High-neck turnout blankets- do you like them?

[alterblue]

I am looking for a replacement blanket since my lovely mare decided to shred hers. One that's on sale is a high -neck turnout. My horse is out pretty much 24/7, have never used a high neck before.

If you have one, do you like it? Dislikes? Thanks in advance!

[deltawave]

I don't really like them much, but when my horse is at my trainer's there is no shelter in the pastures like I have at home, so I do like having just the slightly high-necked ones, as they keep her shoulders from getting wet when it's snowing/raining really hard. I only like the ones with the very slight neck, though--like the Rambo/Rhino ones. As much as I like Schneiders blankets, the high-neck one I bought last year fit really poorly and rubbed Bonnie like crazy. I gave it away.

[SkipHiLad4me]

The only high necked blanket I've had experience with is my Rhino Wug. Compared to my other blankets, I like it best. It keeps the rain from leaking in on my horses shoulders and it doesn't put as much pressure on his withers as some of my regular necked blankets. I can tell that he gets sensitive around his withers when he wears any of the regular necked blankets for an extended period of time, but no problems when wearing the high necked one for a while.

[SMF11]

Have only used the Rambo high neck blankets, and LOVE them. No rubs (on multiple horses) and it keeps shoulders dry, as the others have noted. However, I also like the Rambo w/the detachable hood, b/c if it is dry you don't need the extra coverage of the high neck. But if there is freezing rain or something the hood keeps their entire neck (and of course their shoulders) warm and dry, so it is even better in my opinion.

[poltroon]

My TB's Rhino Wug (medium) is my favorite blanket by far. Keeps her shoulders dry, gives a little extra warmth, and does not rub.

We tend to get cold, blowy rainstorms in the low to mid 30's, and she lives in a covered corral with open sides (when she's not out in the pasture). This blanket has done well by her.

[lstevenson]

I have a high neck Weatherbeeta and love it. It keeps the neck dry, warm and clean ;), and it takes the pressure off of the wither area.

[tanderson]

I have a high neck Weatherbeeta and love it. It keeps the neck dry, warm and clean ;), and it takes the pressure off of the wither area.

Have to totally agree here! I LOVE my high neck weatherbeeta. I have regular necks on a couple of my horses and hate that when I go to ride, their shoulders are wet!

[Yip]

I have a high neck Weatherbeeta and love it. It keeps the neck dry, warm and clean , and it takes the pressure off of the wither area.

I have to disagree.

While I loved the Weatherbeeta blankets themselves, and I loved that the high necks kept drafts and rain out - these blankets caused chiro problems in both of my mares the 3 years I used them. By January, they were both sore and needed adjustments.

I'm a slow learner.

[EqTrainer]

Love them.

[AppJumpr08]

Love them. With qualifications. Don't love my Rider's Northwinds. The neck openings aren't big enough The Rambos rubbed the heck out of my big shouldered TB, but work on the thinner kids. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Weatherbeetas with the freestyle system. Have had rubs grow back while my kids wore the WBs.

[trafalgar]

I have used a rhino "high" neck for 2 seasons and it fits very well and does seem to offer more protection. I do feel however that when it gets warmer again you need to get it off faster but that is not really a problem.

[horsepoor]

I prefer the detachable neck cover types for most of mine. The high-neck "wug" cut just doesn't fit my broader horses in the shoulder that well, and I just never have been crazy about the fit. But I do have a couple that I use as 2nd string blankets when the others are in the wash, or for youngsters that haven't gotten broad in the shoulder yet.

[Renn/aissance]

My horse is very comfortable in his "turtleneck" Rhino Wugs. They seem much less drafty than a regular neck and the cut keeps water from dripping down onto the chest when he's not fussed enough by the rain to go into his shed. I also think that they fit him the best of any rug I've used on him; they suit his massive shoulder without giving him rubs. Besides, there's nothing cuter (http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss65/2tipperary/GoawayIamsleeping.jpg) than a Tip in a turtleneck. (http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss65/2tipperary/Tipperary/IMG_1095.jpg)

[Void]

I have this one
http://www.doversaddlery.com/riders-international-northwind-high-neck-turnout-blanket/p/X1-24402A/cn/59/

for my narrower TB and love it.

