Horse rugs, pony rugs, personalised horse rugs

Horse Rugs Maintenance

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By using your horse rugs throughout the season, it’s normal for them to wear and tear. Even the highest quality rugs used by the most rug-friendly horse will eventually need some repairs. After all, these rugs are still made from fabric and they’re expected to have some damages along the way. 

Fixing Damaged Horse Rugs

There are rug repairers that can help you out. They aim to help bring your rugs back to their former glory. However, you have to keep in mind that there are some instances where rugs are no longer salvageable. When this happens you will need to look at purchasing a new one.

Keeping a regular horse rug maintenance routine will extend the lifespan of your rugs.

Horse Rugs Maintenance

Prevention is always better than cure – even on horse rugs. If you want to ensure that your horse will get to keep their horse rugs for a longer period of time, you need to be mindful with any damage and try your best to fix them as soon as possible. 

Small damages can quickly turn to a major one so you have to act quickly. Remove the rug from the horse immediately when you notice any nicks, cuts, or frayed stitching and get them repaired. Do a regular inspection routine to check for any small amount of damages. 

Proper leg straps fitting prevents the leg straps from being damaged. Leg straps are the most commonly damaged parts of a rug, so you need to handle them properly. If you can, buy some extra removable straps  so you can easily replace them. Keep a spare set so you can still use your horse rug even when the straps have been damaged. 

It’s always a good idea to inspect your leg straps regularly. Check the stitching around the d ring attachments for any signs of fabric stretching, strain, or stitching. If there are visible signs, it’s best to take the horse rug in for preventive repairs. 

Surviving the Season: Proper Horse Rug Care

If you’re lucky enough, you’ll have your horse rug in one piece by the end of the season. But before you even stuff it back to your storage, you need to do some inspection and preventive maintenance so you can use it again next time (especially for winter rugs.) 

Here are some things you need to do:

  • Gently clean and brush off any dirt your rugs might have. 
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to properly wash your rugs. 
  • Make sure that your rugs are aired properly and are completely dry before putting them back to storage. 
  • Inspect the chest buckles, neck-straps, belly surcingles, and leg straps. If they show any signs of damages, they need to be repaired or replaced. 
  • Store your horse rugs in an airtight container so that they’re safe from moist and pests.

 

These are just some things you need to do to extend the life of your horse rugs. If you need any help with replacement parts, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

 

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!!

summer horse rugs

Summer Horse Rugs For Warmer Weather

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summer horse rugs

Summer Horse Rugs For Warmer Weather

With Spring coming nearer the weather is going to start getting warmer. So, time to get in early and get your precious horse a change of quality horse rugs, to something a little cooler. With a wide range and variety of horse rugs in our store to choose from, you will definitely find the one you’re looking for on our website. But in this article, we will talk about just a few to give you an insight as to what kind of rugs we have to offer. And remember we also do embroidery on any rug as completely customisable as you want.

 

1200 Denier Rainsheet Combo

Our Rainsheet Combos are made using the highest quality 1200 Denier Ripstop fabric available. We have recently received customer feedback that these rugs kept her horses dry through cyclone Debbie and 120mm of rain! NO LEAKS! High-quality reflectors included for safety during stormy weather. Fully tailored through the neck and shoulder and engineered to fit! Also, this item is currently on sale so grab it quick.

  •  1200 Denier Ripstop Fully Waterproof Fabric
  •  UV Resistant Marine Grade Stabilised threads used
  •  Heavy duty buckles and clips
  •  Bar-Tac Reinforced fittings, hoods and gussets
  •  Satin and net lined inner shell for breathability
  •  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!)

 

430GSM UV Treated Airmesh Rug

Our Airmesh is the perfect all summer long rug option. We’ve had customers refer to our Airmesh as ‘Magic’ and have had them report cool horses is 42-degree heat!
Durable and super cool!

  •  430GSM UV Treated and reflective Airmesh fabric
  •  UV Resistant Marine Grade Stabilized threads used
  •  Heavy duty buckles and clips
  •  Bar-Tac Reinforced fittings 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!)

 

Ripstop Cotton Combo

Check Out Our Facebook or Google Reviews to see what people think of our Quality, FIT, and Service. Also, this item is on sale so grab it quick.

Durable, affordable and excellent fit!
300GSM diamond Weave Ripstop PolyCotton fabric
UV Resistant Marine Grade Stabilized threads used
Heavy duty buckles and clips
Bar-Tac Reinforced fittings, necks 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!)

These are just 3 of our large range of summer horse rugs. To view all visit our website and see “summer rugs”.

Just a friendly reminder, that our website offers afterpay so you can buy now and pay later.

