Taking the filling out of a turnout rug to make a rainsheet?

milliepops

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Just wondering whether anyone has done this with any success! My mare needs a new rainsheet. I'm pretty much set on getting a Rambo one as my other Rambos have been so fantastic. I'm wondering whether to have a mega splurge and buy a new one or whether to look for something 2nd hand as there seem to be quite a few around at the moment, but unfortunately not many lightweight ones.

Is it possible to pull the filling out of turnout rugs without completely trashing them? :D
 
Amigo rainsheets - which I think are made by Horseware Ireland and are the same folks that do Rambo - are really good rainsheets and not very expensive at all. I think I paid under £30 for the one I have 4 or 5 years ago and it's really good, washes well and still going strong.
 
Whilst I've never actually tried it, i dont think the filling will come up in one piece so that you end up having to cut a large part of the lining to get most of it out. There was a rug recently on ebay that someone had done this to, but she said that there was still a "lump" left around the wither area that she had not been able to remove as it was sewed in somehow. I think I'd just buy a rain sheet - unless you've got an old turnout that you dont mind binning if the experiment doesnt work out.
 
To do it properly, you'd have to unpick all the binding and surcingles etc, take out the filler then sew the binding and surcingles back on, more trouble than it's worth!
If you used a sewing machine remember,every time you put new holes in material you make more holes for the water to seep through.
 
To be honest, picking the filling out of an old rug would probably be more hassle , time and effort than it's worth.

I always spend as much money as I can afford on rugs as I think you get what you pay for and I mostly use horseware rugs as they live forever. However I have found that the amigo 600d ' rain sheet' is not at all waterproof. The lining has ripped and despite being re-proofed still not upto much. The rug is only 2 years old. So, I have saved my money and just bought the 1000d rambo original no fill. My mare is quite high maintainence and gets cold in a stiff breeze or shivers in the rain so I feel this rug will be worth the money.

If you are looking for a lightweight rug to use as a rainsheet I find the weatherbeeta rugs are ok or of course any of the other horseware lightweights.
 
I like the amigos but as above 600d are not much more than shower proof. 1200d seem fine though. Although they aren't a generous fit, i think the rambos are deeper than the amigos which do not fit my cob at all. I have found derby house brilliant! And they have a sale on too atm. I have the heritage rain sheet for my boy and its great, 1200d, generous and only £22 in sale. Bargain.

Wouldnt bother unstuffing tbh, seems more hassle than its worth!
 
I can loan you an adolescent Great Dane who will do the job for you - he has done several already so is well practised!

:D:D:D thanks for the offer!

Thanks for the advice everyone, sounds like it would probably have turned out to be another of my madcap schemes that ended badly. Managed to grab a bargain Rambo LW on ebay instead :cool:
 
I have one of the original Amigo 600d rainsheets, the red one, its washed and re-proofed every year and never leaked. It must easily be 3-4 yrs old, cost £26.99 new and been worth every penny. The next denier up which is the 1200d is also very good, my other horse one. I wouldnt bother taking filler out, its more trouble than its worth..
 
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