A fly rug question

Trewsers

Trewsers

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Oct 13, 2004
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Our two currently have a Shires and a Horsewear fly rug - but I really don't like the fit. By this, I mean they are quite tight across their chests - when I took Storm's off after she'd had it on all day she had sweat / rub marks where it had been:eek: It just doesn't look comfy for either of them when they are bending down to graze. They are both a little "rotund" (but we are working on that;)) but can anybody recommend a specific brand that may be a more generous cut? They really do need them the horse flies are dreadful again this summer. I have seen those Snuggy hood thingies, are they just for sweetitch? They just seem so cumbersome the ones we have, but fly spray on its own just isn't enough.
Thanks:)
 
Trewsers said:
Our two currently have a Shires and a Horsewear fly rug - but I really don't like the fit. By this, I mean they are quite tight across their chests - when I took Storm's off after she'd had it on all day she had sweat / rub marks where it had been:eek: It just doesn't look comfy for either of them when they are bending down to graze. They are both a little "rotund" (but we are working on that;)) but can anybody recommend a specific brand that may be a more generous cut? They really do need them the horse flies are dreadful again this summer. I have seen those Snuggy hood thingies, are they just for sweetitch? They just seem so cumbersome the ones we have, but fly spray on its own just isn't enough.
Thanks:)
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the snuggy hoods ones are for any use but designed with sweet itch in mind.

derby house fly rugs are good and are on offer now.
 
Thanks for that - I wasn't sure of the Snuggy Hoods, but to be honest, they look much comfier than standard fly rugs, there is something about those that seem cardboardy and unflexible.
 
I have a Rhinegold (I think) fly rug for Roxy although she doesn't wear it very often.

The only trouble I have with it is where she has a rather curvaceous back side it tends to pull the rug back and it makes it a bit tighter across the chest. I do pull it forwards so it doesn't stretch across her back but it inevitably ends up pulling back across her arse!

Not sure if this is the same problem you have Trewers? I don't find though that it's rubbed her anywhere, however she's only worn it a handful of times so far this year.
 
Yes, it could be because they are still slightly overweight (and they are more rounded on their rumps) - but there is just something about fly rugs that I don't gel with. Years ago when we were on a livery yard I had them in fly rugs simply because everyone else had them and the YO recommended. Its only this past two years I've reverted back to them. I do wish they were more flexible, the material / mesh seems quite stiff.
In an ideal world I'd not have to fly rug them, I'd be able to bring them in when the worst of the flies were about - sadly this isn't the case!
 
Abby has every kind you can imagine. She has a cool coat and its a lovely rug, does exactly what it says on the tin! She has a rambo hoody too, but it is quite heavy and is too hot on days like today. Shes had on today a mesh sheet i got off ebay (there on there now) it is a hoody with belly piece, i like the ear holes because with a fly mask she has full coverage. It was a reasonable price and is turning out to be a good buy. Shes very broad across the chest and everywhere! And she has had no issues with any of these :D
 
The cut and fit is a nightmare with any rugs!

I have had issues and finally resolved, as many were too tight round chest/shoulders on my arab :eek: and he was sweating in some of them :eek:

I have found the Horseware Amigo Mio fly rug very light and a great fit. Also the Rambo Protector although that is rather stiff it fitted and lasted well.

If you are needing more room in front how about looking at the Weatherbeeta fly rugs with the freestyle cut? I think the Kool coat can be got in a freestyle :)
 
thought I would join in I have a mark todd which is not a stiff material nice and soft and has a nice silky lining around the shoulder to stop the rubbing and it was only £45. It washes up lovely and looks like new. You can get the ones with the neck on too.
 
thanks for the derby house tip - just ordered Chicos fly rug from them, good price for what looks like a nice rug, complete with face mask too i believe. :D
 
SJ - did you order the grey and yellow or purple one?

If purple one please can you let me know how it goes, I need a material finer than mesh for madam, but hoping those rugs would be a nice fit.
 
popularfurball said:
SJ - did you order the grey and yellow or purple one?

If purple one please can you let me know how it goes, I need a material finer than mesh for madam, but hoping those rugs would be a nice fit.
Click to expand...

I ordered the purple one - will def let you know what it's like. I have just text a friend who has been after a sweet-itch rug and she is going to buy one of the yellow ones so we can compare the two. :)
 
I have an older Rambo fly rug. Its made of a sort of plastic mesh (the stuff they use to make garden furniture out of) and its absolutely fantastic:D. It keeps the flys off, it helps keep my minging boy cleaner (stops him rubbing on his favourite tree:rolleyes:), keeps him cooler when its hot and funnily enough, keeps him warmer when it rains:D. It has never rubbed him at all - the only thing it does is flatten his wee mohawk down a bit!

My only regret is that I didnt realise just how good it was going to be and its getting pretty done now - and they dont make that one any more:(. If I had realised how much I was going to love it, I'd have bought a couple of extra ones and kept them aside.

Arnie is a wide boy so I would say the Rambos are suitable for wide chested horses:D
 
Hope I am not hi-jacking post, but have just been googling fly rugs and up came NR! Toby has two - one older Riff Raff that my previous boy RIP had (a 6'3), and a Hydrophane 6'6 which I bought last year. I like them in that they have the ear holes and that stops them falling down the neck and also that they are quite soft. The downside is the silky shoulder lining rips easily, and I have had them both repaired. The repairers should be shot, they have completely changed the fit of the 6'6 so he now has a gap in the middle of his chest, and the 6'3 is skin tight (I know we have put on a pound or two but still!). They are too tight on his shoulder and I think this is the design. the Riff Raff was brill on my thoroughbred but too narrow a cut I think for broad chests. So, was wondering about a Rambo hoody but normal Rambos are quite narrow aren't they? Any advice on fly rug with ear holes for wide chest?
 
I had the exact same problem, all the fly rugs ive brought have fitted him lovley length wise but all of them slip back. Which makes the straps dig into his chest causing rub marks etc

So i had a think and came up with an idea.

I had some french blinkers (the sheepskin type) and i wrapped them around both straps on the front of the rug.

Now the straps dont dig in :D
 
Thats really good! Went up late last night to take Tobes rug off - bless he is a pale appy and now has two big dark areas on his poor rubbed shoulders, so felt really guilty. Don't know why I just don't give him a debit card for my bank account as he is the only one who seems to spend it!:rolleyes:
 
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