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horse rug tail bags

Horse Rug Tail Bags

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Horse Rug Tail Bags

What are Horse Rug Tail Bags? They are one of those essential items for horse owners who are planning to transport or put their horse is a presentation class or show.

Horse rug tail bags keep your horse’s tail neatly tied up and protected. Using these means preventing the hair from getting tangled or messy and also protects the horse from pests. Some times, they come as standard when you purchase a horse rug, like one of our combos.

Sometimes though, you want to add some creativity to your horse’s look. Having a colourful and decorative tail bags can add some pizzazz. That’s why if you are looking for a personal tail bag creation, head on over to our friends at Tail Bag Creations. They have two types of tail bags, ones you can plait in and also regular tie-in ones.

Why Use A Tail Bag?

Sun, manure, rain and mud are the main causes of dry, brittle and stained tail hair. Tail bags shield your horse’s tail from the outside elements in their stable or paddock. Simply braid the hair, insert it into the bag, and tie below the tailbone. Perfect for quick or overnight protection. It is also important to note that tail bags should not be a permanent accessory to your horse’s tail. You also need to make sure the tail is clean, thoroughly brushed out, and completely dry when you braid it up.

 

long lasting horse rug wrecker

Have A Horse Rug Wrecker – Try Our Bush Basher!

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Have A Horse Rug Wrecker – Try Our Bush Basher!

Have you got a Horse Rug Wrecker?? These are the horses who have a rug on and overnight, the rug ends up with holes, rips or on the ground. This is a source of frustration for horse owners and can cost a lot of money over time. Well, Bang For Your Buck Horsegear has the answer in our hardy Bush Basher Horse Rug. Designed for horse rug wreckers everywhere!

INTRODUCING the BUSH BASHER!

Exclusive to Bang For Your Buck Horsegear

This rug is one of our latest designs now available for purchase!

This rug was designed with a friend’s horse in mind. You may have seen him in some of our videos, Maverick. Maverick is who we refer to as the World Champion Horse Rug Wrecker of Australia and he most definitely lives up to that title!

He used to destroy a rug (whether it be a $150 rug or a $30 rug) within a few days on the fences and trees in his paddock. With this design, he was able to get months of wear out of one rug!

How Is This Rug So Good?

We started with the highest quality UV Resistant PVC Mesh Fabric for the basis of this combo. Now, PVC mesh is tough as old boots in terms of rips but in most cases, this tough fabric will fail at the centre seam of the rug first, which is why we’ve eliminated the weakness and removed the centre seam. We’ve added rump darts and belly bands so you have a rug that doesn’t move on the horse but will last!

We have also added a light Natural Fiber Canvas paneling to the shoulder and neck. This paneling essentially doubles the life of the in the ‘high damage’ areas. Being a natural fibre cotton canvas the panels allow for breath-ability whilst seriously beefing up the durability of this rug!

You will not find anything like this in Australia, other than right here at BFYB!

  •  UV Resistant PVC mesh with Cotton Canvas Panels
  •  UV Resistant Marine Grade Stabilized threads used
  •  Heavy-duty buckles and clips
  •  Bar-Tac Reinforced fittings, hoods and gussets
  •  Extended wither fleece protection
  •  Tent Tail Flap
  •  Dual chest straps
  •  Crossover surcingles
  •  Removable leg straps
  •  Shoulder gussets
  •  Satin Lining in shoulder and mane
  •  Generous size and Drop (No Mini Skirts!)

At only $99, these rugs are worth their weight in gold. Better yet, you can even use Afterpay if you’re financially recovering from the loss of another rug recently. Give it a try today!!

horse rugs on hotblooded horses

Cleaning your horse rugs.

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horse rugs

You don’t wear dirty clothes, and neither should your precious horse. Cleaning your horse rugs is vital if you want to prolong the life of your rug and get a good moneys worth of time out of it. In saying that, cleaning your horse rugs is not as easy as cleaning your t-shirt. And specific rugs can require different ways of cleaning. In this article we will talk about 3 different ways of cleaning and what rugs require which method.

Professional Service

Professional rug cleaners can be quite expensive, but they are well worth it as they also will do repairs on your rugs if need be. Also, your horse can gather up a lot of dirt which could be an overwhelming job for just yourself. These guys do know what they are doing so you could get them to come out just so you can watch and learn for yourself in future. Another reason to hire professionals is if you just simply do not have the time on your hands.

Washing Machine

For starters, only smaller and lighter horse rugs can be machine washable and even then some are still not. But, even if it is machine washable make sure there isn’t a large accumulation of dirt as it could strain and clog your machine. If you are going to be using this method, please follow the instructions as there are a few different requirements depending on your type of rug.

