Stories of leaving rugs on

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 02:59 AM

Does anyone have any stories they'd like to share about horses who've come to grief from having its rug left on? (hood/neck rug) Or rug mishap stories in general.

Sounds like a morbid thread topic, but i think alot of people dont know the dangers...

Be it overheating, getting caught-up, stuck on trees/fences, drowning in dams..... and so on.

To add, this isnt a debate about horse rugs, (im a horse rug fan and user from way back...) I just want to hear about peoples experiences, mishaps etc... Im sure they happen all the time.... And while we're sharing, we can educate those who've been lucky enough not to have a horse come to giref, about how easily or strangly things do go wrong - things we would never think possible.

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 03:05 AM

Ok, i'll start.....

This happened in OZ not too long ago (hope its ok for me to re-tell)

There was an add in the HorseDeals mag, Many of you may have seen it?!

People put in a huge add, with a pic of thier stunning paint filly "STOLEN".

Beautiful girl, show stopper, going to be a big star.. They were devestated.

Huge write up about the circumstances, how the filly had gone missing in broad daylight etc etc.

And way some time later, they let people know, they'd found her.

A neighbour (to my knowledge) noticed something odd in the dam amongst the green algy. It was the fillies rug.

She had wandered into the dam, obviously the rug filled with water weighing this little girl down. She drowned. She was covered in green algy, she was there for so long and no-body knew.

It makes me tear up just thinking about it.

Anyway..... Just goes to show. This filly was bred and loved by an expereinced show home, and look what happened... Makes you re-think everything.

Lucy99 · 05-05-2006, 03:13 AM

I do think that is a terrible upsetting story, but NOT something that WILL happen to every rug wearing horse. There are fores and againsts for everything we do with horses or in life in general........everyone has to weigh up the pros and cons and make their own personal decision.

Unfortunately in life terrible accidents happen, and I hope that the owners don't feel too guilty (unless of course there were obvious signs of neglect, although I doubt it and I am sure this was just a horrendous accident - like any accident).

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 03:22 AM

I think you got the idea of this thread very wrong Lucy.

I never stated something will happen to all horses wearing rugs -

That story was just that, a story of what happened in that instance.

This thread a for people to share 'stories' or 'expereinces' of rug mishaps...

Of course there are pro's & con's, but thats not my intended topic discussion. Save that for another thread.

So again, this thread is intended for stories about rug mishaps, accidents and so forth, it is not intended as a DEBATE on the PRO's & CON's of rugs on horses.

Lucy99 · 05-05-2006, 03:25 AM

Sorry you're right, I must have got it wrong, I got the impression that you were against rug wearing and were trying to warn of the dangers!

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 03:29 AM

Thats ok lucy.....

No, im all for them, my babies would freeze without them... Even had some accidents of my own with rugs...

Wanted to hear others expereinces.

Hence the interest in the thread..

Lucy99 · 05-05-2006, 03:34 AM

What accidents have you had then? THe only thing my boys used to do were pull at eachothers rugs until they ripped!!!!! This winter they wintered out without rugs......due to the fact that I wasn't riding!

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 03:59 AM

hahaha, yeah i have a pony - as he's at the bottom of the food chain, he has to live without rugs cause the big girls just destroy his rugs... They bite and attack him. Poor guy. And out of all of them, he cares for his rugs the best.

Well where do i start.

That pony. He has done alot of showing as a youngster, so is well accostomed to rugs/hoods/skinny's etc. But has always been very skittish.
We lived with my sister in law for a few years, (she is horsey), one day, doing a good deed she unrugged him for me, he had a rug and seperate neck rug on, she undid the rug, leg straps first, then cheststrap, before she had a chance to undo the neck rug straps, he took off down the paddock, rug slipped around in front of him, still attached to his neck, he ran on it tripping etc/ til something gave way.
I cant remember what tore, attachments or neck rug itself.?
Either way, he was mortified, has had a major rug complex since. He shutters and ducks when you take the rug off. Poor thing.

