Pictures Yay! Another rug thread! Best rug you ever bought and the worst

Meowy Catkin

Meowy Catkin

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I'm just wondering which makes and models people have been most pleased with or disappointed with?

My best buy was a Bucas Smartex Rain which is well over 10 years old now and is still going strong. The worst was a Masta Turnoutmasta half neck as the lining just fell apart after one seasons use. :(

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Worst: Premier Equine. Additional negative points for the non existent "customer service" about their awful rug.

Best: I bought an original FAL bulldog turnout rug circa 2005. I got it in the sale for £99 and sold the neck attachment in ebay for £45ish so it was a steal. I had a run of 6ft horses and it done all three of them. I sold it in 2010 when I lost my last 6 footer and I'm pretty sure it's still going with the person that I sold it too.

I also bought an Axiom rug from ebay as a "back up" when I ended up with a very underweight TB and I ended up using the Axiom over his Rambo. It kept him so warm, was a great fit and was really hard wearing. I've had an axiom since for current horse, until he outgrew it, and it was a great rug too.

I generally use Shires, Weatherbeeta and Masta and they're all a good fit and hard wearing. Shires are excellent value for money, weatherbeeta comfitec are a great fit and I have the Masta dome neck rug which has stopped all mane rubs the past two winters and heading into its third.
 
I have an old 100gsm Ruggles turnout. It was about £40 when I bought it, about six years ago in the sale. It's been used and abused - it's Daemon's and he doesn't get that name lightly. It had its first minor repair this year (broke the metal bit of a surcingle) but otherwise is still going strong. It's been worn by all of them, so it gets near constant use in winter, and is surprisingly versatile for a very basic rug. I'll be very sad to see it die!

Not sure what the worst is... I suppose the string vest style anti sweat rug I bought when I was 11 before I had a horse. It was too small for my cob when I got him, so the only time it got worn was on a sleepover when I wore it round to my friend's neighbours to borrow some peppermint essence (because we were making horse treats :p ).
 
My best rug is the Bucas heavyweight I bought last year. I’m hoping it lasts as it fits perfectly and is very light to handle.

My worst is either the Masta rug I bought years ago that wasn’t a bit waterproof or the Premier Equine that can only be used in dry weather for the same reason. I keep meaning to sell it as it’s not much use to me.

Most of my rugs are Weatherbeeta or Ruggles for the little ones.
 
Best rug is the Rambo Duo I got the first winter I had Bob (2006). Front clips have been replaced and the neck rug is too small for him now, but the rest is still going strong, and the liner (which has had a few patches thanks to boisterous play) is in great nick too.

Worst was a Bucas cooler which was clearly designed for something with a dainty neck and massive barrel. It didn't do up around his neck and was far too deep in the barrel so the belly strap was drooping below his knees at its shortest.
 
Best has to be my ancient rambo 0g turnout. Kiras been wearing it in the deluges this week and she's always dry and comfortable 🥰

Worst is an old canvas NZ I had when I was younger, god they were awful.
 
Shires tempest is the best for Dabs - hard wearing, warm and one of the few rugs that fits his giant shoulder and doesn't rub either his shoulder or wither.

Worst would be any one of the many many fly rugs I've bought that either rub, rip or are made of mesh stiff enough to reinforce walls with.
 
I have a Rambo Summer Series for when the flies are about. It is really good as has a waterproof top with fly mesh sides. It also has a detachable lining. They are very expensive but worth the money.

Turnouts are also Rambo I do like horseware rugs. They have lasted me years.

Bucas and Fal I have had these before and they hold their value second hand as they are so good.

I love thermatex and these come up second hand quite often.

Not had a bad experience but I do stick with Rambo.
 
Love my Axiom! Have had it years and it's still going strong. Such a shame they don't still make them.

Have bought some rubbish rugs over the years but most disappointed at the moment with a Ruggles no fill which leaks like a sieve (have heavier Ruggles rugs which are great)
 
All my Rambo and latterly Rhino rugs have been fabulous.

Worst were Premier Equine, big thick heavy ones with necks that soon soaked through and then were so heavy you could barely hang them up to dry!

Oooh, also excellent, the Shires rug that is waterproof on top and mesh at the sides. I dare say that the Rambo ones are better, but we have had these since they came out (2011?). Somehow the design funnels the water off the top (which is still 100% waterproof) and down the mesh, so the horse stays dry even under the mesh parts. Don't know if Rambo is the same.

