Questions?

Many horses get rubbed out shoulders, especially during Winter when we tend to have more rugs on them and remove them less frequently.

Interestingly, rubbed shoulders and wither sores are not usually caused by a rug that is too small, but rather one that is too large through the neck. 

When the rug fits well it should do up fully closed and the front and sit well in front of the wither. If a rug is buckled too low then the pressure point is often level with the point of the shoulder and hence the constant friction of movement will rub out the shoulders. If the rug is allowed to sit back too far then it will create a pressure point on top of the wither which will move as the horses shoulders move - a bit like a loose shoe on your heel, and a sore will often result.

While shoulder gussets are a great asset in your top rugs or in summer sheets, when using them in under rugs the heavier outer rugs will cause the chest strap to ride up and the top of the neck to slip back often resulting in wither pressure sores. A good fitting neckline in your rugs should be all you need to stop rubbing.

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A question we get asked all the time. Sadly it is a little like ‘how long is a piece of string’ 

Skye Park staff are all horse owners with a huge variety of breeds, types and ages so have a great understanding of the standard sizing of rugs for horses heights and types.  Unfortunately rug size can be affected by not only things such as height, but weight, condition, breed, age, conformation, so there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Couple this with the fact that people often like their rugs to fit differently, some like them a bit longer some like them more snug etc. and it becomes a huge variety of choices.

We are certainly able to advise you what we would choose, but without actually physically seeing your horse, it is very difficult to be 100% accurate

We have a rug measuring form that will enable you to have a rough idea of sizing, but this relies on measurements being taken correctly, which is often not the case.  We also offer a rug fitting service which is done by mailing sample rugs and taking photos. There is a fee for this service that is 100% refundable when you place a rug order with us.  We have special necklines for Clydesdales, part Clydesdales, heavy breeds, young stock, older horses etc.

Please feel free to contact us for assistance with your sizing.  Tailor made rugs do not incur an additional fee and are simply charged at the price of the rug of your choice.

We often get asked what is warmer for a horse as an under rug wool or Doona.  So just to clarify things

1. Natural fibre with the best breathability. Wool can absorb its own weight in water (either sweat or water) before it actually feels wet. Holds warmth but not moisture against your horse’s skin
2. Doona, often made with a synthetic outer (nylon or polyester) so loss of breathability and build-up of static, so always choose a doona with a cotton outer.  Doona’s get their warmth from the pocket of air that it held within the fibres of the fill, the higher the fill grams, the greater the area to hold this air and so the warmer the rug……UNTIL you put something over the top with any sort of weight, ie canvas or synthetic top rug.  This additional weight will flatten the fill of the doona and therefore decrease the warming ability of the rug, the more rugs you put on, the worse it gets.

So, Wool will win as a warmer under rug with better breathability every time. Doona rugs are excellent in stables etc. where nothing is placed over them.

When purchasing a rug from the Skye Park range you can often choose the sort of leg straps you want on your rug.  Here is a brief explanation of the various styles.

WEBBING SNAPS AND DEES

Strong webbing leg straps in either black or white depending on the rug required with a trigger snap on the end which attaches to a dee attached to the back of the rug. The leg strap is adjusted with a slider.  Should you have issues with the snap at any time, it is easily removed and replaced without a visit to the local rug repairer.  The leg strap is permanently attached to the rug with a strong webbing patch on the inside of the rug

SAFETY BACK LEG STRAPS
About 19 years ago Skye Park Rugs came up with a brilliant way to attach the leg strap at the back of the rug. There is no snap fitting on the end of the leg strap. The snap has been replaced with a metal square. This square is then pushed up through the back fitting and a tongue slides through to hold it all in place. Generally this fitting outlasts the life of the rug. Very safe, very strong, very efficient.

PVC SNAPS AND DEES
Strong polymer coated webbing leg straps in either black or white depending on the rug required with a trigger snap on the end which attaches to a dee attached to the back of the rug. The leg strap is adjusted with a  roller slider.  Should you have issues with the snap at any time, it is easily removed and replaced without a visit to the local rug repairer.  The leg strap is permanently attached to the rug from the outside to give maximum strength.