[jenm]

I think it may depend on where you live. I am in a climate that doesn't experience many extreme weather conditions, but I do have a high neck blanket for those rare "extreme" conditions where it will be a cold night with wind and rain. For us, a cold night is mid-30's and even with wind chill it may get to low 30's.

My high neck blanket is a Gladiator Blizzard, but I have only used it 2x so far this season and my horse has a high trace clip. On other rainy nights my horse is just fine with a standard neck Weatherbeeta Orican. She is also a TB.

I do like how the high neck blankets keep more of the rain out, so if you are in an area that gets a lot of rain in a short amount of time, your horse may be better off in a high neck.

[goeslikestink]

high neck lines are better if you have trouble with any rug then you havent measured it properly to your horse
so
measure from wither to tail
measure from chest to tail
and measure from wither to elbow

then chose a rug thats high neck line and darted schoudlers this way the horse can move freely without it slipping back well shouldnt do if you have measured it corrrectly
then with x over straps adjust them to the lenght to hold the rug snugly and x them over if however there is no more room on the adjusting clip hen simply x them again and if need be again
same to with back straps adjust the leg strap to above the hock about 3inches above it, so horse doesnt get his legs caught by having the strap to low
then loop one leg strap into the other leg strap if however they are still to long then x them agian

chest straps should be fitted tight and snug fillets strings should be fitted above the leg straps in the fillet holes and just under the tail adust to with of the top of the rug to hold the sides into place pull the tial through then tie off
if you adjust the rug straps to make the rug fir snug and warm you wont have a problem with it
if you buy a rug with darted or pleated schoulders then you wont have rug rubs on the schoulders
and if you want to add extra warm add a poly warm underneath and adjust measure in the same way

if you measure the rugs as surgested and you want to go of a hood which is included into the rug - then there is no difference
ie all in one --- as the higher than normal high neck line just adds a bit more protection around the base of the neck which comes up about 1/4 up the neck some have hoods or neck covers all inone which come completely up the neck to the ears of the horse again if its an all inne type of rug and you have measured it correctly then you wont have problem with it sliipping back and in warmer days can tuck the hood part inside the rug over his withers
or out side but then if the its windy it might upset the horse
if how ever you buyng a neck cover a seperate then they do come in pony cob or full and really depends on the neck lenght so if you have a small tb for exsample then a medium hood would do or cob size

but be aware seperate hoods have a gap when the horse is eating
and wet can get down the gap and can cuase rainrot so be aware to check your horse on a dialy basics and starighten his rug if need be and check his neck cover straighten and re adjust and feel inside his base of neck and wither area as if one is going to get rubs of any kind this is where it will be and why if that happens you might need to re think having a neck cover as a seperate
also remember any type of rub on the wither or back regions you must rest the horse till its gone away dont ride the horse as he is sore and you make that little sore that you could have got rid off in a couple days of one that might last weeks and if continued to do so might last months then becomes permanat back damage

[Noctis]

i LOVE wugs! Don't currently have one on hand, but have had great luck with them, also with the weatherbeeta higher (kind of like a turtleneck type) neck.

[alteringwego]

I like them and prefer them to the detachable neck rugs.

My favorite is the Rambo Wug/Rhino Wug
Like the Weatherbeeta Orican
Hate: the Schneider's - they don't fit anything I've ever seen and cause horrible pressure sores and usually require a chiropractor after one wearing.

[TrakeGirl]

Hate: the Schneider's - they don't fit anything I've ever seen and cause horrible pressure sores and usually require a chiropractor after one wearing.

Which one in particular from Schneiders are you referring to?

Simply curious as to which one to stay away from. Thanks!

[Alibhai's Alibar]

I find them to be more difficult to fit to horses than standard blankets, but if they fit properly, I like them.