The only one that ever got wet in one was a mare with a very large tummy and the tummy stuck out, so water did go through the mesh on that horse. The others all stayed dry like magic though!
 
Best: FAL Chieftain. Loved that rug but it went off to be cleaned and reproofed and came back a size smaller!

Worst: Anything by Masta. I just find they treble in weight when wet, and being short I really struggle with them.
 
Best, Axiom, I have several and I’m gutted they no longer make them, they are fabulous. I especially like the huge tail flaps, lots of bum coverage on rainy days.

Worst and I think purely because they just don’t fit/suit my h/w cob (!!) is Rhinegold. They look like he’s wearing a miniskirt. It’s a shame, they look smart, but just don’t offer the coverage.
 
I quite like Derby House rugs - they fit the shetlands well (for sweet itch and keepong clean purposes) they also fit GrayMo well.

I hate PE rugs - horrible heavy things with a ridiculously expensive price tag. The binding of their thermatex type cooler rugs folds and curls up too.

I bought a couple of cosy pony rugs in a sale and luckily tried them on before I clipped the pony! They wouldn't fit anything! Everything was far too small - designed for a Breyer model not a shetland pony! So they are still in their bags ...
 
EKW said:
I quite like Derby House rugs - they fit the shetlands well (for sweet itch and keepong clean purposes) they also fit GrayMo well.

I hate PE rugs - horrible heavy things with a ridiculously expensive price tag. The binding of their thermatex type cooler rugs folds and curls up too.

I bought a couple of cosy pony rugs in a sale and luckily tried them on before I clipped the pony! They wouldn't fit anything! Everything was far too small - designed for a Breyer model not a shetland pony! So they are still in their bags ...
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I really rate Derby House rugs too. I've had 2 now and they are really decent quality and good value for money.
 
I hated the axiom rugs I had, several people recommended them but they were a poor fit, they took ages to dry out when wet and rubbed both my ponies withers. My best rug was a Horseware rhino which I bought 2nd hand and it lasted for years, the outer of the rug started to wear thin and rip but the waterproof layer was still intact and fully waterproof!
 
Never mind which rug, I have to say it was lovely to see my horse snug as a bug last night. Like a duvet party. I thought of her when I snuggled into my own duvet!
 
I think as well that there has to be some leeway for the fit of rugs.

What fits a wide cob or draft wint necessarily fit a slight TB and vice versa. That's shouldn't take away from the performance of a rug iykwim.

I was never a fan of Masta and quick to dismiss them but now I have a horse that Masta fits really well and the rug has performed really well.

It is a minefield figuring out what brands fit what shape of horse!
 
Oh yes Milliepops! Canvas rugs! Terrible when saturated, weighed a tonne and took ages to dry. We are so lucky now to have lighter and breathable fabrics.
Favourite rugs are Fal and Rambo/Rhino. I had a Fal for a pony of mine that lasted well over 10 years before the waterproofing started to deteriorate, it fitted well too. I just have to get the heavier denier because mine batter their rugs under the trees.
I don't seem to get on so well with weatherbeeta rugs, but I think the fit doesn't suit my little gang.(or at least seemed to rub last time I tried one years ago.)
 
Worst - Premier Equine heavy, which didn't leak, but allowed moisture to seep through, and created a rather humid microclimate underneath it.
All but one of my current rugs are Shires, which fit Alf perfectly, and never leak. Love them
 
All my rambos and rhinos! They are brilliant, warm, dry and very tough! Worst was a pe heavyweight-heavy, leaked and rubbed mane!
 
Best rugs I’ve had- one was a 0g fill lightweight horseware Ireland. That rug never leaked, even in an absolute downpour. Horse eventually ripped it beyone repair after about 7 years. Think I paid £90 for it in 2003.

Same horse also had a mediumweight- it was either Rhinegold or Loveson, with a half neck and it was just the best rug. Looked lovely, wasn’t too heavy, dried quickly and fitted beautifully. I got it ridiculously cheap at a local tack shop.

Worst rugs- Masta turnout rugs for me. I’ve never had one that’s fitted well. They are low slung on the neck and pull on the chest. I just can’t stand them.
 
I’ve never had a bad Rambo and they have lasted years. I’ve also got a 1200d 30g Amigo which is surprisingly good/useful, although at only 2 years old hasn’t reached the time test yet!

The worst - my brief foray into Premier Equine, awful heavy things, and the rainsheets leak like a sieve.

Also very disappointed with the Bucas Sun Shower, has 2 and they both died in months with the waterproof liner peeling out.
 
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