Swish or Ruggles Turnouts

Amber has a Ruggles 100g turnout with a detachable hood and she loves it. Good in all cold or wet weather, its 3 years old now and washed/reproofed professionally every year.
I'm not sure what I'll do when it finally dies as I've never seen a horse so happy in their rug. She's figured out how to tuck her ears into the hood when she wants and it comes to her knees so she's fully covered but seems to be very comfy and free to move around in it.
 
I have ruggles, swish and big horse shop on 2 hw cobs and a draft.

Swish are my least favourite, materials seem fine but they're just a wider fit rather than shaped to fit over big shoulders and bum.

Ruggles are OK but I find them a very flat fit around the neckline.

BHS are my preference, fit all the curves of a big horse really nicely but they're so heavy duty and well made they are physically heavy and I don't like them for milder weather.

Amigo rains jeers are good, they just sort of float over the top of everything.

I've found le mieux kudos a decent fit for the cobs too.
 
Thanks everyone although I still couldn't make up my mind. I really want a combo rug and all the wide fit swish ones are detachable neck. I live in a very windy place, quite often accompanied with sideways rain and I hate seeing the bottom bit of the detachable neck flapping up in the wind. So I think I'm going to give the Big Horse shop ones another chance because I really like the design and fit and the weight of them means slightly less flappyness in the gale force winds. It also means I can still use all the liners I got for the original one. I might also buy a swish one for the days when he doesnt need a rug with neck to see what they're like although I'm disappointed that the only colour option for the wide fit rugs is red. But that would still leave me without a rainsheet but that can be a problem for next spring!

This is the chest it has to fit, he really is like a tank. Screenshot_20250917_134810_Studio.jpg
 
rhino said:
Nope, you’re definitely not!

I have both Fal and Horseware (Rambo and Rhino) 0g rugs that have remained completely waterproof for many, many seasons (Fal is about 25yo!). And I live in a particularly wet bit of Scotland!

I wouldn’t trust a cheap, poorly fitting or badly looked after rug to behave similarly though. Mine get professionally washed and reproofed yearly.
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You’re very lucky!
Cannot comment on Horseware because none of these have ever had the necessary depth for our horses, but Fal Pro, Jean Hodgkiss’ brainchild -
I might be their biggest fan - bought so many of their rugs they always sent their updated brochures, from 1996 onwards, and the lightest weight Fal ever produced was 40g: absolutely brilliant, dual purpose, breathable rugs.
The issues raised were exactly why Fal did not make no-fill turnouts (their explanation, not mine)
And yes, some of mine are still going strong, too.
 
Exasperated said:
You’re very lucky!
Cannot comment on Horseware because none of these have ever had the necessary depth for our horses, but Fal Pro, Jean Hodgkiss’ brainchild -
I might be their biggest fan - bought so many of their rugs they always sent their updated brochures, from 1996 onwards, and the lightest weight Fal ever produced was 40g: absolutely brilliant, dual purpose, breathable rugs.
The issues raised were exactly why Fal did not make no-fill turnouts (their explanation, not mine)
And yes, some of mine are still going strong, too.
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Ah, so I just imagined the two I bought and use regularly 🤣🤣
 
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SEL said:
My no fill was professionally reproofed and still useless so went in the skip

I have a 40g from the old boy and a 50g on the mare which both hold up in heavy showers.
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I'm glad you said that beacuse I was thinking of trying to reproof it to see if that helped but I won't bother wasting more money trying it now 😂

Exasperated said:
Anyone who knows anything about this or has any experience, would agree.
No fill, ‘breathable’ rugs will flatten right down onto the horse’s coats in heavy rain, and moisture gets sucked through via capillary action.

Once you have a soaked horse covered by a soaked fabric - far more difficult for that horse to dry out again.

Furthermore, zero- fills flatten the fur so that the horse’s natural mechanism of fluffing itself up in cold weather is compromised.

If instead, you have a non breathable, nylon but waterproof, fabric directly onto the horse’s coat, it will start to sweat anyway.

They may be handy for a light shower or to keep a turned out horse clean just prior to riding, but any Biblical downpours - forget it.

A 50g fill just slightly lifts the outer skin from the horse, usually sufficiently to allow circulation and prevent sweating, and providing you’ve bought into a decent quality rug - should keep him dry.

Personally, wouldn’t waste my money, but no-fills are cheaper and therefore remain popular.
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All of the no fill rugs I've had apart from this one have been completely waterproof and I live in a wet and windy place, they've definitely been well tested.

My elderly pony was out in torrential rain in his cheap shires tikaboo rainsheet the other day and was totally dry underneath. I admit I didn't have high hopes when I bought it was the only rug in his size in my local shop and only cost about £35 but its on its 3rd year now and still doing its job perfectly.
 
rhino said:
Ah, so I just imagined the two I bought and use regularly 🤣🤣
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If you tell me which ones from 25 years ago, I can read you the specs. They all have names: Goliath, Viking, Crusader, Boxer, Terrier, Warrior, Cavalier, and then the Slumberdown ones, the XStatic ones….
Great rugs, enjoy.
 
I use big horse shop for giant cob without issue. I have both the Broad fit epic classic and epic essential. Both are 1200d and have been fine in the winter. I also use an arch ale hood. The broad fly rug also fits him really well. I didn’t order a swish because reviews were less favourable.
 
marmalade88 said:
I use big horse shop for giant cob without issue. I have both the Broad fit epic classic and epic essential. Both are 1200d and have been fine in the winter. I also use an arch ale hood. The broad fly rug also fits him really well. I didn’t order a swish because reviews were less favourable.
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I'm glad you haven't had any issues with yours because I've just ordered another one mainly because I know they will fit him well.

Is there much difference between the classic and the essential ones? Is the fabric different?
 
DizzyDoughnut said:
I'm glad you haven't had any issues with yours because I've just ordered another one mainly because I know they will fit him well.

Is there much difference between the classic and the essential ones? Is the fabric different?
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Not especially. The classic (the most expensive one) feels slightly more robust when it arrived and I think it takes the liner system. I haven’t got them out yet this year but will check when I do. I bought one to try and them got another one as a spare in the sale. You can’t get his size and fit at the local tack shop and I’d rather have a spare/clean one in the cupboard.

He lived out in the essential lightweight last winter and was dry. I’ve had it washed and proofed so will see how it goes for its second winter this year.
 
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