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.

tick free horse in field not wearing horse rug

Finding and removing ticks on your horse.

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Horse ticks and parasites that you should watch out for include ticks, lice, worms and bots. The main ticks are the Australian cattle ticks, New Zealand cattle ticks and paralysis ticks. Cattle ticks are most commonly found in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Northern Territory and the warmer parts of New Zealand.

Paralysis ticks are mainly found in the East coast of Australia. These ticks of course cause paralysis but can sometimes be enough to kill a young foal. Fully developed horses are more resistant to the fatal side, but can still be paralysed by this horse tick.

So, how to tell if your horse has ticks?

Horses will rub and lick around the area that is attached. If your horse is laying or resting for long periods or laboured breathing and rubbing against fences, they could be irritated with a horse tick. And those are just some of the many symptoms your horse will show if they have a tick. To find out more you can see here at www.wagwalking.com.

Now, how to remove a tick if your horse does have one?

There are of course tick removal kits, but you could also use needle point tweasers. Use the tweasers to grab the tick by the head which will be mostly dug into the horses skin. Then twist the head out counter clockwise, make sure you have it by the head or it could detach and get left under the horses skin. Also make sure not to squeeze to hard when pulling the tick out as it can regurgitate into the horses skin.

Ticks can be found anywhere, but tend to be where there is long hair. Like the tail, the mane or the ears and can even be found on their fetlock. Which is at the back of the heel of some specific horses. They can also be found in places like the armpit, girth and the flanks, where the horse is warm and fleshy.

Brushing your horse regularly will help locate a horse tick and pull it out before it does any damage. Washing your horse and keeping a rug on it also helps. Which you can purchase from our store here.

tick free horse

winter horse rugs

Winter Horse Rugs – Does Your Horse Need It?

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Winter Horse Rugs – Are They Needed?

It’s time to pull out your winter horse rugs! Or is it?

Winter has started to poke its head up here in the south-east corner of QLD! While we rarely see the types of freezing temperatures as our friends in south-west QLD, NSW & Victoria do, there are occasions where your horse would appreciate a snuggly rug overnight.

The question a lot of you are wondering is – how do you work out if rugging them is beneficial?

Here are some tips on how to work out if you should rug your horse or not.

What breed is your horse?

Most breeds, especially ponies, grow thick coats during winter that protect them well. More refined breeds such as pure Arabians, Thoroughbreds and warmbloods are susceptible to feeling the cold more. If you have one of these breeds who have a naturally thin coat all year round, then rugging is a good option.

What’s the weather like?

Is it cold but dry, or constantly wet and muddy, or even snowing? If the last two, then it is a good idea to rug them just to help protect them from the wet and cold.

How frequently is your horse worked?

Is your horse is ridden every day or competes frequently? Answer yes, then you will want to reduce the amount of fluffy coat that your horse can produce. Rugging is a way of limiting hair growth, but it must be done regularly. If the horse is only ridden every so often then it could be better to allow them to grow out their coat. Remember to take extra time to dry them off when you do work them.

Does your horse lose condition easily?

Do you have a horse that drops condition quickly and requires hard feeding all year round? Then rugging is definitely a good choice. This means he won’t burn energy and fat trying to keep himself warm.

What rugs do you have available?

If you only have a heavy thickness winter rug, then you probably only want to use it when it is really wet and cold and miserable overnight. If you have a range of different rugs for the seasons, then a lighter rug overnight is a good option. A lighter rug can also be left on during the day if needed.

Are you able to remove the rug during the daytime when it’s warmer?

If you’re unable to regularly rug and unrug your horse depending on the temperature, then it could be an idea to not rug them. Horses can also overheat quite easily with a winter rug on during average daytime temperatures here in QLD, so for their comfort, being left unrugged can be better for your horse.

We hope this has given you some guidance on whether to rug your horse this winter season. We have a great variety of winter horse rugs available on sale at the moment that can cover most weather options, so why not check it out? You’ll need to get in quick as popular sizes are selling fast!

Horse inside of its stables

Equine Vital Signs – What Are They?

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Equine Vital Signs – What Are They?

Equine vital signs include temperature, pulse, and respiration. Every person who owns horses should know how to do this quickly and correctly. Knowing how to read a horse’s vital signs properly can be very helpful in an emergency situation, and is a major part of equine first aid. Today we will tell you how to find these on your horse, and what to look for to know if something is amiss.

Temperature is taken on a horse rectally. No, it’s not fun, but you have to make sure its inserted properly for an accurate reading. At the same time, be aware that some horses will not like this, and may kick if it is not done quickly and confidently. Normal temperature is anywhere from 37.2-38.3°Celsius, or 99.5-101.5 degrees Fahrenheit (although some horses may normally be slightly lower than the minimum). Anything higher needs careful monitoring and a likely vet visit.

