The minefield that is rug shopping...

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DipseyDeb

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It has been a few years since I went winter rug shopping...and OMG what a choice, with or without neck covers, which make etc..
so what rugs do you swear by?? Any recommended that dont cost the earth.... Charlie's stable is in an internal barn, though the big doors aren't shut at night, bu he is about 4 stable down the block so not facing the elements..
What about turnouts???
 
You get what you pay for IMO. Fals are great though too deep for many narrower horses, Horsewear are good, too as are Premier Equine. I got a couple of Weatherbeata ones last year for the small ponies who are out during the day in all weathers and was surprised how much their quality has improved, too.

Happy shopping!
 
weatherbeeta orician detach-a-neck is brill :D got mine last year and love it got if for about £65 which is cheap as there usually around £80. equine clearance !

and then i have the masta aztex 360 zip neck. lovely rug, neck included ! £50 for tack shops yearly mega sale ! usually around £110.

cyber checkout have some good deals on there rugs. quite like the chillington range.

i say weatherbeeta all the way unless you have more money then the high end expensive mastas are fab :rolleyes:

all i say is rugs with detachable necks are 10x better and always buy the neck when you get the rug unless you will find like i have today that the matching neck cover will be discontinued :mad:
 
I love Horsewear (Rambo and Rhino), they are a superb fit, but pricey, so only have had them second hand! If buying new, I like Weatherbeeta. Beware of Premier Equine. Superb company and their boots are great, but I've just bought a lightweight turnout from them and to be honest it is a really weird fit....
 
I personally like Weatherbeeta or Horseware. I have zillions of rugs (my horses have more clothes than I do) so I can cater for all elements, but I swear by using neck covers in winter as it keeps the boys cleaner and it keeps them warmer, therefore less clipping required - and as one of my boys needs 4 clips a year, I'll take all the help I can get ..... ;)
 
I wouldn't touch masta rugs, the quality is awful and they last all of two mintues, and the less said about other masta items the better.

I like Mark Todd rugs, lots on the yard use weatherbeeta and these seem to also last a long time :)
 
Completely disagree with monkeybum. My masta stable rug and turnout has lasted me 10 years and my mark todd turnouts didn't last a year but their stable rugs are good. Also like weatherbeeta and horseware but again beware of premie equine... Oh and always neck covers!!
 
I'm a big Mark Todd fan and have had quite a few Weatherbeeta's in the past which were also fab but brought 2 off e-bay as emergency spares last year, Axiom i think the brand was (never heard of it before) 300g combos and ended up using them all winter. They stood up to the worst of the snow & rain and they were only about £35 with p&p :D Fitted really well too, no mane rubs or anything. As a rule i think you get what you pay for but these were surprisingly good IMO. One is now slightly ripped but that's only after being turned out with the resident rug destroyer who got his teeth into it :( I shall be buying again this year! I will say steer clear of anything Saxon though, a fleece of theirs rubbed my mare to pieces and my friends t/o one did the same to her horse. Very odd fitting rugs.
 
My horses live out 24/7 they range from a 20year old arab, 19yr TB/welsh, cob, and a fully clipped tb/Trakehner. They all wear pessoa's I 100% swear by them. They have a heavy and a medium each and wear which ever depending on weather or age! I never have leaks, flapping rugs or rubbed shoulders. My clipped mare also has a pessoa neck cover. There pessoa stable rugs are a lovely fit also and are very hard wearing (for the rare time they are stabled!)
My Arab will be wearing her heavyweight this year for the 4th year running, its still going strong. If it gets really cold like this past winter with the heavy snow I just layered with there dress circle sherpa fleece, and they were as snug as bugs!!
Expensive rugs but last, so you get what you pay for, and have probably worked out cheaper than 4 cheaper models!
 
I swear by Horsewear Rugs. Rambo are amazing. Very expensive but you can buy 2nd hand on ebay. Im treating my horses to new rugs this year though. big range and fantastic quality and fit. the half neck wugs are great too. definitely recommend them. worth every penny, better to invest in good quality rugs then cheap ones which rub, rip and leak.
 
mytwofriends said:
I personally like Weatherbeeta or Horseware. I have zillions of rugs (my horses have more clothes than I do) so I can cater for all elements, but I swear by using neck covers in winter as it keeps the boys cleaner and it keeps them warmer, therefore less clipping required - and as one of my boys needs 4 clips a year, I'll take all the help I can get ..... ;)
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I have zillions of rugs as well and I swear by neck covers. You don't get any muddy manes and by using neck covers day and night I don't need to clip mine at all.
 
Well I think it depends what your willing to pay, how heavy you want it and wether your horse is a serial rug ripper like my last pony! I used to have to buy him a new rug every year regardless the make. There would be half a rug at the end of every winter. That included one weatherbeeta, one requisite (from robinsons) and one loveson...All got demolished, I was too scared to buy the really pricey ones in case he demolished them too. The horse I have now though is very good for keeping his rugs in tact (touch wood). This will be his 4th year in his heavy weight loveson Combo (attached neck) which cost £80 from the local tack shop but that was a few year ago. But I always send it to the rug cleaners to get any little rips covered, and re-waterproofed ready for the next year. I also have a saxon medium weight and light weight without the neck (But can buy a detached neck for them). They were bargain rugs at £23 each on equestrian clearence. Im sure they are not as good as quality as other rug brands, but it does the job, I only have lightweight on in summer if it heavy rains or to keep him clean for shows. The mediums is only on for 1-2 month on either side of the winter.
 
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