Rhino Wug: yay or nay?

[Posting Trot]

Anybody have a Rhino Wug (the newer plaid version)? Like it? Hate it?

I had a Rambo Wug a few years ago, and found it rather narrow at the neck, because of both the high neck and the non-adjustable closure; is this a problem with the Rhino?

Thanks for your input.

[arbeegirl]

I find mine to be the same fit as the Rambo. But my horses are two very different shapes...one Tb and one warmblood. The Rambo Wug is a little tighter on my warmblood but all styles of Rambos are tight on him. I do find that the Wug gave him a little more room than the regular neck type so I still use it. Rambos fit my Tb good (the stable blanket).

Tb got his first and since he is easy on his blankets and his friends don't eat them, so he got the Rhino. But I bought the Rambo for my younger guy. Both are holding up just fine.

The front closer on the Rhino is the same as the Rambo. The fabic is different. I think that is the only difference.

[2LaZ2race]

I have the Dover Special addition blue one (but its the same design as the plaid) and I LOVE it. Everything else, even with gussets with rub my horse raw and this one fits him perfectly. It also has held up when other's have shredded.

[IsolaBella09]

Trainer just bought one and loves it. So does her mare. :lol:

[SquishTheBunny]

I have a rambo wug (same cut as rhino), LOVE it. I really do believe for most TB's or smaller WB's the rambo cut is the way to go. No rubs at all!!

[kipster]

Rhino's are manufactured in China. I prefer to minimize the amount of purchases that originate in China. I have had Rambo's for years and the quality is excellent.

[Barnfairy]

I have a couple Rhino wugs, one for each of my mares.

They're okay.

I should probably be a little happier about them than I come across. After all, mine are now going on ten years old, have held up beautifully, and don't rub my horses.

Here's what I don't like about the wug design: they fit best while the horse is standing with his head up. While the horse's head is down grazing/eating --which mine do pretty much every free moment they have, and that makes for about 90% of the time-- there is a weird shruggy gap up at the top, allowing cold air & precipitation to get in at the shoulders.

I love the whole Horseware blanket line, but no more wugs for me. I have since purchased several Rambos & Amigos with the detachable hoods, and I am very happy with them.

[vxf111]

I have many old Rhino Wugs and they have held up beautifully. Many boarders at my barn have the new plaid Rhinos and I'll tell you what, I don't think the fabric is NEARLY as durable. I think maybe it has something to do with the different fibers for the colors in the plaid? Out of 4 of these, 3 have ripped and they all ripped in straight lines DOWN the plaid. Not in jagged or random ways, like you'd expect if they got caught on something or were bitten. I really think there's something about the fabric that makes it more prone to tear. So, for now, I am steering clear.

[joyful]

If Rhino's are made in China, why wouldn't the Rambos also be made there?

[horsepoor]

If Rhino's are made in China, why wouldn't the Rambos also be made there?

They are! Look at any new Horseware blankets, whether Rambo, Rhino, or Amigo, and all say Made in China. The old ones that were made in Ireland (I still have some) were much better, in my experience.

[LaBonnieBon]

I have 2 of the newer plaid ones.... one wug and one regular neck. I have horses that tend to be rather huge in the chest.... I like the fit of the regular neck the best, but I got 1 size up in the wug and it is working out great.

I think they are the next best thing to a Rambo.... and obviously less expensive!

[decorum]

I have the Rhino Wug sheet, I love it! I did have to get a size bigger than the sizing chart said, I stupidly believed them when it said to subtract something like 4 inches. I had to send it back and get my horse's usual size 81 that he always wears.

I don't use either strap under the tail, he just poops on the one and the sheet goes right back into place even with my donkey pulling on it while they play.

[Loves to ride]

I have 2, older green plaid ones, medium weight that I and my horses love!

They fit both my Appaloosa and my TB. The Appaloosa, an older guy, in particular loves it as the tail flap and higher neck keep him toasty on those cold, windy, winter days in New England.

They have held up great and when cleaned, look new.