Pulse can be taken in a few places: by palpation where the cheek meets the jaw and at the digital pulse in the artery that runs down the fetlock, and also by listening right in under their elbow with a stethoscope. Normal heart rate is anywhere from 36-42 beats per minute.

Respiration can be gauged by watching the sides of the horse move as they breathe in and out. An adult horse’s normal breathing rate is anywhere from 12-16 breaths per minute.

Mucous Membranes are located in your horse’s gums and inner lip linings. They should be moist and a healthy pink colours. If you press down on them, the capillaries should come back to normal within a couple of seconds.

This is very useful information to provide your vet over the phone in advance of their arrival,so they are aware of what they are dealing with.

What Not To Do When Taking Your Horse’s Vital Signs

If you are not too familiar with taking a horse’s vital signs, don’t worry. Here is a list of things not to do, in order to prevent a false reading and therefore an unnecessary vet trip! The important things to remember are:

  • Make sure you leave the thermometer in long enough. This will prevent a false low temperature reading as a result.
  • Be careful when taking vital signs on a nervous or skittish horse. A horses’ pulse and respiration rates are already elevated if they are nervous and therefore can provide a false reading.
  • Don’t measure respiration rate by getting your horse to sniff your hand. Due to salt and other scents on you, it therefore will lead to them sniffing far more than usual. This can provide a false, increased breathing rate.
  • Double-counting heartbeats. A horse’s heart beat has two components, an “up” sound and and “out” sound. It can been described as a “lub-dub” sound. This lub-dub is equivalent to one heartbeat. If you count both parts, you will get a false elevated heart rate.

We hope you have enjoyed learning how to accurately take and interpret your horse’s vital signs. If you have any questions about our products, be sure to get in contact with us for assistance! Until next week, Safe Riding!

historical photo of Australian solider and light horse

The ANZAC Horses

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The ANZAC Horses

Image courtesy of the State Library of QLD

ANZAC Day is on Thursday, where hundreds of thousands of people will turn out and commemorate all the men and women who served in the first World War.  We would also like to take a minute to recognise the brave horses who carried the soldiers on to the battleground. Often going without food or water for many hours, carrying soldiers with a lot of equipment, these horses also gave their lives to serve.

About the Waler

The main breed of horse used by Australians overseas were known as Walers. They were called this as most came from New South Wales but were in fact mixed breeds from all over Australia.  A few of the main influences on the breed include Thoroughbreds, Timor pony, Arab and Cape horses. Despite their similarities to the Australian Brumby, it is unlikely the Waler breed had much of their bloodlines in their lineage, particularly in the later stages. The vast majority are bay in colour, and around 15-16hh. These horses were used for their hardiness and temperament and are still bred today. For more information on these horses, we have included a link to the Australian War Memorial site here.

An article by the ABC from 2014 on the Waler horse here gives more insight into this breed of horse, which did not officially have a registered association until 1986. The people who breed them today say they have particular qualities to pass on and are a good choice for many disciplines due to their quiet, calm temperament and stamina for work.

We hope you all had a fantastic Easter break, and stay tuned for our new winter stock and sales coming in the very near future! Why not give our Facebook page a like and then you’ll be notified of any great bargains we have coming up!

 

pony in the snow

Weight Scoring Your Horse

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Weight Scoring Your Horse

Maintaining a good weight on your horse can be a complicated matter. Some horses gain weight at the sniff of a blade of grass. Others need a wide variety of different feeds to keep them in good condition. Factors like paddock condition, exercise, breed and medical conditions can all affect your horse. Question is, do you know whether your horse is underweight, overweight or just right?

One of the ways you can tell is by checking your horse’s condition against a standardised body score chart, like the one posted above. This chart scores your horse’s body using the Henneke system, which has been around for a very long time. You can use this chart to get a rough idea on whether your horse might need that bit of extra care to gain or lose some weight. Of course, if you’re ever in doubt, consulting with a vet or equine nutritionist is always the safest option. If you want to work out your horse’s approximate weight, there are a few ways.

The first one is obviously using a scale, but not everyone has access to one. The second is using a weight tape, where you measure different areas of your horse’s body. The numbers on the tape gives you an estimated weight. The third way is using a regular tape measure around your horse’s girth, your horse’s height from ground to wither and their body length. You can input these measurements and it will calculate an approximate weight for your horse. In some ways, this can be more accurate than a weight tape, particularly if you are not 100% on how to use a weight tape properly. You can find an online calculator here.

Once you have an idea where your horse sits on the weight scale, you will be able to work out if you need to change what and how much they are eating.