They always seem too low-set, even for stock breeds, WBs, and TBs.

Seems like all the horses in my life have fat necks, too :lol: I never could find one to fit Alibar's bull neck.

[islandrider]

He even nickers when he sees it! It all depends on fit. Though we only break out the Schneiders for the really big storms, I love the extra features.
I think it is the stormshield med. weight high neck.




Which one in particular from Schneiders are you referring to?

Simply curious as to which one to stay away from. Thanks!

[katarine]

I like them, have two Gladiator Blizzards. Keeps the rain from blowing/running in on their shoulders.

Fit depends on the shape of the critter and cut of the blanket.

[Chall]

I have used Weatherbeeta Orican's on my two for two years and just got two Ice turtlenecks (with the elastic neck). I'm pretty sure the Ice will fit my Arab well, but for the TB I got a 78 even though he usually wears a 76. He has a sharkfin wither.
I'm hoping the Turtlenecks work out. There was a similar rug on Bit of Britain, but I'd read about the Turtlenecks good fit for Arabs (here on Coth) so went with that.

[Lone]

I have a high neck Weatherbeeta and love it. It keeps the neck dry, warm and clean ;), and it takes the pressure off of the wither area.

Same. My mare is very prone to shoulder rubs from her blankets as well- this is the only one that doesn't bother her! I don't plan to buy anything buy high necks from now on

[BeastieSlave]

I LOVE my Rhino wugs! As far as I'm concerned, they are the turnout of choice. Well, I guess I'd go for Rambos first.... That little bit of extra coverage at the withers/neck makes a huge difference when it's wet. I have had very good luck with the fit on all my beasties (ponies, narrow TB, wide TB's, beefy WB's).

I've had a Rhino with the detachable neck for a couple years now, and I really like it too. The clipped horse wears it, and it has never let me down!

[cyndi]

I have owned two Rhino blankets - one with the slightly high neck, and one with the full neck. I like the slightly higher neck better. In fact, as I type, all three of mine are out in their 'chestnut tartan' Rhino Wugs. I get just the sheets, as it does not get that cold here for long, but it does rain a lot. (constantly this entire month it seems.:( ) Keeps the rain from trickling in around the neck better I think.

Rhino turnouts are by far my favorite. The Rambos have never fit my horses very well. Way too long a drop for my shorter-than-average kids.

[kwilhide]

I like both my weatherbeeta and my rhino wug, really helps with the rubs - the extended neck, not the full detachable neck. I have had good luck with weatherbeeta although I know some folks have not.

[Yip]

Same here, AA. I haven't even been able to find a regular neck turnout to fit my mares properly, esp. Rose.

Both mares have huge shoulders and very low-set necks. BIG necks. That's where our trouble lies. I need a blanket high enough to fit and cover all of the shoulders, but then they're right on the horse's windpipe in the chest.

high neck lines are better if you have trouble with any rug then you havent measured it properly to your horse
so
measure from wither to tail
measure from chest to tail
and measure from wither to elbow


I measure from center chest to beginning of tail dock, as the mfgrs. have suggested, so I should be getting the riget size unless their blankets run smaller/larger than their measurements state.

***measure from wither to tail
and measure from wither to elbow***

What will thiose measurements tell me? The mfgrs. never give thoise measurements of their blankets. There's no way to fit from those. I have to order blankets, so " from chest to tail is all I have to work with. In order to use the other 2 measurements, I'd have to order a lot of blankets then measure those places at home & compare to the horses.

Yip

[baysngreys]

Have several Rambo Wugs that are still great after years of use. Did need to go up a size on my WB's because the shoulders are a bit narrow.

Got an Amigo with a detachable neck this year for a horse I'm not sure is staying and it's done the job well - blanket, not horse! :)

[lstevenson]

I have to disagree.

While I loved the Weatherbeeta blankets themselves, and I loved that the high necks kept drafts and rain out - these blankets caused chiro problems in both of my mares the 3 years I used them. By January, they were both sore and needed adjustments.

