Fly Rug for a horse with big shoulders

[Clare-22]

I desperately need to get Loki a fly rug, last year he wore a Rambo Protector with no problems, but this year it has rubbed him, so I sold that and bought him a Premier Equine fly rug that has rubbed him even worse :rolleyes:

I am now going to have to try and sell the Prem Eq rug and try another one but can anyone recommend a fly rug that is good for big shouldered horses, Loki is a Clydesdale x.

Thanks :)

[Missmandamoo]

I desperately need to get Loki a fly rug, last year he wore a Rambo Protector with no problems, but this year it has rubbed him, so I sold that and bought him a Premier Equine fly rug that has rubbed him even worse :rolleyes:

I am now going to have to try and sell the Prem Eq rug and try another one but can anyone recommend a fly rug that is good for big shouldered horses, Loki is a Clydesdale x.

Thanks :)

Echo is only 14hh but she has big shoulders 4 her size, all the fly rugs i've tried on her have rubbed her, so i give up and brought a anti rub bib and it stopped rubbing :D

[Clare-22]

I did wonder about doing that, do you find she sweats under the bib?

[chickyd444]

i have the same problem my ID is built like a tank around the shoulder area - what about getting some materials and stitching an extra gullet in around the shoulder ? :)

[*Sez*]

I've had real problems this year. Sal is very narrow, but now has quite muscly shoulders, so his new fly rug has rubbed really badly.
I bought a Bossy's Bib to sort it out, and there haven't been any new rubs. The bib does tend to slip a little bit to the left during the day, but it seems to be protecting the areas that were getting rubbed. The rub looks much better (he's had the Bib for about a week now) and there's no new ones.
He doesn't seem to get too warm under the bib, as it's very thin but hardwearing.

[Dooley]

I like Chickyd444's idea. Even though it is not an easy option.

But if you put a bib underneath a rug that is rubbing because it's too tight it will still be too tight, even if it doesn't show as a rub mark on the horse's coat/skin, it will stll have an effect on the (lack of) freedom of movement and it may well cause sore shoulders anyway, just underneath the skin level. But you won't see it.

That's ok-ish with stable rugs in winter as the main movement in the stable will be up/down and in walk but with rugs that are worn for turnout it is more likely to cause a problem.

[Clare-22]

Here is a pic of the rug I have (second one down) :)

http://www.premierequine.co.uk/acatalog/horse-rugs.html

It is rubbing where the shoulder is prominant just to the right of the top front strap. Do you think it is possible to put an extra gullet in there :confused:

Was so pleased he came in without any bites to his delicate pink skin yesterday, and then I spotted his shoulders, horses you just can't win can you :rolleyes:

[Dooley]

Possible yes - everything is possible ! - but I wouldn't be able to do it myself :eek::eek:
Even in the pic it seems tight on the horse - is it that same area?

I have the same rug for one of mine and basically the gussets are in the wrong place, they're too far back. Which I think is true for a lot of Prem Eq's rugs unfortunately.

Don't Weatherbeeta do one with them set further to the front?
They do this one: http://www.frogpool.com/product-5775.htm but I don't like that it doesn't cover the belly properly - gussets in great place though! oooh, nd they do this one http://www.frogpool.com/product-2480.htm - that's the one I was thinking of, the Freestyle range. Not seen them on an actual horse though so can't actually recommend the rug itself, only the style

[KT C]

Don't Weatherbeeta do one with them set further to the front?
They do this one: http://www.frogpool.com/product-5775.htm but I don't like that it doesn't cover the belly properly - gussets in great place though! oooh, nd they do this one http://www.frogpool.com/product-2480.htm - that's the one I was thinking of, the Freestyle range. Not seen them on an actual horse though so can't actually recommend the rug itself, only the style

I haven't tried either of those rugs, but in my experience, Weatherbeeta's aren't great for big-shouldered horses. I have a very chunky ID x and the first fly sheet I had for him was a Weatherbeeta, and it rubbed him really badly and just didn't have the depth to cover him properly either. I got the Premier, and although I'd agree the gussets could do with being a little further forward, I've not had a problem with it rubbing.

[Clare-22]

Thanks :) I got a weatherbeta free with a magazine subscription last year and it wasn't generous enough in the shoulders, and that was before he filled out, I did try some DIY adapting on that and it wasn't pretty and ended up in the bin :D

[KT C]

I think the simplest plan would be to go for the bib, tbh - I have a couple for under some of my lad's less-than-perfect fitting rugs, and they really do help. It's difficult having chunky horses, isn't it?!? :rolleyes:

[chickyd444]

clare, it would be deffo easy to put an extra gullet/ more matrial infront of the other gullett,

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/Chickyd444/gulletinsertion.jpg

[Clare-22]

Oh wow thank you so much, I really couldn't get my head around how to do it, but from your diagram I think I could manage that :D

I wonder why rug companies don't make allowances for chunckier types, there must be a market for these type of rugs

[Big Ears]

Masta tend to come up big and they also have shoulder pleats - we use them on our cobs.

[maryb]

we ended up with a fal pro fly rug - very expensive but good - tried a cheap one first but neck wouldn't even fasten and was very tight round shoulders - the fal pro is nice and roomy, doesn't slip about, and the sides are long so he gets good coverage. horse is 16.3 IDxShire with big shoulders and neck (well muscled)

maryb

[Lucyad]

I don't use a fly rug on my CD x TB but for other rugs I only buy Fal pro now, as others rub his shoulders even with their gullets etc.. and bibs underneath! Def, worth the money! How is Loki getting in BTW? Havent seen any pics ofr AGES! (hint hint;)).

[Dooley]

clare, it would be deffo easy to put an extra gullet/ more matrial infront of the other gullett,

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii213/Chickyd444/gulletinsertion.jpg

Wow, that's clever! As Clare22 says that makes it look do-able doesn't it ?!

Just a question though - isn't it "gussets" with double s ? That's what I 've been calling them :confused:

[Dinsarsio]

amigo bug rug.My driving cob has huge shoulders and this bug rug has been great and affordable

[Clare-22]

I don't use a fly rug on my CD x TB but for other rugs I only buy Fal pro now, as others rub his shoulders even with their gullets etc.. and bibs underneath! Def, worth the money! How is Loki getting in BTW? Havent seen any pics ofr AGES! (hint hint;)).

Loki is good thanks for asking :D I will post an update with some pics when I get chance :)

I was looking at the Falpro yesterday, quite surprised that it didn't have shoulder lining :confused: But I guess if it is a good fit it doesn't need to have, took a deep breath when I saw the price and eventually decided to go for it, and then they didn't have his size :rolleyes:

[Shian89]

i've heard that the boett style rugs are good for big shoulders......my horse has big shoulders too but havn't got round to getting one yet haha.... and i agree about the weatherbeeta ones..... they are rubbish full stop never mind for big shoulders! i have one on my shetland as well as my highland and it slides everywhere and it rubs her shoulders.... and she hasn't even got that big shoulders, she's actually quite petite for a shetland :confused: i have shoulder guards on them both and that did solve the porblem of rubbing her shoulders but it still moves around a lot....more so on my shetland

but anyway..... i was looking at the pagony rug on ebay and they are a lot cheaper than a boett about £60 i think, i opted for this as my horse doesn't have sweet itch.:)

[bensmum]

Just seen this post..I had the same problem with my clydesdale...If you go on to the Shires website, they sell a chest expander for about £12.00. You just strap it on to the front of the rug and the problem is solved. No more tightness or rubbed bits.