Um, i had a big quite TB. Never had a prob with him or his rugs. One day i came out to find him standing SO patiently in the fornt yard with his hood/rug combo just hanging off him in tatters, still atached to his face (hood and throat lash section) Just hainging down in front of him, his feet on the rug so he was good and stuck. God only knows what happened, but the very unordinary TB, most would go nuts, stood so perfectly waiting for someone to rescue him.

>One other instance that comes to mind, i was driving home and passed a paddock with some horses, one was standing oddly against the fence next to the road. I got out and found he'd pulled his hood down over his face and was blinded! Luckily this horse didnt panic and just stood there for god knows how long waiting to be found. I fixed him up and off he went. Cant imagine what would have happened if he had of run screaming blindly thru the barbed wire fence he was in.

Gosh i have heaps of stories, lets see.............

Shotgun93 · 05-05-2006, 05:55 AM

Our horses generally have some sort of blanket on, they are inside at night, so they don't have much hair.

I will never buy a blanket that doesn't have two belly straps and two back leg surcingles. They might twist a little, but I have yet to have one come off. Also, all of our blankets have T-locks, which just adds in safety.

My friend's horse had a blanket on and all it had was the front closures and one belly strap. Somehow, the belly strap came undone and the blanket flipped over the horse's head, he spooked, took off running and stepped on it. He broke his neck and died instantly.

Anything with horses can be dangerous and accidents do happen. It is important to be as safe as you can, and hope that nothing does happen. That's really the best that you can do.

Barefoot · 05-05-2006, 06:00 AM

Definatly, a rug without leg straps is just insane, i wont even humour one for a minute - including the bum strap only. Has to be 2 well adjusted leg straps for me, and double surcingle if i can manage it...

Wow, a broken neck! How horrific..... I shudder to think.

05-05-2006, 02:59 AM	#1
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	Stories of leaving rugs on Does anyone have any stories they'd like to share about horses who've come to grief from having its rug left on? (hood/neck rug) Or rug mishap stories in general. Sounds like a morbid thread topic, but i think alot of people dont know the dangers... Be it overheating, getting caught-up, stuck on trees/fences, drowning in dams..... and so on. To add, this isnt a debate about horse rugs, (im a horse rug fan and user from way back...) I just want to hear about peoples experiences, mishaps etc... Im sure they happen all the time.... And while we're sharing, we can educate those who've been lucky enough not to have a horse come to giref, about how easily or strangly things do go wrong - things we would never think possible. Last edited by Barefoot; 05-05-2006 at 03:34 AM.

05-05-2006, 05:55 AM	#9
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,815 Images: 132	Our horses generally have some sort of blanket on, they are inside at night, so they don't have much hair. I will never buy a blanket that doesn't have two belly straps and two back leg surcingles. They might twist a little, but I have yet to have one come off. Also, all of our blankets have T-locks, which just adds in safety. My friend's horse had a blanket on and all it had was the front closures and one belly strap. Somehow, the belly strap came undone and the blanket flipped over the horse's head, he spooked, took off running and stepped on it. He broke his neck and died instantly. Anything with horses can be dangerous and accidents do happen. It is important to be as safe as you can, and hope that nothing does happen. That's really the best that you can do. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

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05-05-2006, 03:05 AM	#2
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	Ok, i'll start..... This happened in OZ not too long ago (hope its ok for me to re-tell) There was an add in the HorseDeals mag, Many of you may have seen it?! People put in a huge add, with a pic of thier stunning paint filly "STOLEN". Beautiful girl, show stopper, going to be a big star.. They were devestated. Huge write up about the circumstances, how the filly had gone missing in broad daylight etc etc. And way some time later, they let people know, they'd found her. A neighbour (to my knowledge) noticed something odd in the dam amongst the green algy. It was the fillies rug. She had wandered into the dam, obviously the rug filled with water weighing this little girl down. She drowned. She was covered in green algy, she was there for so long and no-body knew. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. Anyway..... Just goes to show. This filly was bred and loved by an expereinced show home, and look what happened... Makes you re-think everything.