I'm a slow learner.

What makes you think the blankets had anything to do with that? Doesn't make any sense to me that a well fitting high neck blanket would cause any issues like that.

In fact regular blankets probably cause a lot more issues around the withers area than people think, esp on high withered horses. Think of the pressure on the withers when the horse extends his front legs.

[starkissed]

I have high neck Rhino Wug
and high neck Dover Northwind

I like them both very much. I MUCH prefer high neck to no-neck.

Oh and I forgot to add- it seems with the higher neck you can go up a size. It drapes over them so nicely and prevent rubbing with a slightly big high neck

[LLDM]

Love the Wugs (Rambo and Rhino). I only have one other left in the barn and that is a Centaur with the same Wug type neck. I just can't wear it out and the mare LOVES it.

SCFarm

[BeastieSlave]

My daughter's big necked, big shouldered horse wears the Rhino with detachable neck and it has been great for him! He has a wug too, but I think the detachable neck works better for him. No rubs, no binding.

[Fairview Horse Center]

I love this one http://users.sitewaves.com/horsehabit/uploads/collections/40050387.jpg Wetherbeeta high neck

[alterblue]

Thanks everyone! I went ahead and bought it :) It seems to fit well, here's to hoping she likes it and it fares better than the last!!!

[Livie]

Does anyone have problems with the mane rubbing out where the neck ends on the wug-style blankets? I want to try one but a friend mentioned this problem. Her gelding has a very high-set neck though.

[BeastieSlave]

No problems with my gang - and I have a couple shark-withered TB's wearing wugs.

[Yip]

Originally Posted by Yip
I have to disagree.

While I loved the Weatherbeeta blankets themselves, and I loved that the high necks kept drafts and rain out - these blankets caused chiro problems in both of my mares the 3 years I used them. By January, they were both sore and needed adjustments.

I'm a slow learner.

What makes you think the blankets had anything to do with that? Doesn't make any sense to me that a well fitting high neck blanket would cause any issues like that.

By the end of every January, the mares needed adjustments. The chiro and I went over the entire thing, trying to figure out what was different about every Dec-Jan than any other 2 month period. Blankets were the obvious answer. Nothing else was different.

We just happened to have WB Orican high-neck blankets at the time. As I was mulling over the blanket/chiro issue, I happened to see one struggle to stand from lying down in her stall. The high neck pulled terribly on her shoulders and withers when she was trying to arise. She was almost cast in her stall from the limited mobility of her shoulders. The problem was totally apparent then.

I washed the blankets and sold them. I was so impressed with the WB Oricans though. The force of repeated tries to stand *should* have split that blanket in two. They are tough, well-made blankets. I'm thinking of trying the reg. necks again and buying the neck covers.

Yip

[Fairview Horse Center]

We just happened to have WB Orican high-neck blankets at the time. As I was mulling over the blanket/chiro issue, I happened to see one struggle to stand from lying down in her stall. The high neck pulled terribly on her shoulders and withers when she was trying to arise. She was almost cast in her stall from the limited mobility of her shoulders

Wow that seems so strange. I have had 2 in them - one a heavy old type warmblood, and the other a lighter bodied Warmblood, and both had no issues at all, get up and down like they are unblanketed, etc.

[EqTrainer]

Kinda off topic but this reminds me - when I got Dan he came w/a high neck turnout. Every time I put it on him he tried to bite me. I kept putting it on and dodging his teeth :lol: One day the light went on, and I bought him a bucas w/a regular neck. He never tried to bite me again. Doh!

[4wdNstraight]

My horses' mane rubbed out halway up the neck in the mid neck blanket I owned (one Wug and one Dovers Riders). I switched to blankets with detachable hoods since he is usually at least trace clipped through snowy weather. You can get ones with no insulation, or with for those colder days.

[SBrentnall]

I had a high-necked wug for my Oldenburg and it rubbed away his mane just in front of the withers. The blanket seemed to crease there when he lifted his head. Probably not something for horses with a high-set head carriage.