Rugs with necks on small ponies

[JenJ]

Are there ANY rugs with necks that actually stay on the necks of small ponies?

Mine only wear rugs when it's horribly wet. So I'd really like the rug to actually keep them dry, as that's its sole purpose.

When I had rugs last year with detachable necks, the rugs always leaked in the gap between the neck and the body. So this year, I replaced their wardrobes with rugs that had full necks already, to eliminate any leakage on the shoulders.

I was welcomed by these sodden little munchkins tonight. Not only have the shoulder areas let water in, but on both ponies the neck coverings have pretty much fallen down. Is this just what happens with small ponies or is there a rug that might actually stay up?

 

[94lunagem]

Top Horse UK turnout rugs fit my little Welsh A nicely and stay put. Like you he only has it on when it’s horrendous (a handful of days a year). I prefer a combo neck and only have a detachable Top Horse neck, but the overlap is generous and it’s never leaked in the middle. And doesn’t slip down.

Website isn’t hugely professional looking but I like the rugs.

 

[kidsandponies]

We find Ruggles rugs really good on the ponies, the necks have elastic at the poll end which helps keep them in place and the detachable necks are fastened with some pretty hefty vecro kept secure/clean by tabs and don’t tend to let in any rain.

 

[JenJ]

Thank you, I'll check out both of those!

 

[JenJ]

Website isn’t hugely professional looking but I like the rugs.

It's funny you should say that - I'm literally flicking between this screen and the screen on which I'm currently designing my website for me little side business!

I wondered how 'not professional looking' it might be then I clicked on it and, um, yeah. I hope mine turns out a bit more professional looking...! The rugs DO look nice though.

 

[94lunagem]

It's funny you should say that - I'm literally flicking between this screen and the screen on which I'm currently designing my website for me little side business!

I wondered how 'not professional looking' it might be then I clicked on it and, um, yeah. I hope mine turns out a bit more professional looking...! The rugs DO look nice though.

Yes I thought it worth mentioning in case it put you off!

 

[MuddyMonster]

My Swish neck cover doesn't move on my NF. He's not as dinky as yours but I've still been impressed by it

 

[JenJ]

My Swish neck cover doesn't move on my NF. He's not as dinky as yours but I've still been impressed by it

(it was Swish I had last year that leaked horribly between the main rug and the neck cover )

 

[Britestar]

Mine has Gallop Toofans that sit nicely, although she prefers not to have a neck on - then again she's black not grey!

 

[catembi]

I have a Swish & a Pessoa for my Dartmoor. No trouble with either

 

[HollyWoozle]

We have a Shires Tempest for our little old Welshie and neck seems great.

 

[Patterdale]

Ruggles, they’re brilliant fits for little ones.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I have Shires for my 12.2 and 13.2 but they’re 5.3 and 5.6 respectively so not that small!

 

[moorhillhorses]

Ruggles and horseware are very good!

 

[NinjaPony]

Horseware fits best on my welshie, his 50g amigo is very waterproof and covers him completely, his rhino heavyweight is also great and stays up. Shires are decent too, but they do slightly drown him and I have to shorten the tummy straps or they are far too long. He’s 11.2hh and 5’0 in amigo rugs

 

[poiuytrewq]

This is like one of the banes of my life!
I have Swish- great but borderline really too big round his chest. I actually really love the fit of a shires tempest. The neck is long and on my little welsh stays up perfectly and its 900d which was the closest to over 1000 i could find, he now had a LW and 200g and i really do love them on him.
He also has, and this was a desperation purchase at some point a purple storm x which I actually also really rate. I don't expect it to be reliably waterproof forever but its on its 3rd year and is a firm favourite still.

 

[dorsetladette]

Ruggles do a brilliant necked/combo rug. it stayed put on Robin all winter. Great fit aswell on a tiny weanling/yearling.

I've got mostly shires now on everyone as they seem to have chests on them which adapt to every shape.

 

[maya2008]

I used a weatherbeeta rug when we had a grey Welsh A gelding. Did the job very well.

 

[MNMyShiningStars]

We use the Shires combo neck turnouts on our shetland and we have tofold the very top over as its a bit long. But its always stayed up the neck properly covering him.

 

[JenJ]

Thanks all for your input - it's very helpful!

I've gone for the Ruggles for now, but will also check out the Shires Tempest, as they seemed to get a lot of votes too.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Are there ANY rugs with necks that actually stay on the necks of small ponies?

Mine only wear rugs when it's horribly wet. So I'd really like the rug to actually keep them dry, as that's its sole purpose.

When I had rugs last year with detachable necks, the rugs always leaked in the gap between the neck and the body. So this year, I replaced their wardrobes with rugs that had full necks already, to eliminate any leakage on the shoulders.

I was welcomed by these sodden little munchkins tonight. Not only have the shoulder areas let water in, but on both ponies the neck coverings have pretty much fallen down. Is this just what happens with small ponies or is there a rug that might actually stay up?

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I like the HY equestrian this is my ponies new rug she is 12 hh and 4ft 9 rug i wont buy detachable rugs

 

[P.forpony]

Another vote for ruggles I get the detachable neck cover a size up from whatever it 'should' be for the rug.
On the rare occasion he wears a rug I need to make sure the mane stays inside and doesn't get caught up, the bonus is the little man likes to tuck his ears in to keep them cosy

 

[94lunagem]

the bonus is the little man likes to tuck his ears in to keep them cosy

I just zoomed in to see where his little ears were (before I’d read your post properly!)!!

 

[JenJ]

Thank you to everyone, but especially those who recommended the Ruggles - they arrived yesterday, and I'm delighted with the fit and quality of them. The girls seem more comfortable in them too - neither are fans of being rugged, but they were quite happy walking out to the field in these.

 

[lizziebell]

Have you considered a completely separate neck such as the Snuggyhoods headless hood ? (They have a black sale on at the moment).

 

[JenJ]

Have you considered a completely separate neck such as the Snuggyhoods headless hood ? (They have a black sale on at the moment).

I have, but I only rug them when it's heavy rain, and the hoods are only water repellent rather than waterproof, so would possibly hinder more than they would help in those conditions. I do like them though, just not very suitable for mine

 

[JenJ]

Thank you to everyone, but especially those who recommended the Ruggles - they arrived yesterday, and I'm delighted with the fit and quality of them. The girls seem more comfortable in them too - neither are fans of being rugged, but they were quite happy walking out to the field in these.

I'm not quite as delighted with them now

 

[JenJ]

Rug was nowhere to be seen when the YM got there, I'll have to hunt it down tomorrow. Grrrr.

As it happened, when I bought those turnouts, there was a cute fleece on sale which I bought, despite the fact that my girls never really wear stable rugs as if needed I just leave turnouts on. Came in useful tonight

 

[JenJ]

Retrieved the rug from the middle of the field this morning.

One clip on the fillet string has snapped, but all other fastenings - doubled-back velcro x 2 on neck, double clips and velcro on chest and two cross surcingles under belly - are all still fastened. And they were done up fairly snugly.

She's clearly got some moves that a contortionist would be envious of!

I'm somewhat reassured that it's only the fillet string that 'failed' and it occurred during extreme weather conditions. Ironically I only used the fillet string instead of leg straps as my other pony freaks out with leg straps and I figured fillet strings on both would be the safest option. Apparently not.

With their stable rugs, I now cut off the cross surcingles to stop them getting caught (this pony has done previously, and ripped a whole side seam of a dri rug) and use an old fashioned elastic all around surcingle over the top of the rug, which to me seems safest. This wouldn't really be an option for turnout rugs though would it? As they tend to be a bit deeper?

In case it's not obvious my girls have a bad track record with rugs. I think both have broken at least two each, through getting themselves caught on straps, even though I do them up fairly snugly. The more secure I can make the rug with as few straps as possible, the better! So if anyone has any bright ideas of safe solutions, I'm all ears...

 

[maya2008]

Leg straps. Or a tighter fillet string. I’ve watched the wind blow a full neck rug right over and onto the floor before - wind just picks it up and shimmies it over the pony, then they step out of it! That happens with every make and model unfortunately.

Belly straps just need to be tight. So you can get your hand in but not a hoof.