Thermatex question

[UKa]

Hi all, just after some opinions - I want to get my girl a Thermatex rug this winter so she dries off more easily after exercise (she is usually unclipped and tends to sweat especially after hacking); can I assume that a Thermatex does a better drying job than a normal fleece cooler? will it also make the horse dry faster?

 

[Murphs_Mum]

I love them they really wick the wet away. A bit more money but so worth it. Also nice are the Comfort Zone Fleeces - I'm greedy I have both

 

[Rambo]

The Rambo cooler is also a very good alternative at about £40

 

[0]

yes, thermies are brill and worth every penny!!!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

They're def worth the money, brilliant and last for years!!

 

[eekmon]

I have a comfort zone rug! Its lovely, my fave !

 

[spaniel]

If you can afford one - get one. Ive had mine nearly 15 years and its still doing a grand job!!

 

[AmyMay]

Wonderful rugs - but perhaps a tad too warm ultimately for an unclipped horse.

 

[UKa]

I am thinking of mainly using after exercise just to cool off and whick moisture away, rather than as stable rug so the heat should not be a problem? My problem always appears in winter when I ride and then want to turn out but at the moment it takes a while til horse is dry with conventional fleece method so hoping that this could make a difference and she gets fully dry sooner as not allowed to get any chill ...?!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I am thinking of mainly using after exercise just to cool off and whick moisture away, rather than as stable rug so the heat should not be a problem?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, sorry I appreciate that - I wasn't clear. I think that it's too warm a 'cooler' to use on an unlcipped horse - I couldn't use mine on Amy when she was unclipped as it just made her break out more.

Remember that an unclipped horse's coat stays wet with sweat - and only time will dry it out. It's really hard to get them dry even with a cooler.

 

[UKa]

Oh, that's an interesting point, wonder if anyone else has had this experience? don't want to rush into buying expensive rug finding it is no good for us ...

 

[AmyMay]

Why don't you clip???

 

[ihatework]

personally, I would invest in a decent breathable outdoor rug (the rambos are excellent), would wash away sweat at end of ride, put nz on and turn out straight away.
Have always done this with no problems.

 

[UKa]

just imagine it to be a great nightmare as she is so sensitive (being a thin-skinned TB) ... her coat is never massively thick either, but she does get sweaty;

 

[_daisy_]

yes ive had the same problem with a pony of mine- if shes unclipped and is sweaty, if i put a "cooler" on her (thermatex in her case) she sweats even more and stays wetter for longer. Its better to leave them unrugged or as Rambo mentioned put a breathable turnout on, unless she is dripping.

 

[UKa]

Ah, but have turned her out like that before thinking she would be ok since outdoor rug on but she had an episode of tying up afterwards, guess some wind may have got through and gave her a chill and since then I always only turn out when she is fully dry - ...

 

[ihatework]

Oh okay, tis up to you, not sure I understand the connection between tying up and turning out in a good breathable rug, but each horse is different.

 

[cyearsley]

Thermatex rugs are great, expensive but last a life time and you can use them as coolers, travel rugs (perfect for clipped horses on a cold day), stable rug, under rug and so on. Try and find a secondhand one in your paper, internet or Ebay etc. I go my first one donkeys years ago as a wedding present (!!) my latest one is the T2000 which is the top one and retails for about £120 I got out the paper nearly new for £60!

 

[Thistle]

Thermatex make a lightweight rug too.

 

[madgirl]

major has one and i love it!

 

[sevenoceans]

Have a wooly sweating unclipped thin skinned TB and Thumbs up for thermatex.... Had it for 12 years... few holes but still does it's job and fits in the washing machine....

Will be used as underrug along with duvet and top rug when he is bald...

But i can't also fault rambo rugs... they are good breathable rugs

 

[Evadiva1514]

Would definitely recommend a thermatex, got quite a few floating around the yard for my crowd and they last for ages!! Fantastic rugs!!

 

[UKa]

sounds very promising, ta! yes, mine also has a Rambo turnout for winter - what I was trying to get at earlier was that I think when turned out even a rugged horse may catch some wind underneath which has proven to be not good for my horse when slightly wet as each time she tied up in the past it was when she was sweaty - therefore would like to dry up before turnout even with breathable rug if that makes sense as want to be extra careful; have heard many good things about Thermatex also on unclipped horses so I think this may be the way forward for us for BEFORE turnout and then the Rambo gets on when horse is dry.

 

[sevenoceans]

then you got the answer...

 

[UKa]

yes sounds good

 

[meandmyself]

Does anyone else find that the bedding sticks to the like crazy?

 

[Vicki1986]

i have one for my clipped pony and its fab, going to invest in an excercise sheet as well, a really good brand and worth the cash x

 

[SueAllen]

I love mine and got a decent priced on off Ebay ..... and it actually fits! (so many things I have off Ebay don't!

) Get a size smaller than your normal rug size - this seems to be general advice and it worked for me. Haven't tried any others though - sorry!