turnout rug reccomendations for a highland and measuring advice!

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inthehills

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Hello,

I'm trying to find a new lightweight turnout rug for my very stocky 14.2 highland; just something to keep the rain off and keep him a bit cleaner.
He's got one at the moment which a friend gave me to try, but it's too small (doesn't cover his bum fully and tight round his chest)
I'd had a look on the forum for recommendations and some highland owners had suggested the horseware amigo mio; so I bought one the other day in a sale :-)

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit :-(

I measured the rug he has, which comes out as a 6 foot when measured along one side from end to end (starting at the bit where the buckle straps are attached)

I measured him from chest to centre of tail and he came out as 6'6" so I bought a rug the same size. Length wise (e.g. chest to tail), it's not too bad, maybe a little on the long side, but it's very long up and down and from the front it looks like he's wearing a dress! its almost down to his knees! partly because the rug seems to have a slightly unusual design and is longer at the front.

It's also tight around his chest (there's no front darts which maybe doesn't help).

arrgh! advice would be much appreciated :-)
 
I also have a very stocky, big shouldered traditional cob and rug buying is a nightmare. I have tried lots of the rugs people on this forum have reccomended for the stockier builds and they haven't fit. in my experience the amigo XL rugs do and are true to size. Weatherbeeta do a wide version of a no fill lightweight which does fit with a chest expander on but the best rug, perfect true to size fit for mine is the big horse shop rugs. I would guess your pony is either a 6ft or 6ft 3 as similar size to mine. The delivery from there is next day and they are really great with advice so if in doubt i would order both sizes and see which fits best but i can't fault them. Personally i find mios a tight fit and not great quality. Good luck!
 
OP, if it helps I had a friends 14.2 Dales with me much of last year, she was in 6ft 3 and 6ft 6 rugs, PE and Rambo fitted v well at 6ft 3, as also the Weatherbeeta rugs in 6ft 6.
Masta would also fit too. Mark Todd I needed to go up a size to 6ft 6

My current Fuzzy is a full bred heavy native, 13.2 & half, and 'just' fits into 6ft rugs, and for the cheaper brands she's in a 6ft 3.
Its very deceptive fitting natives with rugs, worth asking on your yard or locally if you can borrow to try types/sizes on him?
 
I have this little tank in a Shires rug - they seem to fit everything and I swear by them.

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I have a shires highlander lightweight that fits my 14.2 highland well. Have also recently bought a weatherbeeta comfitec which is a good fit.
 
I have a brick outhouse of a 14.2 cob in a 6' Horseware with a chest extender. It is a better fit than his Big Horse Shop Epic, which I found wasn't deep enough, heavy when wet and not completely waterproof.
 
I have a stocky 14.2 highland too, and he's in Amigo's but he takes a 6'9" .... !!! He measures up at 6'6" but bought the extra 3 inches to accommodate his chest. I feel your pain ... they can be awkward to fit.
 
thank you so much for the replies :-)

it's off back to the rug shop to pick over what is left of the sale and see if there is anything suitable! or it's onto the internet! (am trying to keep the price low as knowing my luck he will manage to find a slightly pointy object and shred it when it's new!)

one more question before I go though- I hadn't seen the chest extenders before and there are several for sale at the tack shop; if I buy one do I need to go down a size with the rug? (my logic is as it is widening the neck hole the rug is having to move backwards?)
 
I don't think you need to go down a size if it's a make that's not very generous in the chest. The rug still sits in the same place but you have the extra width needed across the front. Be sure to get one with the correct fixing. Some have buckles which is no good if the rug had clips.
 
My diddy highlands wear 6ft weatherbeeta rugs I do keep them fit and reasonably slim though bigger issue s the necks being too big so the front rests on their shoulders. I have a 5ft9 light weight but it is like a miniskirt and doesnt quite cover the round backside. Both are just 13hh so for a big one I would go to 6ft 6 or even 6ft 9
 
Has to be weatherbeeta freestyle, the new style wb don't fit neither do shires or PE. Friend has just gone through this with her highland!
 
thank you :-)
there was nothing remotely in his size left in the tack shop sale, so I have ordered a wetherbeeta genero online....fingers crossed!
it's good to know there is a plan b in the chest expanders (makes me smile as reminds me of those springy contraptions men used to have in the 80's!)
 
just wanted to say a big thanks for the help, the weatherbeeta genero arrived yesterday and tried this morning...and it fits :-D
so thanks for saving me so many trips to the tack shop/a fortune on returns postage :-)
 
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