My favorite blankets are the Bucas, but $$$ keeps me in Rhinos which have been great.

Caveat, my horses are pretty easy on there blankets so I can't comment from that perspective.

[Kim]

I have two Rhino Wugs and love them!! In fact, I've had the first one for about 5 years and it is still in great shape and waterproof, but I just bought another one (the Dover blue one) so I'd have a spare.

[theoldgreymare]

Just bought two new Wugs.....so far so good. If they last through my naughty ponies it will be a true testament to their durability.

[bambam]

I have a Rhino wug and 2 Rambo wugs and they fit exactly the same (at least to me my eye). I have not noticed that the neck is particularly narrow but my horse is not particularly wide (just tall and long) but I also have an 84 so maybe the neck gets wider as the size goes up?
I also think the Rhino is a piece of crap and I will never buy another one again (I have the green check which is the version that immediately preceded the current plaid although I do not think there is a difference in quality) and when I was chatting with the person who does my blanket repairs she agreed about the quality of the Rhinos based on the repairs she has to do. But there are some who think the rhinos are great.

[hollyhorse2000]

I did not feel my Rhinos were as heavy or as well made as my Rambos. This year I replaced both my Rhino sheet and medium with Rambos. I won't buy Rhinos again.

I felt the fit was the same, though . . .

[pinkdiamondracing]

I have three Rhinos, and I will never own another blanket!!!
I am a convert, and I managed to convert my farrier, who is the most cynical man I have ever met when it comes to blankets.
He aked me how I like mine, and when I told him I was totally satisfied with how my old OTTB has wintered (he is 24 this year) the last three years since he got his Rhino-- he bought three himself. He, like me, says he will NEVER buy any other brand!!!!
He was a die-hard Weatherbeeta man until I turned him
Rhino!!!

[HiddenStars826]

I've had better luck with my State Line blanket.

I have a Rhino Wug Lit (brown plaid). It survived about 8 hours with the herd before it had holes. This summer I found a rip on the inside near a seam. About 4 weeks ago I went to put it on and the velcro at the chest is starting to come apart from the blanket. Not happy, considering he's worn the blanket for a total of 6 months and its barely a year old. I contacted customer service about 3 weeks ago, and when I told the woman about the rips on the outside her suggestion was "you should put adhesive glue on it". I would have freaked at her if I wasn't so shocked by the suggestion. I pay over $150 for a sheet, its under a year old (at the time) and the customer service rep tells me there is nothing she can do about the chest closure or rips, but I should use adhesive glue. She also took my information saying she was going to research my questions and never got back to me. I was NOT a happy camper. I spoke to someone earlier this week when I called again, who was helpful. I need to take pics and send them to her at her request, and was told she'd talk to the production specialists and see what she could find out.
My friend's pony is on his 3rd Rhino Pony wug in a year. The first one he had had for a few years, no problems, and it was sent to Dover for washing and they lost it. My friend got another one for him, same blanket, and within 2 hours one of the horses in the other paddock had shredded it. Dover took it back, gave her another Rhino wug, and that one had a tear in the neck piece almost immediately. If the horses in the other paddock hadn't been moved, I'm sure it would have more rips. I've known a few others who had the Rhino wugs for their ponies with no issues, but none were recent purchases.

I like the fit on my guy, the wug neck works okay for him, serves the purpose mostly. It has a bit of a gap, but its better than his other blankets because it does go further up on his neck and keeps the rain out mostly. On my friend's pony though, the fit is just awkward. The blanket constantly shifts to one side, and it just doesn't "look" right on him. I wouldn't buy another Rhino, too much money to spend for the experiences I've had with the product and customer service.

[Posting Trot]

Thanks for all the input. I had seen a sale on them at Adams Horse Supply and was tempted. But now I think I'll pass and maybe get something else.

