Product Recommendation

[Larri DB]

I hope this is OK to post - I have nothing to do with this company, but I'm just so impressed with their product and service I wanted to pass it on to anyone else who might be interested 

I've had a nightmare trying to get a T/O rug to fit Ziggy - he might be small in stature but he is built like a bull in front. I bought him a new Masta chechteck - wouldn't even do up on the first hole on the buckle and ring combo unless it was so far up his neck his whole bum was hanging out  Then I tried RD's Amigo - same issue despite being a size bigger and again with a Shires and Merlin's old Masta which looked like it would swamp him...nope, despite being the best of a bad bunch he eventually burst the chest straps from the pressure of grazing 
I had a recco to try The Big Horse Shop, who make rugs for the larger built, but short coupled horse - drafts & draft crosses, cobs and Iberian stallions! The rugs are designed to be deep in the body, short in the back and much larger in front than normal rug designs

I spoke with Joanne there and ended up buying a lightweight 120g fill turnout, ordered Thursday afternoon, delivered Saturday and it fits him perfectly!! It's very generous in front with loads of shoulder room and big darts for movement, does up on a middle hole / clip combo rather than me having to pull to get it done up on the first hole and strangle him in the process. It's a little big on his bum - widthwise not lengthwise, but that's not going to cause an issue.
It's great quality at a great price and being 1200 d should last him a while!

I know there are a fair few of us on here with chunky monkeys and if you are fed up having issues getting rugs to fit I suggest giving the Big Horse Shop a try 

[Mandeigh]

    Do they have a website?  I've had a struggle to get a good fitting rug for Fidge...although he's not bad in his Amigo, I would like a bit more depth.

[lmevans]

I have similar problems with mine! an Amigo actually wore a hole in Tonka's neck within an hour, despite looking okay when I put it on 

He now has Weatherbeeta only, which don't rub at least, but the fit isn't perfect. Noos lives in Fal (always second hand, I can't afford new ones  ). Orio is still a scrawny teenager, so can wear pretty much anything, but I do love the Premier Equines on him.


Will check out the Big Horse though, they sound a good company to deal with 

[Wendy]

Thanks for the tip! 

I got an Amigo XL for Marley which is a much better fit - bigger round the neck and shoulders and deeper - than the regular - and they are on special in most places as discontinued I think.

[Larri DB]

Sorry should have posted a link!

http://www.thebighorseshop.co.uk/

Lucie that's terrible about the Amigo   RD is in one this year and it's OK, won't fit him next year though the gurt big heairy beggar   - I tried it on Ziggy and couldn't get it to come close to meeting at the front.

These rugs are a lot cheaper than Fal   I can't comment on the longevity - they've only been going a couple of years, but I hope they are robust as I get a feeling I'll be a regular customer  

Edited to add - I tried to find an Amigo XL in Ziggy's size but no joy, hence the search for an alternative 

[happy-horses]

What a brilliant idea!  Bertie tends to wear rugs that are to long for him for this reason!

[cirocco]

Thanks for that, I will certainly be looking. Jim is a nightmare to fit a rug to. i need a longer neck up to his ears so that he doesn't rub his mane, and long flap at tail.  Because he's wide i get him 6ft 3 so 13.2 pony in rug that also fits william 14.2.

 

[Wendy]

What a nice site.  Definitely Marley is only a BIT chunkier than the 'average' (according to the standard rug makers), being cob x, so the Amigo XL is ideal for him. These would be too big for him I think.

[whisper's mum]

Thanks for that, I will certainly be looking. Jim is a nightmare to fit a rug to. i need a longer neck up to his ears so that he doesn't rub his mane, and long flap at tail.  Because he's wide i get him 6ft 3 so 13.2 pony in rug that also fits william 14.2.

 

6ft3 ! good grief!  I thought Whisper is a big size for her height, she is 12.3hh and wears 5ft9, but 6ft3 is Rija's size and Spirit is only 6ft! I have midgets! 

[OliviaR]

Great website - I'll definitely keep an eye on this website.  Although I just about get away with weatherbeeta for Tilly, I struggle with boots - she definitely needs both new travel and brushing boots, but keep on putting it off in hope of finding some that actually fit...

[catkin]

Thanks for that.

Although the Welsh Princess is only 14.2hh, she is terribly difficult to fit with rugs with her wide and long laid back shoulders. We've given up with cross-over surcingle styles on her stable rug as they either truss her up completely or are too long and slide too far back - she has a 'really-its-a-bit-too-big' rug with a roller now and is much happier in that.