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Post by angelac on Oct 26, 2011 18:52:48 GMT 1
Hi Ange The Rambo excel came to mind as soon as I read your post. My Irish cob Jet who is wide and probably has some Clydesdale in him is very suited to this rug. Many others semi throttle him ! Although expensive , it seems to be lasting a lot longer, as it is entering its second winter unscathed. ( that's sure to tempt fate In the stable, the weatherbeeta with with shoulder gussets suit him. I hope you have some luck and would be interested to know what you choose. Angela
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Post by nellie on Nov 6, 2011 21:26:06 GMT 1
Oooh, rugs and clips have been a major preoccupation for me too recently! Mina was getting hot just standing in the field so before she moved home we gave her what I'm used to calling a "low chaser" clip - but which is probably what everyone else would call a bib - lower part of neck, between her front legs and then her tummy. But she was still getting hot doing nothing (it has been such a mild autumn... so far) and, of course, she's also now doing a lot more work so yesterday I took the plunge, after an awful lot of vacillation and worry, and have asked for her to have a blanket clip. I wish I'd read this thread first! I wonder if I'll end-up with a very energised cob ?! I dillied and dallied for so long because of the question of rugs. Looking at Mina and comparing her shape with other horses, I have come to the conclusion that the difference is not just the breadth of her chest but that her neck joins her chest much lower down, and she doesn't have a flat bit where the straps would normally sit, which is why most rugs seem to strangle her. On a recommendation, I tried Mark Todd - completely wrong. Last year I bought a couple of Fal turnout rugs and they are not bad - far too long on her back but at least she can get her head down to eat! I can't remember the make of her fleece but that fits really well so intend investigating a bit more to see if the company make NZs too. I also have a medium weight Loveson which I bought second hand and that appears to fit really well but it hasn't put it to the test yet. I have also had Weatherbeeta Freestyle rugs recommended to me but, really, I just wish I could remember the name of the company that made my old girl's rug back in 1993/94. It was fab! It was just as synthetic rugs were really taking off along with cross surcingles, legs straps and so on rather than old-fashioned canvas, jute, surcingles and rollers. The rug was extra deep with a removeable fleece liner (the old-fashioned type of fleece that was quite hard on one side are quite fluffy on the other), had an elasticated neck and never, ever rubbed anywhere - and was made-to-measure. Bells was snug all winter long and she wasn't nearly as fluffy as Mina. I so wish they were still around and I could remember the name of the company! In the meantime, Rambo and Amigo have also been recommended to me and I did try one last year (can't remember which) but I hadn't heard about the XL so I'm going to see if I can track that down - and will let you know how I get on . Helen
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Post by gillybou on Nov 7, 2011 18:02:08 GMT 1
I think, Helen, that I am developing the same obsession as you. I've sorted the clipping now - the full clip was the best thing I could have done and seems to have made no difference to her liveliness but so much difference to how hot she gets.
Truly, however, I am fed up with rugs. I'm best friends now with the postman as rugs come and go! I've tried Mark Todd (too narrow and come up small, she looked like she had been shrink wrapped), Weatherbeeta turnout (ok - just about wide enough but not ideal), Weatherbeeta fleece (will be ok I hope when even bigger one arrives), Weatherbeeta light stable (did not even meet at the chest). The best ones so far for Coco are Premier Equine - generous all round. The only problem is they don't do what I call a normal stable rub. Theirs is very similar to their turnout . Not only does this confuse everyone at the stables but the lightweight is incredibly heavy. I'll probably keep it as a medium stable and they have liners too which also fit her so ok if it gets really cold. Today, however, I have found the bighorseshop on the web and have ordered a lightweight stable rug for draft horses. They are meant to be great for wide, short coupled horses. Coco isn't particular short so i've sized up to 7' and await the delivery. They are also very good value. I'd be interested to know how you get on with the XL for future reference.