[dwblover]

I LOVE my plaid Rhino Wug!!! I did however go a size up because my warmblood has high withers and a broad chest. It is perfect that way.:)

[SBrentnall]

I also bought one of the newer brown plaid ones. It lasted one winter, then started to develop rips all over it. Like someone else said, they're straight lines rather than "horse-play" scars. It's as though the frabic just started to give way.

I'll never buy another Rhino. I've bought Weatherbeetas in the past and hey were great. This time I bought a Schneider's.

[spotmenow]

They are! Look at any new Horseware blankets, whether Rambo, Rhino, or Amigo, and all say Made in China. The old ones that were made in Ireland (I still have some) were much better, in my experience.

I have been a fan of Horseware for years...I have two original purple "Wugs" that are 7 years old without one loose thread. Recently I purchased a few Rambo "original" sheets and they had rips in both the inner and outer shells within weeks. I went through quite a bit to get Horseware to honor their 2-year warranty. They finally did, but I too have noticed a difference in the quality of the "new" versus the old. Finding out they are made in China explains it...

P.S. One of my boarders bought a green Rhino MW at the beginning of this season. No problems with the outer shell, but the lining has several rips, which I don't quite understand...

P.P.S. However, after much shopping around, another boarder decided that for the $$$ (the Rhinos are on sale all over right now), Horseware still makes the best product out there.

[sisu27]

Rhino's are manufactured in China. I prefer to minimize the amount of purchases that originate in China. I have had Rambo's for years and the quality is excellent.

Me too but don't look now but all Horseware stuff is manufactured in China now so I'm done with them. Had to hunt for an old-stock Bucas this year as they have also gone China. Not sure what I'm going to do the next time I need to buy a rug.

OT a bit but can we start a not-made-in-China thread somewhere? I am willing to pay more to support companies that still believe in high quality goods made at home. Its getting harder and harder every day.

[BeastieSlave]

I've got a new blue plaid with neck cover. Love it!
I'm sorry they're being made in China, but until someone can prove they make a better blanket/sheet for the money, I'm sticking with Horseware all the way.

[Mariequi]

Too late. Just bought a tremendously priced Rambo Wug on ebay from a nearby tack shop clearancing (verb?). Trying it over the medium more than 15 year old Rambo original because of the weather that's coming. I just got a lightweight so I'd have something for the spring/fall heavy rains for alone use and something to throw over the medium for a little extra in the winter. I did notice, however, that the patches on the front - one of them had stitching and was cut a little irregularly. Yep. China.

[Romany]

Our old - around 10yo, now - Rambo Wugs are still going strong - the HW ones. Whereas the new ones - MW and LW - bought in the last couple of years - the fabric has ripped where it's been yanked by field buddies, and the chest snaps have, well, snapped, in the cold!

RRP is now prohibitively expensive - you're still expected to pay a premium price for a product that is no longer premium. :rolleyes:

[BeastieSlave]

I noticed this evening that my Baker turnout is also made in China.....

[Carolinadreamin']

My Rhino Wug (chestnut plaid) already has tears/rips in it as others here have described after just one season. I love the way it fits, but it hasn't held up. Glad I kept my old Weatherbeeta on hand because that's what I put on him when it rains.

Will save up for the Rambo wug.

[dressage fan]

I have my old horse in Rambos (a light, medium, and heavy) and they have lasted well. Love them. My new horse is in Rhinos (the plaid ones) and I honestly can't tell that much of a difference but the cost on the Rhinos was obviously less. The fit is great and there are no rubs at all on either horse. Every other blanket brand has created rub problems. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the under-tail strap. It is very functional and easy to put the blankets on but the strap does get a little poopy and needs to be cleaned periodically.

[SquishTheBunny]

WHile my rhino does have a few dings, I still think its the best "cheaper" blanket out there that holds up.

I have a few older rambos, man they are sweet.

Got a few newer rambos and rhinos. Hands down the rhinos are still better quality, but for the price, rhino;s are great for horses who arent too hard on their blankets. Very waterproof and the fit (for my guys) is incredible.

