Old type rugging who remembers?

tikkitti

tikkitti

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Mar 8, 2015
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Who remembers old New Zealand canvas rugs? Then self righting rugs that were deep with no surcingles? Or jute rugs and if your horse was fully clipped a wool blanket under it with it taken up the neck then folded back at the withers and a surcingle over it to try and keep it in place. However you'd often be greeted with your under rug on the stable floor lol. We were talking about this the other day as I found a brand new New Zealand in my tack room that I'm going to use on a pony this year as a spare. I still have jute rugs I use as under rugs however they aren't the older version without surcingles. x
 
Yep, I used the canvas NZ rugs all the time in (surprise surprise) NZ, they're still pretty "normal" over there... And highly preferable to synthetic rugs IMO! They are seriously waterproof, fantastic for horses that live out.
 
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That's what I'm going to use this one for, for a pony that lives out when the weathers really turns x
 
My daughter is forever seeing different rugs she likes. When I was a teen it was green New Zealand's then when self righting rugs came out for a short while they came in pink or blue and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world when my mum bought my pony a pink one, they were still a canvas type material. I have so many rugs now, I actually miss the simpler days. x
 
I remember them, they're is a company that just re released the old canvas nz turnout, but in white of all colours :eek: I was going to buy one for each nag until I realised that was the only colour available, I loved those old rugs, it would be ideal for my two when it's really wet and nasty.
 
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Oh I do not miss those, particularly the old NZs that weighed a ton when wet! I remember helping out at stables when I was a kid & we had to work in teams to change rugs on the big hunters because we weren't strong enough to lift those rugs onto 16.2s - health & safety would have fits nowadays because we'd have at least one kid each side, one to push & one to pull, & stand on a step to get it up high enough lol. Nowadays I jear kids older than we were whining that they can't put a rug on a 13.2 because it's too big & heavy . . .
 
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Does anyone have a photo of a NZ rug? As I think that the secondhand turnout rug I just bought for a fiver might be one as it is canvas on the outside and really heavy! But it feels lovely and warm.
 
Taffie said:
Does anyone have a photo of a NZ rug? As I think that the secondhand turnout rug I just bought for a fiver might be one as it is canvas on the outside and really heavy! But it feels lovely and warm.
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Like this https://jhhe.com/product/new-zealand-rug/ really thick, heavy canvas on the outside with a wool blanket sewn to the inside. An eyelet either side of the front opening/chest which you threaded a leather strap through to buckle up and rear leg straps :) they weren't that price last time I brought one though, I think I paid about 30 quid 20 some years ago. I remember having one that stayed in horse shape even when you took it off..which made drying it much easier :p
 
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carthorse said:
Oh I do not miss those, particularly the old NZs that weighed a ton when wet! I remember helping out at stables when I was a kid & we had to work in teams to change rugs on the big hunters because we weren't strong enough to lift those rugs onto 16.2s - health & safety would have fits nowadays because we'd have at least one kid each side, one to push & one to pull, & stand on a step to get it up high enough lol. Nowadays I jear kids older than we were whining that they can't put a rug on a 13.2 because it's too big & heavy . . .
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Yes the weight of them is the real downside! I used to have to stand on something to get them on the big horses! I am only 5'5'' but synthetic rugs are fine because you can fold them and throw them over, NZ rugs don't fold!
 
Yes blue or green.
I thought they had started making them again. Downside is the weight. They must restrict the house when soaked?
 
@Jessey wow they are expensive! The one I just bought is actually patched all over with canvas, but having looked more closely I see it may have originally been heavy ripstop waterproof fabric. Still, for a fiver it’s brilliant ;)
 
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Remember them well - they were fantastic for what they were back in the day - but yes the weight when wet was a real downside to them. I think they are making them again now, in fact I was donated 4 brand new canvas rugs from someone in Germany, sadly I had to reduce them to a fraction of their real value as people just weren't interested in them. Understandable really though with all the comfort and ease of modern rugs and materials.
 
Omg I hated them. Heavy nasty things. I came in to horses later in life twenty years ago now and the new posh rugs were just coming out.

I love the news ones lighter easier to put on and take off dry faster and fit better. I am glad things have moved on
 
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I don't really remember them, I had heard of them but I didn't become a horse owner until I was 35 and with J came two modern rugs.
 
Had the new Zealand rugs on my ponies as a kid. Remember them being very heavy and took ages to dry. My last horse came with an old jute stable rug. He looked like little orphan Annie when he came off the trailer. I think I left it at my last yard.
 
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