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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Mar 2012 : 3:07:15 PM
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Been reading Emmo's post and was curious about something in Zawadi's reply - the mention of 'Thermatex'. Not knowing what this is I went off to google and found it is a quite expensive cooler rug. I saw a lot of people with them at the last ride we went on last year and I wondered what they were and why so many people had them.
So, are they worth spending the extra money for? I could do with a new cooler for Raf as my favourite waffle cooler has either shrunk or Raf has grown, but don't know whether I can justify spending so much money!
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2012 : 3:30:55 PM
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| Hi Liz, Thermatex rugs are expensive, but with care they last forever (had my original one for 15 years now, still washes up like new). They also come up large - my 15.3hh purebred mare normally takes a 5'9 - 6' rug, but is fine in a 5'6" thermatex. However they are very warm, we use them when it is cold, to stop the horses stiffening up, but they can get too hot under them, especially in the box on the way home, depends on your horse. Generally I use a FAL domino cooler on Lily, next option is a fleece cooler, and then if it is cold the Thermatex - hope this helps. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Sue J
Gold Member
Wales
914 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2012 : 5:46:04 PM
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| I would say it is definitely worth investing in a Thermatex rug. I have 3 different weights which i use depending on the weather conditions. My mare is quite thin skinned and easily chills so I find it really useful to have the different weights, you can also layer them if need be and they're so light and easy to handle. |
Welshpool
Welsh/Shrops border
   
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2012 : 7:47:58 PM
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| We have two thermatex's, and would agree that they last forever, and they definitely come up a size too big. However, a couple of years ago we got a comfort zone rug and we've found that we use it a lot more than the thermatex rug, and it dries them off a lot faster. You can also buy a comfort zone neck rug, which attaches to it, and it's great for colder days and to dry their mane off if you wash it. Both types of rug machine wash very well, and always come up looking brand new. |
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Zawadi
Junior Member
Wales
32 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2012 : 6:07:10 PM
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Liz, I (like many) have a Shires copy of the original - much cheaper.
The time when you need a really warm rug like this is when the horse has to hang around and then go out and perform again, with limited opportunity to warm up fully before hard work. Vet gate holds are between 30 and 50 minutes, and horses ideally need to be able to canter straight out of the vet gate - so keeping the big muscles close to full working temperature right through the vet hold is very helpful.
I only bought one when I started doing ERs, and I very rarely use it on CRs, except of course if the weather is like last Sunday, or there is a brisk cool breeze. Normally I use an ordinary cooler rug.
It's a good purchase if you are going to do 64km or above - probably not worth it otherwise.
Chris. |
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Liz100
Silver Member
United Kingdom
370 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2012 : 9:03:26 PM
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Thanks guys for some very useful replies. We only do NCRs at the moment so probably don't need one, but I did have a look on e-bay and found a nearly new comfort zone rug which I bid on and won. I really like the idea of a neck rug for after a mane wash too.
Well I'm glad I know what a Thermatex rug is now! I can put it on my (lengthy) wish list ... |
East Yorkshire |
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Cooling Rugs