05-05-2006, 03:13 AM	#3
Lucy99 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South of France Posts: 253 Images: 15	I do think that is a terrible upsetting story, but NOT something that WILL happen to every rug wearing horse. There are fores and againsts for everything we do with horses or in life in general........everyone has to weigh up the pros and cons and make their own personal decision. Unfortunately in life terrible accidents happen, and I hope that the owners don't feel too guilty (unless of course there were obvious signs of neglect, although I doubt it and I am sure this was just a horrendous accident - like any accident).

05-05-2006, 03:22 AM	#4
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	I think you got the idea of this thread very wrong Lucy. I never stated something will happen to all horses wearing rugs - That story was just that, a story of what happened in that instance. This thread a for people to share 'stories' or 'expereinces' of rug mishaps... Of course there are pro's & con's, but thats not my intended topic discussion. Save that for another thread. So again, this thread is intended for stories about rug mishaps, accidents and so forth, it is not intended as a DEBATE on the PRO's & CON's of rugs on horses.

05-05-2006, 03:25 AM	#5
Lucy99 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South of France Posts: 253 Images: 15	Sorry you're right, I must have got it wrong, I got the impression that you were against rug wearing and were trying to warn of the dangers!

05-05-2006, 03:29 AM	#6
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	Thats ok lucy..... No, im all for them, my babies would freeze without them... Even had some accidents of my own with rugs... Wanted to hear others expereinces. Hence the interest in the thread..

05-05-2006, 03:34 AM	#7
Lucy99 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South of France Posts: 253 Images: 15	What accidents have you had then? THe only thing my boys used to do were pull at eachothers rugs until they ripped!!!!! This winter they wintered out without rugs......due to the fact that I wasn't riding!

05-05-2006, 03:59 AM	#8
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	hahaha, yeah i have a pony - as he's at the bottom of the food chain, he has to live without rugs cause the big girls just destroy his rugs... They bite and attack him. Poor guy. And out of all of them, he cares for his rugs the best. Well where do i start. That pony. He has done alot of showing as a youngster, so is well accostomed to rugs/hoods/skinny's etc. But has always been very skittish. We lived with my sister in law for a few years, (she is horsey), one day, doing a good deed she unrugged him for me, he had a rug and seperate neck rug on, she undid the rug, leg straps first, then cheststrap, before she had a chance to undo the neck rug straps, he took off down the paddock, rug slipped around in front of him, still attached to his neck, he ran on it tripping etc/ til something gave way. I cant remember what tore, attachments or neck rug itself.? Either way, he was mortified, has had a major rug complex since. He shutters and ducks when you take the rug off. Poor thing. Um, i had a big quite TB. Never had a prob with him or his rugs. One day i came out to find him standing SO patiently in the fornt yard with his hood/rug combo just hanging off him in tatters, still atached to his face (hood and throat lash section) Just hainging down in front of him, his feet on the rug so he was good and stuck. God only knows what happened, but the very unordinary TB, most would go nuts, stood so perfectly waiting for someone to rescue him. >One other instance that comes to mind, i was driving home and passed a paddock with some horses, one was standing oddly against the fence next to the road. I got out and found he'd pulled his hood down over his face and was blinded! Luckily this horse didnt panic and just stood there for god knows how long waiting to be found. I fixed him up and off he went. Cant imagine what would have happened if he had of run screaming blindly thru the barbed wire fence he was in. Gosh i have heaps of stories, lets see.............

05-05-2006, 06:00 AM	#10
Barefoot Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brisbane AUST. Posts: 1,691 Images: 235	Definatly, a rug without leg straps is just insane, i wont even humour one for a minute - including the bum strap only. Has to be 2 well adjusted leg straps for me, and double surcingle if i can manage it... Wow, a broken neck! How horrific..... I shudder to think.