UK Horse Rugs - Horse Rug Extenders

Is your horse's rug a bit small this year? Well, you are not alone! Many people find that their horse has, shall we say, changed shape over the summer, and that their horse rug is a bit small when the time comes to put it back on! If you find yourself in this position, there is a cheaper alternative to the costly option of buying a new rug. And the answer is a horse rug extender.

Horse rug extenders act to extend the rug at the front by sitting in between the clips or straps where the rug does up at the chest, thereby extending it. This can extend the rug by upto 12 inches if needs be! You can find horse rug expanders with clips or buckles, depending on the type of rug that you are looking to extend.

Do be aware that an ill fitting horse rug can cause real problems for your horse or pony. It can restrict movement at the shoulder, giving rise to, potentially, to back problems in the longer term. More likely will be bald patches on the shoulder, which can lead to sores and, possibly, infection. These may well be the first signs of an ill fitting rug so do watch out for them.

A good quality horse rug, such as a Rambo, will last a long time if looked after. Each year it will be advisable to re-proof and repair them, as required, and then as and when your horse changes shape, they can be extended using a horse rug extender too. That said, you will be less likely to need to a rug extender if you are using a rug with gussets at the shoulder, such as a Weatherbeeta.

If you think that your horse rug may be a bit on the tight side this year, try a horse rug extender before investing in a new rug. Particularly if your rug is a good quality one that is in a reasonable state of repair. You will find a couple of examples below that are currently on offer on eBay. There are some real bargains to be had!