My first ripped rug ... help!!

[LizH]

Bill has managed to rip a huge hole in the front of his lightweight turnout rug...and lose one of the metal clips . Anything I need to know or tips for doing a good repair job? Someone mentioned dental floss...was this serious Thankyou in anticipation of helpful NR advice

 

[sheryl]

I've never had a ripped rug since I've used electric fencing. Great stuff, in my opinion

 

[domane]

I think you can buy rug "spares" from Robinsons, although if he has really mashed up the front, the only thing I can think of is to buy one of those chest-expander pieces and see if you can cut it and adapt it and stitch it in. A sewing machine should be strong enough if you use nylon thread then you can spray the stitches with rug-proofing or I'm told a wax candle rubbed over repairs is a quick fix too.

 

[Iron Maiden]

Welcome to the wonderful (and expensive) world of rug wrecking! Firstly, does the rug still function as a rug, despite the rip? If so, perhaps you can leave it. If not, I'd stitch/patch the flap of ripped rug to the strongest available bit of remaining rug (usually a bit of binding somewhere). Leatherwork needles are good to use because they can get through the toughest binding. I you want to waterproof the repair you can use a tent repair kit. If you need a replacement clip, you can often buy one from a cobbler or nick something off an old leadrope. If you ever have a rug that's ripped beyond repair, keep it as patch material & for spare clips, buckles etc. My old horse used to destroy rugs on a regular basis, but only certain ones that I think he found uncomfortable. There were certain makes that he would always trash. Eventually I figured out the sort of rug shape & weight he liked and things improved. Perhaps each dead rug should be treated as a learning experience?!

 

[LizH]

Thankyou , I'm sort of hoping this was an unfortunate accident that will never happen again but I have a strange feeling this may not be the case...so, when I put on his brand new Masta extra deep Check Tech warm turnout rug it has a life expectancy of about 3 weeks then? Out with the needle and thread , good job I love him so much

 

[Iron Maiden]

Masta rugs were the ones he objected to the most strongly, they are good quality & affordable but in the end I gave up. One rug lasted less than 24 hours and ended up in separate pieces! It had some useful buckles & stuff though. It might be worth making sure your rug doesn't get too tight on your horse's wither/shoulder when he grazes - I think this was a problem for my old boy, and I have the same issue with my current horse. There are a couple of long-backed cobbier types at my yard who get on very well with Mastas but the ones I have bought don't seem to suit high withered, big shouldered horses so well.

 

[Little Dolphins]

Does your local tack shop do rug repair? Peeps on my yard do that and I don't think it's too expensive.. maybe I'll be finding that out for myself at some point

 

[CurlyWurlyRach]

last winetr curly destroyed her wetherbeeta and i binned it. kicking myself this year now i could use the buckles for my stable rug!!!

 

[lizzy]

Somehow, , Adam broke one of the fasteners on his Rhino. I read on the website that their metalware was guaranteed for life. I emailed them and then sent me 3 by return post. Excellent service.

 

[NoviceNic]

When Captain wrecks his rugs he is usually telling me it is too warm for that weight. I just stitch up minor rips with normal cotton. Never had a problem or leak with any repairs yet. Never chuck away any straps or buckles as they will usually come in handy for the next rug repair.

 

[LizH]

Just dragged this thread up again to say that I mended his rug beautifully,using fishing line and teeny stitches, took me ages... it was a masterpiece! So much so that when , 2 days later , he ripped another huge hole on the same side the mend held and the rug ripped He looks more like Compo every day.
Also , apparently dental floss is good for mending rugs , I didn't dream it.

 

[Iron Maiden]

I empathise, I was mending my first rug of the year on Saturday night with a glass or 2 of Cava to assist me, funnily enough it doesn't look very neat or tidy - in fact maybe I have invented a new design, Frankenstein's rug! It's already started ripping again, I have a feeling that I will be helping to keep Amigo in business this winter...