Rugs

[Megan V1]

I am looking for a rug for my very elderly TB x welsh d mare. She is now a bit bony and although has lived out unrugged for many years she lost too much weight last winter even though she had plenty of feed. She stresses if kept in and hates wearing a rug but I feel now that if the weather is very wet she will just have to get used to it. As I have not purchased a rug for many years, the last NewZealand rug I bought was a waxed canvass one, I am at a loss as to what's best as there are so many available. I thought an outer shell with different weight liners would be the way to go and have looked at a Weatherbeater and Amigo versions but can't seem to find any reviews of them. Any suggestions would be gratefully received and if anybody has these type of rugs an owners view would be very helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[Green Bean]

Mark Todd rugs are good, especially the newer ones that are more light weight but warm. I have just gone across to Premier Equine rugs as my horse is a bit wider in the chest but this may not suit your mare if she is a bit skinnier.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If she's bony, then having one that is light in weight (regardless of the amount of filling) would be good. For older horses I also like the half neck design. Definitely consider Horseware Wugs. Depending on your budget you can opt for Amigo, Rhino or Rambo (with Rambo being the most expensive, but best IMO, although Rhino is a close second). They don't have leg straps, so depending on how exposed your land is, you may need another make for windy days too.

I have found that I need to go up a size with Horseware rugs compared to Shires or Bucas for example. The normal cut fits/fitted my Arabs, anglo and my late TB (chunky national hunt build) well.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I don’t think you can beat Horseware rugs on the whole for lightness. I’ve got mainly Rambos and Amigos. I’m not so keen on Rhinos they’re stiffer, thicker and heavier than the others and ones I bought two years ago for my then new horse fell apart at the stitching on the neck chest and fillet string. My Rambos are about 15 years old and still waterproof. I bought a Rambo Duo last winter for the one I’d originally bought the Rhinos for - much nicer although do agree length wise it’s better to go up.

I’ve never tried Weatherbeeta turn-outs but they have some sort of wither clearance system which is appealing for my oldie as he’s high-withered and lost top-line in the last year.

 

[TPO]

I like the comfitec padding and wither relief design on weatherbeeta rugs like @Red-1 had said.

I'd avoid Premier Equine, I'm not a fan anyway, but they are heavy and get much heavier when wet

 

[Griffin]

I bought a Saxon combo for an elderly TB (with high withers) a couple of years ago in an emergency and it is very light and still going strong. For the money, it is a brilliant rug.

I like Shires rugs too and they are fairly light.

 

[doodle]

Another vote for horseware. They wug style might suit. I like premier equine too but as said they are very heavy so avoid. The wither relief in some weatherbeeta is good if she is a bit boney. I also have a saxon which I didn’t expect to be good but is very light. However I then bought a stable rug and it was nowhere near deep enough.

 

[Summit]

I like Ruggles Rugs for my TB; they do half necks too

 

[EmmaC78]

I am a big Rambo fan too. I have the liner system, so a 100g outer with three different liners. Expensive but worth it.

 

[Starzaan]

Try the Weatherbeeta Premier Thinsulate rug if you can find one. Designed for this very scenario.

 

[Megan V1]

Thank you for your replies I will check these out. I don't really mind the cost, bred this mare myself and she is a big part of my life as she is now 27 years old so will get the best in her old age. She has no top line bless her and has high withers and ideally it needs to be lightweight. She was rugged and stabled overnight in her younger days but stressed terribly being kept in hence has now lived out 24/7 for over 10 years unrugged.

 

[Starzaan]

Thank you for your replies I will check these out. I don't really mind the cost, bred this mare myself and she is a big part of my life as she is now 27 years old so will get the best in her old age. She has no top line bless her and has high withers and ideally it needs to be lightweight. She was rugged and stabled overnight in her younger days but stressed terribly being kept in hence has now lived out 24/7 for over 10 years unrugged.

The Weatherbeeta Premier Thinsulate was designed for horses who need a heavy rug without the weight. They’re really amazing but sadly discontinued. There are some around though!
its a heavy rug that weighs less than a normal medium. ?

 

[dorsetladette]

I like mark todd rugs. My welshie came with a wardrobe of them and I've just added to it. He also came with a kaydence rug. I'd not heard of them before and thought it was a shires TBH. It was a lovely rug (he left it hung in a tree in pieces) so thought I'd mention it as another name to perhaps look at.

 

[teddypops]

I use shires for my 29yo Welsh D x TB. I have a full neck one for really bad days and a standard neck 200g one which I can also add a 100g liner too if needed.

 

[wiglet]

I agree with the above posters and the Rambo rugs are fabulous. Really warm but still light to handle even when wet. I also have Amigo and Shires rugs and while the quality isn't as luxurious, they are still really nice rugs which have lasted well.

 

[Megan V1]

Thanks everyone.