By Hand

Now, this can be a bit of a workout, but a very rewarding one for you and your horse. Remove all straps from the rugs and place in a washable bag like a pillow case or washing bag. Add detergent or something similar to get rid of any odours. Lay your rugs over something like a fence to make it easy access for cleaning. Get your hard-bristled brush and scrub off any dirt or debris on the rug. Now, flip it over and do the same on the inside removing any sweat and hair left behind. There is always some.

Get some non-bio soap it reduces risk or irritating sensitive skin. Put some in a tub or big bucket with some hot water and mix together. Then simply dunk your rug under using a broom or mop, something stick-like. Push it around making sure you have covered the whole horse rugs in soapy water, then let it soak.

Take the rug out and lay it on a clean floor spread out. using your brush again, scrub out any stubborn stains still left on. You will then rinse your nice clean rug off with some cold water and hang it out to dry. Never store or use your rug before it is completely dry.

Now you it’s time to get those horse rugs clean and keep your beautiful animal happy. Also, if you have any tips or tricks on how to make any of these processes any easier, please let us know by commenting on our Facebook page. Bang for your buck has a wide variety of horse rugs available for purchase. See for yourself on our online store.

tack horse rug storage

Horse Rugs Storage Ideas

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Horse Rug Storage Ideas

With horse ownership, it is inevitable that you will end up collecting a lot of gear along the way. Halters, brushes, bandages, bridles, saddles, other accessories. The list goes on. Most things you buy, you probably don’t need but are good to have on hand. Some items are easy to store, but others can be bulky and difficult. Horse rugs definitely fall under the latter. Some horses have a small set, consisting of one winter and maybe one light summer rug. Other horses can have entire wardrobes of rugs to suit different conditions and scenarios.

One of the biggest issues it how to store all these rugs? They aren’t the cheapest horse item, so you don’t want them getting ruined by horses standing on them, shed vermin such as rats and mice, or your local friendly spider clan building their home inside them!

Today we are going to outline a few ideas to help store your rugs to keep them protected, dry and insect free!

4 Out-of-the-box Horse Rug Storage Options

  • Vacuum Storage Bags – these are a fantastic option, you can fold your horse rug/s inside it, seal it shut and then suck all the air out of the bag, leaving it flat. It can then be stored on a shelf or cupboard until you need them again. This is best for keeping out-of-season rugs in good condition over the months they aren’t needed. These can be purchased at stores like Kmart or Big W.
  • Old Chest Freezer – have a big old chest freezer that no longer works? Clean it and use as horse rug storage! It allows for easy access via the lid, and when shut, will keep out spiders, mice and other animals who might like to mark their territory on it. Gumtree or Ebay are great options to find one of these.
  • Plastic Storage Container – ideal for thin or small rugs. Snap-on lids keep the bugs out, they stack on top of each other and can even have wheels for easy transport. Once again, Kmart or Big W can help with these.
  • Feed drums with lids – once the contents have been used, feed drums are great for storing rugs for similar reasons as a storage container. Your local feed store might even have empty drums that they are only too happy to offload for free. It never hurts to ask.

We hope these 4 out of the box horse rug storage options have been helpful to you. As always, any questions about our horse rugs can be asked via our contact page or our Facebook page. Have a fantastic rest of the week!

 

 

cotton rug, cotton horse rugs

What Size Horse Rug To Buy?

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What Size Horse Rugs To Buy?

 Horse rugs come in a wide variety of sizes to keep even the largest of horses warm and protected. Here at Bang For Your Buck Horsegear, our horse rugs range in sizes to fit a Shetland to a Clydesdale! They are available with or without hoods and attached neck rugs. The variety of fabrics include light mesh for those warmer days where fly protection is required, to heavy canvas or doona rugs for those bitterly cold winters. Need a horse rug? Bang For Your Buck Horsegear has you (well, your horse!) covered!

When buying online, it can be tricky to pick the right size for your horse. Not only does height vary, but their build, shoulder width, and chest depth can be varying. The best way to work out what size rug you need, is to measure your horse and compare it to the measurement of the rug you want to purchase.

Below we have listed the steps to take to gauge what size horse rug you need.

