Friday, February 14, 2014

Economical And Versatile Amigo Horse Rugs

By Jerri Perry


Amigo horse rugs (blankets) are made by a company called Horseware of Ireland. This world-renowned purveyor of equine equipment revolutionized cold weather protection for horses. Their initial design, the Rambo blanket, set a new standard for the industry, The Amigo line is their excellent, budget-friendly option for those with more limited means.

Wild herds are extremely well adapted to weather changes. They grow shaggy coats of long hair in winter and can survive in cold that would kill cows or mules. They shed all that long hair in spring and go through the summer glossy and sleek, able to keep cool on hot days and muggy nights. They move around freely when temperatures drop, keeping their blood moving to warm themselves, and seek out shady spots when it's hot.

However, people often disrupt this natural process. Many confine horses to stalls, clip them to remove shaggy coats, and move them from warm barns to chilly fields or from hot pastures to barns with fans in the aisles. An animal with restricted movement might need extra protection to stay warm, and one turned out into a paddock without shade might need a sheet to keep off sun and flies.

Layers of material were used: a thin cotton layer first, then a warmer woolen layer, and then a waterproof layer over all if the animal was to be turned out of doors. Early one-piece, insulated blankets usually leaked, especially after a few rains or after a washing, and they also were hard to keep in place. Horses developed rubbed or sore shoulders and sometimes got tangled in the straps meant to keep the blanket in place.

Horseware was founded with an aim to create a truly protective, secure, and safe turn-out rug. Once the company released its Rambo rug, competitors had no choice but to follow their lead. This new design had chest straps and belly straps to keep the blanket in place, was truly waterproof, and 'breathed'. This last quality was all-important when animals wore the same rug on day and night.

Their turn-out blankets mean that an owner can use one rug for day and night wear, without worrying that the horse will be too hot in the day or too cold at night. The horse stays warm and dry underneath the covering. The rug is cut to allow free movement of the neck and shoulders while giving complete protection to the back and body. Straps keep the rug in place without tangling a foot or leg.

A blanket must allow horses to graze, run, or roll but still stay in place. It must not bind the neck or shoulders. Its straps need to be adjustable (since one size can never fit all). Straps must be loose enough to not bother the horse but tight enough not to let a foot or leg get under them. It's not easy to do all this, but Horseware has done it.

Amigo horse rugs give complete satisfaction and seasons of wear at an affordable price. Many sizes and colors complete this line of rugs, sheets, hoods, and other gear for horses.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment