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Weatherbeeta Landa Freestyle Standard Rug
by DD265
I've worked for a saddlery for most of the last 10 years, and I've always had Weatherbeeta Rugs.
The Landa Freestyle is one of my favourites. At one point it was available in three weights: no fill, 100g and 220g, but I believe that the 100g rug is discontinued and we won't be seeing it again.
I have had my current ... Landa medium for 3 years (only got this one because my horse gained muscle and the old one was a bit tight!) and had it washed about once a year. So far, it hasn't needed to be reproofed which is great when my friends are all paying £12 a pop to get their rugs washed and mine works out at a fiver!
My welsh cob is only 14.2hh but he takes a 6'6" rug - chunky lad with a bit front end and he's very deep. Typical cob I guess. I like the Freestyle rugs because although they aren't overly huge in the neck opening, they are roomy around the chest and shoulders. The placement of the shoulder darts help this.
You can buy the rug either without a neck (but with 3 d rings to attach one) or in a full neck version known as a Landa Freestyle Combo. Weatherbeeta used to make a high neck version which you can still pick up second hand on places like eBay. The only thing I would say is that if you want a neck cover to match your rug, you might be disappointed. In autumn/winter 2011, Weatherbeeta seemed to make hardly any neck covers and they were sold out by Christmas. I think they believe that we all want no neck cover or a fixed neck cover - that isn't the case at all!
The good news is that Saxon and Masta neck covers can attach to this rug as long as they have clips or straps for 3 D rings. Mark Todd, JHL and Amigo neck covers aren't compatible unfortunately, but if you get desperate and can't find a Weatherbeeta one, at least you have options.
The other great feature of a Freestyle rug is the tail flap; it is a lot larger than on a "standard" rug and offers more protection from the elements. I've heard a few people say that it can blow up but never had that problem myself. You can also take the leg straps off if you want, whether to replace them or use a fillet string instead.
Other things.. no issue with the rug slipping at all, fastenings are still easy to do even in winter when you're cold, wet and muddy and your hands don't want to work! The chest is satin lined to help reduce rubbing (not a problem I've ever had) and there's a fleece wither pad too for comfort.
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Weatherbeeta Airflow Combo Fly Sheet
by honeybabe
Having two Cobs one being black and the other white , i do tend to find for some reason the flies always prefer to land on my black horse. There must be some sort of scientific answer to this but i am no scientist.
Anyway having tried all fly rugs and hugley expensive fly sprays i finally bought my two a Combo fly sheet.
I have ... been reasonably pleased my purchases and if memory serves me right i paid about £49.00 for them they are made from a soft polyester mesh with a panel under the belly which can be adjusted and can be completely removed it has a generous tail flap and to stop shoulder rubbing it has nylon lined shoulders.
At the back end there are two straps to cross through the back legs to stop the rug from slipping to the side, we found this out as my husband had only put one strap across for a quick way to rug up, the following morning poor Bertie had the entire rug twisted upside down.
I would say that it does have a detatchable neck which is great as long as your horse has a really long neck, mine do not so very often the look like they are wearing hoodies.
As far as fly bites go this rug is brilliant as it has all areas covered.
Well worth the money, neither rugs have shown much wear and tear other than a hole that Bess inflicted on Bertie whilst biting him. HORSES !!!
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Masta Regal Standard Light Weight Stable Rug
by PerfectPeaches
Since acquiring a new horse, Petra, I haven't really had to buy her anything other than feed and a few new brushes (you shouldn't use the same brushes on every horse) but one thing she did need was a stable rug for the warmer months as all of hers were either too heavy or they had an attached neck which would be far too warm for her. So ... not wanting to pay a lot for something she would wear for a short time the search was on.
After visiting various websites and my local tack shops I ended up buying a rug off the internet which I had seen in store, they just hadn't had the size I needed (Petra is a big girl and requires a 7'3 rug!). The rug I purchased was the Masta Regal Standard Lightweight Stable Rug. I don't normally buy Masta rugs but they seem to fit her well and as I got it at such a good price I couldn't turn it down.