Gilly
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Post by nellie on Nov 20, 2011 19:41:02 GMT 1
Hiya Gilly! Sorry for the long delay . I finally tracked down and tried on the Amigo XL yesterday and you would have said it had been made for her! It goes round her curves beautifully and meets in front without strangling: I'm very impressed. I also bought the XL neck cover and that also goes round and meets up under her neck as designed without being at all too narrow - in fact, it's just a bit too long so it sits rather like a hood over her ears. How that will work out when it is finally in use I'm not sure but the yard manager (YM) said they have others that do that and it's not a problem (and it does look very sweet . For her stable rug, I was advised to try a Shires Tempest. It's not bad and, if you ignore the velcro under the straps at the front, there is bags of extra strap room should she need it. However, I did go for 6'9", same as her NZ, whereas they normally recommend you go for a size smaller for the stable: a size smaller would not have done at all! If it hadn't been any good, I would have tried the same make as her fleece which I finally tracked down to JHL (Jumpers Horse Line). In the meantime, her clip was delayed and she is now due to be done this week. In the meantime I've been uming and ahing over which clip but have finally settled on my original thought of a blanket clip, with a little persuasion from the YM who said she didnt want to be responsible for a go-faster Mina if we took off too much of her coat ;D! But I would be very interested to know how you get on with the BigHorseShop as that was also recommended to me by someone who has an enormous horse. He looks like a cob but on steroids! A while back, when I was looking for alternative things to do, I thought what I should do is to set-up a website providing stuff just for cobs - headcollars, bridles, saddles, rugs, boots and so-on, not necessarily getting the stuff made (like the BigHorseShop) but bringing together things that are already out there into one, easy to access place for us cob owners. I mean, why is it that cob bridles aren't wide enough for cobs?... Anyway, don't get me started! Do let me know how you get on and anyone with any suggestions for headcollars with nice deep throat latches, please let me know . Helen
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ange
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Post by ange on Nov 21, 2011 14:44:49 GMT 1
Hi,
I've also now bought the Amigo XL, and have also found that it really seems to fit well - nice and close around the neck but with plenty of room to reach down to eat - I only needed the 6'6" too, whereas I've had to buy 6'9" in some others to get enough neck room - this means they are then too long and the extra 'tail weight' makes them pull back and somewhat defeats the issue!
I just need the weather to turn now so that I can use it, although having bought the heavyweight one (plus a lighter weight hood) I'm also going to have to take most of her coat off too! I've already clipped her twice and she's desperate to be done again!!
Sadley there is no stable rug option in the Amigo XL range, so I'll have a look at the others mentioned above - thanks all!
Cheers, Ange.
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Post by nellie on Nov 21, 2011 21:39:02 GMT 1
Oh that is interesting, Ange. I think we should all write to/email Horseware asking them to do stable rugs too - having seen the Amigo XL on Mina, it's definitely what I would have gone for .
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Post by gillybou on Nov 23, 2011 17:12:27 GMT 1
Thanks Ange and Helen for the Rambo XL info - that's definitely on my list when I replace the turnout. I'm afraid that bighorseshop rug was rather hopeless for us - it was huge round the neck (could have popped the small stable dog down there) - and short in the body - even the 7ft was far too short. It was a nice rug but really is for short coupled heavyweight drafts I think, not big chested, chunky necked cobs. So that went back too and Coco now just uses her fleece or her Premier Equine stable if its chilly or she is in at night. Meanwhile, her beautiful brown Mark Todd rugs have migrated to the horse in the next stable and look stunning on her - I try not to be envious. I'm now going to try a 6'9" Shires Tempest - thank for that suggestion. I met someone at Your Horse Live in the breeds village with a large broad horse (shamefully, I cannot remember what it was!). She said only Premier Equine fitted her mare well so I think they are definitely one to bear in mind.
I also came across' Libbys' when I was there which Helen might find interesting as they make made-to-measure headcollars which I am going to order. They are more or less the same price as their normal headcollar - they just add postage to send them off to you. The standard webbing ones were lightweight and nice and soft in great colours and can be made adjustable. They ask you to measure round the nose and from the rings on the side up and round the poll but you could also give them a throat latch measurement. Not sure they have a website but their number is 01425 656632. I think for the money they are well worth a try. I want a nice neat one to fit under the bridle if we go out to the pub! It's another product to go on your website for cobs, Helen. Coco doesn't even fit in full sized headcollars, let alone cob ones. I tell myself she would look silly with a small head.
Meanwhile, Coco's heels need a trim, her mane needs a tidy and it won't be long before she needs another full clip - and that's before I email Horsemare about making stable rugs!
