mollybee
Member
I have a 13.2 pony and she needs a fly rug. As a complete virgin to the horse world, what sort of size should I be looking to get? And do they have them on 24/7 or just during the day. Thank goodness for forums
Silly question, but what size fly rug ?
- Thread starter mollybee
- Start date
Pony3865
New User
The only thing I can think if is to look at a rug size chart. Thier not always accurate but they give a rough idea of what size to get. Just Google 'rug size chart for horses' or something like that. Regarding whether she should wear a fly rug 24/7 is individual requirement. My pony only wears one in the day but I know some people who keep them on 24/7. Personally I only keep it on during the day.
Hope it helps
Hope it helps
Shay
Well-Known Member
Depends on why you need a fly rug. If you have sweet itch (or perhaps more properly if the pony does...) or some other allergy to biting flies you will need to keep the rug on 24/7 - and it will also impact the design of the rug you get.
Biting flys are most active at dawn and dusk - so if you take it off at night they you are rather defeating the purpose!
However if you are just using it to keep the worst off her or to provide a little protection to her coat from the sun then just during the day is fine.
Fly rugs do seem to have become a bit of a fashion accessory IMHO. But then again I now have them for both of mine having never had a fly rug in a long equine life. I am under no illusions however - it has nothing to do with keeping flies off!
Biting flys are most active at dawn and dusk - so if you take it off at night they you are rather defeating the purpose!
However if you are just using it to keep the worst off her or to provide a little protection to her coat from the sun then just during the day is fine.
Fly rugs do seem to have become a bit of a fashion accessory IMHO. But then again I now have them for both of mine having never had a fly rug in a long equine life. I am under no illusions however - it has nothing to do with keeping flies off!
visa_bot
Well-Known Member
Measure from the middle of the chest to the back of the rump. The you don't have a tape measure or the pony is unhappy about this then just use your arms or a piece of bale twine and then measure it when you get home. Most rugs are in inches or feet and inches so just convert to this. You can't really guess size wise as some are much longer than others, or much wider! Derby House have got a sale on fly rugs with 50% off. They've just sent me an email but they only have small sizes left which would suit you.
joosie
Well-Known Member
Yes, as above, go on your pony's actual measurements and not her height. My boy is 12.1 but very narrow in the chest and wears a 4'9'' fly rug - I have a friend with a 12.1 exmoor who wears a 5'6''! Also, depending on your pony's type/breed/build you may be better off going for a rug specifically designed for smaller ponies, rather than a small horse size. For example if your pony needs a 5'6'' rug in length, you will be able to find horse rugs in 5'6'' and pony rugs in 5'6'', and you need one with the cut/shape/proportions to suit your pony's conformation. A 13.2 welsh pony needing a 5'6'' rug will have a different body type to a 13.2 partbred Arab needing a rug of the same length.
You can keep a fly rug on 24/7, but please don't be tempted just to leave your pony in the field and forget about it just because it's a fly rug - treat it like any other type of rug, it will still need to be checked / straightened regularly to make sure your pony isn't being rubbed, and ideally also removed at least once a day.
You can keep a fly rug on 24/7, but please don't be tempted just to leave your pony in the field and forget about it just because it's a fly rug - treat it like any other type of rug, it will still need to be checked / straightened regularly to make sure your pony isn't being rubbed, and ideally also removed at least once a day.