Ripstop/Tearstop canvas or summer sheet means that there is a stronger, usually polyester, thread, woven into the warp (material length) and weft (material width) of the material at certain intervals. These intervals will vary depending on the textile manufacturer and style of material. This gives the rug not only extra strength but because of the addition of the polyester material makes it more durable.  Skye park Tearstop rugs do not give off a static zap like pure polyester materials.

Because of the stronger threads this does not mean the rug is tear proof, as no material is when matched against 500+kg of horse. It simply means that should your horse rip its rug that the rug will stop ripping at the ripstop thread once the reason the rug has ripped is removed. That is, for instance, if a horse catches its rug on barb wire, the rug may rip as long as the horse is rubbing on the barb. When the horse stops rubbing the ripping will stop at that point and not continue to rip under its own weight.

Canvas is a wonderful product that is very healthy for our horses because IT BREATHES. The drawback to this breathability is that in certain conditions canvas can also let water through.

When we line a canvas with wool or felt, the wool/felt acts as a buffer or air lock, which is most circumstances keeps the water on the outside of the rug.

With a UNLINED CANVAS rug we have two situations that can cause the canvas to let the water in. 

First, if the canvas is touching the horse, the warm body heat of the horse actually draws the water inwards (the same as a tent does if you touch the inside of the canvas wall or roof with your hand). 

Second, our horses produce a lot of body vapour that can be trapped on the inside. If you have a cotton sheet under the unlined canvas this may help to stop the water drawing through to the inside because the canvas is not in direct contact with the skin, but may absorb any vapour or condensation from the horses body before it has a chance to escape. This happens when the rug is very cold on the outside and warm on the inside (from the body heat of the horse). Have you ever experienced condensation on the inside of an unlined stable or shed. You can get rained on inside because of the inside warmth and the outside cold coming together. 

I use my unlined canvas' extensively. I always have a cotton sheet against the horse, no matter what is on the top. They are used most nights through the summer months and days when there is a possibility of a shower. Sometimes the weather can be very warm and showery, I find even if some water has managed to get through the horse is still dry. Spring and autumn often finds my unlined canvas over a woolen under rug, firstly for the extra warmth and also because there is more possibility of rain or showers at this time of year (bearing in mind I live in South Gippsland).

Naturally, if the weather is cold or wet enough then the horses go into a light lined canvas or their Millenniums, whichever is appropriate for the time of year.

THE EVILS OF SHOULDER GUSSETS

Most people assume because their horse has big shoulders or the horse is getting rubbed shoulders the answer it to put shoulder gussets in to their summer sheets and under rugs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shoulder gussets in lightweight rugs such as cottons and woollens cause a whole new set of problems. These fabrics do not have enough structure to hold the gusset shape like a canvas rug can. 
Below is a lovely fitting neckline of this cotton sheet with shoulder gussets, it has just been put on and horse has not moved.

Unfortunately it does not stay that way. Once the horse moves around or you add a top rug and the sheet settles, the gusset will open up and stay open, allowing the neckline to enlarge. This causes the front strap to slip up into the gullet and the top of the rug to slip back onto the wither causing a sore wither, even to the 

A combo is a rug with the neck rug actually sewn permanently to the rug, such as this one illustrated. This means you do not need dee attachments on the rug or attachments at the back of the neck rug to hold it in place. It works extremely well in a summer rug set.

Skye Park Summer combos are made with extra length to ensure your horses neck is covered when it has its head down grazing, and are roomy enough to allow air circulation to help alleviate mane rub.

If you pull our neck rug forward as far as you can, yes it will cover your horse's head.  Once your horse puts its head down to graze the neck rug will fall back into place and will not come back over the head on its own, but rather settle behind the ears giving maximum protection.

Skye park Rugs use only black polymesh because it is the most see through and therefore the safest colour to use.  They are available with both nose protectors in mesh or cotton and fleece on the nose and brow for extra protection for sensitive skin.

We are also able to tailor make our fly masks to protect horses with extensive white on their faces or very sensitive skin. 

We make sizes from the tiniest to the biggest with sizes from Small Mini to XXL for the big draft horses. 

Usually we recommend sizing similar to bridle choice, but if in doubt please contact us to chat about your requirements

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