Rambo belly strap keeps coming off!

[shantihorse]

OK I need some help!

My QH has a medium weight Rambo. It's only 1 season old and is in great shape, except for one of the belly surcingles that keeps coming off!!

First time my horse ran away while being blanketed and stepped on the strap and ripped it off. Got it fixed by the local seamstress (I'm in a remote area and not professional blanket repair here!). My father went to put it back on our horse (didn't use halter) and she ran off again and this time it got a fence and ripped right off! Brought it back to seamstress and she sewed it on again.

Third time, blanket had been on her fine for days, and the strap was found ripped off again by the barn owner. Just went out and took blanket off her, don't see any teeth marks or anything....so how did it come off this time?? Straps where adjusted properly, so go figure.

Well back to the seamstress again!! My question to others is WHAT should I have her sew it back on with or HOW so that it stays on. I'm starting to think it's just not sown on strong enough. First two time where horses (and owners!) fault but now I think also she isn't using strong enough thread or reinforcing it properly. SOmething.....any pointers I can give her?? Or try myself?? PLEAS HELP it will be so cold tomorrow and I only have 1 blanket for her.

Thanks!

[tarynls]

Tell her to use nylon upholstery thread. You can find it along with the all-purpose thread in most fabric stores (I get it from JoAnne's). The sticker on the end of the spool will be purple ("regular" thread has a blue sticker).

You'll have a limited color choice but black, navy and gray are usually in stock.

Sewing it back on with a machine is best. I use a regular no-frills Singer that I purchased at Sears. Make sure to use heavy-duty needles (labeled for jeans and heavy fabrics).

Don't just stitch once around the edges. Run an additional line of stitching down the middle of part of the surcingle that's attached to the blanket. Also I usually run zig-zag lines at the base of the surcingle, going about 3/4" up towards the top end that's attached to the blanket.

PM me if you need clarification...it's late and I am tired!

[BaroquePony]

What tarynls said sounds right.

Perhaps haltering your horse while blanketing would at least reduce the number of times you have to redo this procedure. And your mare could get hurt is another consideration.

[LauraKY]

First thing is to address the behavior. Dangerous for you and her if she runs off while being blanketed. If you have cross ties or she ties OK, I would tie her while blanketing. I would practice on/off a number of times until she stands quietly. If she doesn't tie, well, that's definitely something to work on.

Does the buckle end still have the rubber ring on it? If not, it may be too loose in the connection and coming loose in the field. Just take a rubber band (the small ones for banding manes) and rap around the hook end where the rubber ring should be. Lasts for a season. All my blankets stay clipped, now.

[subk]

I noticed the other day that the new Rambo I just bought has a 3 year warranty. You might call them and find out if you have a warranty and if it covers this type of thing...