to have sold out to another company. I think Gallop took them over :)
Click to expand...


Ooooh ! That's interesting . I had a few Axioms and they were fab for the price . Couldn't find them again. Just assumed they'd stopped selling over here .
 
AFB said:
I tend to buy cheap, the cost of cleaning and reproofing each year is my reason for this - I would rather buy new for £25ish than pay £15/20 to wash and re-proof + any minor repairs.

Haven't had any problems with cheap rugs failing within a year.
Click to expand...

This is what I do! Just bought a really nice 6'6" Gallop rug which is very roomy on my cob, who had been borrowing a 6'9" from the Draft horse. It does make her look rather like a red and blue striped deckchair, though!
 
milliepops said:
My usual policy is that if you buy cheap, you buy twice... so my horses have Rambos which last for decades! But if I was having to turn out with rug trashers I have found Shires to be economical and decent quality in the past. pretty good fit on many horses too.
Click to expand...

Agree with this entirely 😁
 
I quite like Gallop rugs and also shires. Depends on the horse (and their company in the field!) but none of mine are rug wreckers and I usually get at least 3 years service out of them which for £30 - £40 quid I think is ok! Have got some dearer rugs and Rambos but really they would have to last for many many years to be comparable.
 
I always buy Rambo (have been considering getting some Rhino's) but thats mainly to do with the fit. Ive never had one leak, they never rub, clean well and last for years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top