Masta are a major manufacturer when it comes to horse rugs as well as other equestrian equipment in the UK. They are an incredibly reputable brand and produce well made items. The Regal stable rug comes in several weights not just a lightweight but also a heavyweight. Basically the weight of a rug is determined by the amount of polyfill it has. I opted for the lightweight as it's suitable for the warmer months of spring/ summer so ideal for this time of year.
The Regal stable rug is made from polyester and the outer shell of the rug is 420 denier which basically means that higher the denier then tougher the rug. Due to being a stable rug the outer shell of the rug is soft and smooth and not toughened therefore it won't withstand rips or tears so you do have to be careful when storing the rug that it isn't placed anywhere near nails etc. The rug is twin channel quilted which gives a nice effect to the rug; it also makes it look very similar to a sleeping bag!
The rug has a lightweight fill of 170g of polyfill so therefore incredibly light and even though I have such a large rug it is still light and easy to put on her or carry around. The rug is lined with soft polyester which helps keep the coat soft and clean and there is also an anti-rub satin lining in the chest area of the rug which although says anti-rub it will still rub slightly especially if you have an ill-fitting rug. As you can see from the picture the rug features a slightly extended neck which helps reduce wither pressure and increase warmth ideal for Petra as she is currently going out her winter clip and therefore her coat is shorter compared to other horses. Inside the extended neck there is a fleece wither pad which apart from providing comfort to the horse it also helps reduce rubbing to the mane and withers.
The rug has an extra deep pattern and will therefore be deeper on a horse than most stable rugs but this helps keep in the warmth whilst the horse is in the stable. Ideal as they spend a lot of time standing still and not moving around. The rug features two large shoulder gussets at the front of the rug, despite not moving around much in the stable the gussets will allow the horse to move freely without restriction should they choose to move around. The rug also features a tail flap which can be unusual for a stable rug as the tail flap is generally meant to protect the horse from the harsh elements but inside the stable a horse is protected but Masta have put one on the Regal rug which is perfectly fine by me and it is exactly the same material/ thickness as the rug itself.
Most rugs have standard fastenings and this is no different. There are two front buckles at the front which are adjustable. For wide or deep chested horses you can get a buckle expander which is a separate item which can be used when the normal buckles are not adjustable enough. There are two adjustable surcingles at the one of the rug which cross under the horse's belly and fasten to the rug on the other side. The surcingles help keep the rug in place and secure on the horse. There is a fillet string at the back of the rug which fastens at the back of the rug and goes loosely under the horse's tail - this can be removed should you not want to use it. The fillet string helps to keep the rug in place although I don't use them as on such big rugs they have no real effect.
Masta rugs don't normally fit my other horses too well for one reason or another but on Petra they do the job just fine. The Regal stable rug is lovely and deep on her which is great as because she is so big (17.2hh) rugs don't normally come very deep on her but the Regal is deep enough to keep her warm. She has a 7ft3 rug and it fits her nicely although because of the extended neck it does gape slightly and is a bit too loose but this is because she doesn't have a lot of muscle in her neck at the moment.
All the fastenings are easily adjusted and are nicely colour coded with the rug. I opted for the shade 'aubergine' and it is a past season colour hence the price I paid but that's perfectly fine with me. The rug keeps her warm and come the morning she is nice and toasty without being too hot or sweaty which is ideal as although she has an indoor stable there is a draft and it is nice to have her warm.
I really can't complain about this stable rug as it does exactly what I want it to do. She is warm, dry and comfortable so I can't moan! Definitely something worth looking at if you require a lightweight stable rug for this time of year. Even better if you find it in a past season colour as they are sometimes cheaper!
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Useful Info
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Brand: Masta
Availability: Online or in store - Masta stockists
Sizes: 4ft6 to 7ft3
Colours: red/navy and graphite (spring/summer 11 colours)
Price: RRP £60.99 (I paid £29.99 for mine)
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