How To Measure Your Horse:

  1. Place the edge of your tape measure in the centre of your horse’s chest while they’re standing square and still
  2. Run the tape measure along the horse’s side from the widest point of the shoulder, along the horse’s side to the widest part of their rump.
  3. Where the tail hair starts is the endpoint for your measurement
  4. If using a tape measure, look at the number in inches or centimeters. If using string, measure the length of the string to get your required length.
  5. Check your rugs sizing guide to see what size is recommended

While this is a great way to get an idea of the size, nothing is foolproof and there still may be discrepancies. If your horse’s measurement comes out in-between sizes, it is usually better to go a size up.

We have included a quick Youtube video for those who prefer to watch exactly what the process is, and we thank the contributor for making this video.

 

We are always getting new rugs in so if you ever have any questions about our rugs, you can always contact us by our contact form or via Facebook message. Have a great week, everybody!

 

travel with horse

Travel With Your Horse

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Travel With Your Horse – What To Bring?

travel with horse When you go on a long car trip, usually the first thing you think about is what to take with you to make the trip more comfortable. Food, a book, maybe a blanket. The same applies to your horse, especially since they will be standing for fairly long periods of time. We have come up with a small list of things to consider when transporting your horse. Some of these will be included when you transport your horse with a horse transport company, but we have added them for when you might be doing a trip that is not as long a distance.

Light, breathable rug – gives protection from draughts. A heavier rug should be used if weather is colder. At Bang For Your Buck, we have a wide range of horse rugs that will keep wind chill off your horse, while being breathable and providing protection. You can find the range here.
Protective front and back travel boots – horse’s legs are very delicate and prone to knocks, cuts and bruising.
Padded halter – Behind the ears and around the bridge of the nose is prone to rubbing, a padded halter will help cushion the skin from the horse moving their head around to take in their surroundings
First Aid Kit – you should always have a stocked first aid kit wherever your horse may go. It is better to have it and not need it, than the other way around! Horses can be very clumsy at times.
Hay Net – keeps the horse occupied and his digestive tract working while travelling. Feeding grain is not the best idea due to the possible risk of choking and even travel sickness.
Water storage and buckets – you may not always be able to stop where fresh water is. Take clean buckets and a storage container of fresh water, just in case. Never keep full buckets of water on the float while travelling, as it can spill and make the floor surface slippery for your horse. Always offer water while stopped for a break or once you have reached your destination.
Torch & batteries – things always seem to go askew after dark, so a torch and fresh batteries are essential
Hopefully, this has given you some good ideas on what to include when you next go on a trip with your horse. We will have a follow up next week or preparing your vehicle for towing a horse float, so stay tuned!
Horse needs horse rugs

Protect Your Horse From Flies

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Protect Your Horse From Flies

How CAN you protect your horse from flies? It’s that time of year again. The warm weather and wet season bring an influx of the bane of a horse’s existence! For whatever reason, flies and mosquitos seem particularly attracted to a horse’s legs and face. They can cause anxiety and fidgeting in horses on the ground and while being ridden, and in some cases cause illness and injury through blood loss and itching.

Today we will outline some steps you can take to minimize flies, mosquitoes and other biting insects around your paddock and stable, and causing misery to your horse.

Fly Prevention Tips

  1. Clear Away Manure – flies LOVE horse poo! One of the best ways you can help discourage flies is to regularly clear out paddocks and stables of manure. It is also a great idea to have your manure pile as far away as practically possible from where your horse spends most of its time.
  2. Put On A Mesh Horse Rug – putting a light mesh horse rug on your horse is a great way to protect them just about everywhere except their legs! While some might think that horses would get too hot with a rug on, the fabrics created today can actually reflect heat, keeping them cooler. The added protection from biting insects is also a plus! You can find a wide range of summer rugs on our site HERE.
  3. Repellents – applying fly repellant regularly to your horses’ legs will provide temporary relief. There are many varieties to choose from, with varying prices. Rotating different types of repellents will help you find the one most effective for your situation.
  4.  Keep Water Fresh & Aerated – ensuring your horse has plenty of clean, fresh water is a given. It should be cleaned out and/or topped up each day. Make sure any empty containers that get filled with water don’t sit for too long and go stagnant. This is the ideal breeding ground for insects. By removing these, you’re giving the insects less opportunity to breed.
  5. Use A Flyveil – if flies are bad while you’re out riding, consider putting a fly hood or veil on your horse’s head to give them relief. If your horse has never had one on before, then proceed with caution and acclimatise them to one. It could make training and trail riding a much nicer experience for both of you!

In Summary

Flies and mosquitoes can make our lives a misery, but at the same time, they can provide a valuable service to nature. We hope these tips have helped give you ideas on how to protect your horse from flies this summer. If you ever have any questions about our range of horse rugs, don’t hesitate to contact us.