Quality is NOT what it used to be, but still they are one of the best blankets out there. Yet to try a schnieders that people are raving about, but with shiping to canada, they would probably be just as pricey as a rambo.

[Mariequi]

With Dubln's white tail, I'm removed the tail strap. The poop lands on the strap and she has black/brown horizontal bands across her tial. I've found that the blanket seems to stay put without it.

[Serah]

I've had rhinos and rambos and really liked them all, but this season I bought a baker turnout and I REALLY like it!! I like the fit I like the quality, I bought two more for both my other horses... we're a tacky plaid family now :)

[murphyluv]

My high-neck Rhino has not lasted very long at all (1 1/2 seasons), lots of picks and rips all over the fabric. You can just tell the difference btwn rambo's and rhino's. At least it's not the waterproofing that rips though- that's the nice thing about horseware. I also think the insulation stuff has not lasted as long either- ie I don't think it's as warm as when I bought it.
I will not be buying a rhino again- I don't think it's the best "cheap" blanket I could get.. I'll just be looking for either a rambo on sale, or his sheet is a centaur and I reaaally like that one, may try to see what they're blankets look like and if they have a high-neck.

[spoiledsweet]

I also think the insulation stuff has not lasted as long either- ie I don't think it's as warm as when I bought it.


I posted on another thread that I had the same experience. I purchased a new Rambo and a new Rhino last season and noticed that already they are flatter and not as warm. I think I am going to try another brand next time - Dover, Beval or Baker most likely.

[vxf111]

I agree that the older Horseware items were higher quality. I also agree that the "fill" doesn't seem to be as thick in the newer blankets. I am not sure that translates to "not as warm," though. I think perhaps the technology has improved so you can get an equal amount of warmth out of a less bulky filling?! Shane is wearing a wug heavy from the made-in-Ireland days (purple w/green trim) right now and Stoney is wearing a new wug heavy (purple with silver trim). Stoney's has much less bulk and feels lighter when you pick up the blanket. I put my hand under both blankets at the chest last night, they felt equally warm, even though Stoney's blanket would appear, from weight alone, to have slightly less fill. I don't think his blanket is less warm.

[avezan]

I have both a Rambo Wug and a Rhino Wug. The Rambo is in much better shape, and has been used more. If I buy another, I'll save for the Rambo. Rhino is discontinuing all the current plaids, so you can find them on sale at really good prices now.

[leakyb]

I posted on another thread that I had the same experience. I purchased a new Rambo and a new Rhino last season and noticed that already they are flatter and not as warm. I think I am going to try another brand next time - Dover, Beval or Baker most likely.

Try a Pessoa. It's the only turn out that does not rub our big TB shoulders at all. I have medium and heavy for both my horses and love them.

I've used Rambo and Rhino....like Pessoa the best.

[spoiledsweet]

Thanks leakyb, I will add that one to the list.

I agree that the older Horseware items were higher quality. I also agree that the "fill" doesn't seem to be as thick in the newer blankets. I am not sure that translates to "not as warm," though. I think perhaps the technology has improved so you can get an equal amount of warmth out of a less bulky filling?!

I hadn't thought of that; it's certainly a possibility. I do think the Rhino outer material is sturdier than it used to be. I had an early Rhino that got ripped to shreds. My subsequent models have fared better.

[BeastieSlave]

I had to revive this thread to report a 'problem' with the new (couple months old) plaid Rhino MW with neck cover. The cover came off last night.

I searched the pasture and found it inside out, but seemingly unharmed. I looked at it on my hike back to the barn and couldn't figure out how it had attached to the blanket. I know it attached to the blanket somehow with velcro.

Examination of the blanket showed pieces of velcro sandwiched between the velcro on the neck of the blanket. Evidently ,those single pieces were sewn to the edge of the neck cover (obviously, we've never removed the neck cover), but there is NO evidence of that. The velcro grips like iron and it's kind of a pain to separate, but the stitches must have been very pitiful to not even leave a mark to show where they were.

So, the good news is, there was no real damage. The bad news is, I have to get my sewing machine out.