Stuck in the mud and tearing my hair out!!

[magicman]

Hiya

I have a 28 gelding who earlier this year suffered a colic episode followed by major peritonitus, resulting in 4.5hrs of emergency surgery!!!! he has recovered and is doing really well now.

The problem i am having with him is the for the past year or so, he gets down to roll in his rug and because he has lost muscle he hasnt got the strength to push his front legs out infront when he rug gets tight round his shoulders!! he can be laid stuck (generally in the muddiest bit of the field - he is grey, typical!!) for 4 hrs or so before someone finds him, which isnt great.

does anyone have any solutions to stop rugs pulling tight around shoulders when they roll. Cant leave him naked as he is an arab and gets cold easily and i fear him losing condition.

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated

Many thanks xx

 

[nikCscott]

Does his rugs have shoulder darts in?

I use Amigo rugs and they have darts in the shoulders which creates aloth of room for movement.

Hope you find something to help soon.

Nikki

 

[magicman]

yes i have tried every rug i can get hold of, he used to wear amigo rugs but when they pulled too tight round his shoudlers, the clips were almost impossible to pull together and undo, even had to cut one on them. the only ones i have found that i can get undone are weatherbeeta ones with the proper buckles, because you can get your weight behind them to pull them open. once the rug is free he can get up easily, but with winter approaching rapidly im getting worried about him getting stuck in the mud and cold and wet, and him being down whilst im not there!

Thank you for your reply

xx

 

[mulledwhine]

I have always used masta. My old boy had the same problem. They have darts and buckles

 

[sazzle44]

I've no idea if this would work or not but how about trying to put some elastic on the straps or something? Would have to be pretty strong not to break but might give some extra stretch. Just a thought, suppose it depends how good you are with a needle and thread!

 

[LOZHUG]

This may sound really stupid but would a chest expander buckle extension thing work?

 

[laura7981]

Can't quote but sazzle has said what I was thinking

 

[0ldmare]

I would use one of those horseware rugs that are designed to keep them dry while eg on a horse walker. The whole shoulder area is removed and there is just the chest/buckle doing up part, if that makes sense. I'm sure they do a waterproof one made of outdoor rug material. Have a look on their website

 

[Meowy Catkin]

How about a waterproof horsewalker rug?

ETA. Great minds think alike Oldmare!

 

[magicman]

havent thought of a horse walker rug, thank you so ,much, im definetly going to give that a go. xx