SI rug disaster - advice needed

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sonjafoers

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I posted yesterday saying I'd put my mini in his Snuggy set for the first time and how I hated doing it. Well I hate it even more today because when I got to the field this morning he was stood on his own a long way from the rest of the herd & a friend who was already there said he hadn't moved since she had been there which was about an hour.

When I went to him the hood part had come right over his head so he not only couldn't see but couldn't eat either. He must have been trying to get it off because it was covered in mud :(

This was a made to measure Snuggy set on it's first use so I've now spoken to Snuggy who say it could be the fit or it could be another horse has pulled it. Clearly no matter what's happened he can't wear it again so not only is it a waste of over £200 but I need to find an alternative for him.

Can anyone suggest something that they've used with success on a mini please, I have a DeMeulenkampf rug for him which is absolutely useless and for now I've ordered a Boett hood which apparantly will attach to this but it won't be a long term solution as the DeM is a terrible fit and pulls back all the time - however it's a better fit than the Boett.

If anybody wants a cheap Snuggy full set for a mini go & have a look in my dustbin as there's one in there in disgrace!
 
:( thats a shame, my pony's doesnt budge an inch even with my two year old colt pulling at it all day when they play

You can still use the body part with their headless hood which may be a compromise

The body part itself is still very useful so dont get rid of that! You could always have the hood modified to be headless or use the body part under a fly rug maybe

I certainly wouldnt give up on it yet
 
I feel your frustration having had a Boett destroying Friesian for 20 years. At least the Boetts, although always ordered 2 per year, lasted for a summer whereas everything else a) didn't fit and b) was wrecked within a week.

Cannot recommend the Boett enough but sorry to hear they don't do mini size :(

Worth contacting Boett in Sweden to see if they have any suggestions......
 
The only way I can keep mine reliably in the right place is to stitch a loop onto the poll of the hood. Then put a headcollar on over it going through the loop.

The other thing was that the Snuggy hood was a bit tight round the nose and it pulled it forwards when he ate. I sent that back and eventually got it altered so it wasn't as bad. Still needs a headcollar to stay reliably in place though.
 
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Oh dear Gloi that's what I didn't want to hear really, the snuggy hoods do seem to be very easy to pull/fall down and I can't trust it at all now so won't use again. I also have a snuggy hood without the neck part which I intended to use under the DeM when in his spare set but again that won't be used.

WelshD I'm not sure how these short hoods would stay secure on their own, I tried it on him this morning & there's no way it'll be safe to leave him in - am I missing something do you think?

I'll see what the Boett hood is like as it attaches with straps so it should be more secure, and maybe contact Boett again as you suggest Nicnac and see if they can come up with a reasonable fit.

I only took him on last year as his previous owner wasn't doing anything for his SI and I'm now thinking he's no better off with me :o
 
You might end up just having to use a rug that comes up to the ears and covering his head in itchstop or a similar cream.
 
On a pony that rubs its head I wouldnt use the 'head' on its own

My above comment refers to the hood that goes up the neck and stops behind the ears - they do stay up on their own ok

Something you could consider is amending the hood you have so that that hood goes up the neck, over the ears but not down the face and fit some velcro under it to tighten

My boy's snuggy hood fits quite tightly around the head and face but is looser on the neck, this seems a really good fit and he is a serial face rubber and its not budged at all

I did use a 'head' on its own last year but that got stuck over his face when he rubbed. I had MAJOR reservations about using the full hood but I am really pleased with it but I have to say that I do think the fit is spot on
 
When I got him last year Gloi I did just rug him with no hood because his face & ears were so raw I couldn't put a hood on him, he would have just itched it off. I covered his face etc in Camrosa which helped but it was the end of the season so he didn't have long to go before starting to heal. However the DeMeulenkamof rug was a poor fit & the neck kept falling down so the top of his mane was always uncovered and very itchy.

It'a actually his head and mane which suffers the worst, not really his body, so if anything I need a hood that will stay secure on it's own which I reckon is impossible to find. I need some sort of fly mask with ears that is midge proof and is designed to be worn alone like my horses' field masks. I can then just grease & spray his mane and hope that works.

I've got him on ThinkItch and have turned him out today covered in Sweet Relief spray until I can sort out what to do. Luckily it's windy so there aren't any midges around but it won't be long.
 
WelshD said:
Something you could consider is amending the hood you have so that that hood goes up the neck, over the ears but not down the face and fit some velcro under it to tighten
Click to expand...

Yes....I think if I could somehow cut out the face part and keep the ears and neck secure I could then put a different mask on......will have to ponder.

Alternatively I could use the Boett mask with the snuggy 'neck', I'v elooked & they are about £50 I think so they may be worth a try - are these neck pieces really really secure?
 
I've just spoken to Dinky Rugs and ordered a rug and mask with ears from them, only £73 all in so it's worth a try - to be honest anything's worth a try for the poor little man.

Thank you Gloi I'll look at those too, I don't mind what it costs and how many varieties I try, I'll just keep going until something does the trick.

Thanks for your ideas everyone.
 
The only way I can preserve a sweet itch rug on my horse (and therefore preserve my horse) is to have him on his own in an electric fenced off paddock where there is nothing at all to catch his rug on.
It may just be a simple case of him catching it on something and pulling, or another pony pulling it. Nothing can prevent that other than an electric fenced off paddock I'm afraid...even the best fitting rug can be ripped/moved/pulled.
 
Nicnac said:
I feel your frustration having had a Boett destroying Friesian for 20 years. At least the Boetts, although always ordered 2 per year, lasted for a summer whereas everything else a) didn't fit and b) was wrecked within a week.

Cannot recommend the Boett enough but sorry to hear they don't do mini size :(

Worth contacting Boett in Sweden to see if they have any suggestions......
Click to expand...
hi all,i have used a boett for the past 4years and have never had any problems with it.however if not used in conjunction with electric fencing they can tear very easy.I also try to get ours on the horses quite early on ,around mid April before the midges come out in force.
 
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