Gilly
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Post by liz on Nov 23, 2011 18:46:05 GMT 1
Ange - just a thought but I never bothered with stable rugs in more recent years as the t/o ones are so good and breathable. I bought extra t/o rugs instead - Amigo rugs, actually!
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ange
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Post by ange on Nov 28, 2011 15:08:47 GMT 1
Hi again!
Liz - I had thought about having extra turnout rugs instead of stable ones (there are some benefits in doing this as you will know - turnouts tend not to stain as easily - unless of course your horse likes poo-pillows as mine seems to, in which case the rug makes no difference!), but I keep Millie on 5 day livery, and I'm not 100% convinced that re-setting or changing her rug would happen as consistently as I would like!?
I gave Millie a hunter clip this weekend. She seems to quite enjoy being clipped - even her head, although she does fidget a bit while I'm doing this to the point where I think that she either doesn't like straight lines or is simply trying to get me to clip the whole of her face (well you can't leave me with this zig-zag look can you mom???).
Anyway - to the point - as its still too warm for the Amigo XL heavyweight I had to dig out something a bit lighter - I'd forgotten that, at the end of last winter when I'd realised that her full neck rug was rubbing so badly, I'd rushed out to buy something without a neck to use for the last few weeks - it was this that I pulled out this weekend.
Its a middle weight 6'9" Gallop turnout, which cost the princely sum of £35 - and, other than I'd prefer it just a couple of inches deeper, and it's a little bit too long, actually fits her really well and doesn't pull tight. After 6 hours out grazing and an hour back in the stable waiting for me to sort myself out before grooming and changing rugs, I checked it at the front and there was still plenty of space, even with her head down eating. So perhaps another one to consider, especially if the pennies are a bit tight in the run-up to Xmas!
I wouldn't recommend the Gallop stable rugs though - at least not the fleece lined lightweight one - Millie has literally pulled this one apart at the seams - I'm assuming by standing on it whilst getting up after a snooze!!!
Cheers, Ange.
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Post by nellie on Dec 1, 2011 21:46:41 GMT 1
Hello, I thought a picture of Mina in her Amigo XL may be good so here is one of her trying it on (which is why the tummy straps are not done-up):
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Post by nellie on Dec 1, 2011 21:54:21 GMT 1
Oh, and one of her with her go-faster blanket clip . It's not the full body shot I wanted as I had failed to communicate clearly to Akis what I was after but it's still a nice piccie of her front end with her recently tidied mane. We were doing really well growing her hogging out but then she got frustrated with her grazing muzzle in the summer and took it out on her mane ! Helen
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ange
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Post by ange on Dec 2, 2011 15:15:44 GMT 1
Much neater lines around her legs than I've managed on Millie - I always seem to forget that I need to get an angle on this bit and then remember when it's too late and then have to try to 'create' one out of nothing! She looks quite pleased with herself!!
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Post by nellie on Dec 3, 2011 21:20:16 GMT 1
I would love to take the credit for her neat lines but have to own up that it was the Livery Yard Manager who did them . And she is very pleased with herself at the moment!
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ange
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Post by ange on Dec 8, 2011 12:07:47 GMT 1
Hi - with regards to Rambo XL rugs ... I thought I'd found a medium weight one in 6'6" on E-Bay - I'd even ordered it but then got a call to say they were really sorry, but they couldn't actually find it anywhere ( They do however have 6'6" 6'9" & 7'6"(!!) Heavyweight (£140) and a 5'6" Medium (£79.99) still available if anyone is interested! The seller was Hope Valley Saddlery. There are a few other Rambo XLs on there too from other suppliers, but most seem to be 5' or 5'3 (I didn't think they went that small with the XL)! Cheers, Ange.
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Post by gillybou on Dec 13, 2011 16:41:54 GMT 1
Rugs really are a most frustrating topic. I expected the shopping for rugs part to be exciting - choosing colours/styles etc but have found that I have to have what fits - in whatever colour that comes in!
Anyway, gorgeous photos - it would be great if we could add a photo and a few details of the horse under each Forum member's details - I find it difficult to remember who rides who (let alone what each horse looks like) and would really like to know when I am reading their post! Sounds technically difficult though.
Gilly
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