Fitting Advice

Hoods

Before trying on any Snuggy garment make sure the horse/pony is clean and scurf free.

We advise that hoods are tried in the stable for the first time, just in case he/she objects.

If you have a Hood without a zip gather the neck fabric in both hands, place opening over horse’s/pony’s nose and pull carefully up over the face and down the neck making sure the eye and ear holes are in the correct place

If you have a zip place the big opening over the horse’s/pony’s head and arrange hood into position

Straighten the horses mane from the back of the hood, pass belly band through the elastic strap and fasten tightly on the girth just behind the elbow – DO NOT FASTEN FURTHER BACK AS THIS WILL REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE NECK

Move the adjustable Velcro on the nose to the correct width for your horse/pony (not too tight or too loose)

Check that when the horse/pony puts its head down fully the hood does not pull up into the eye or over the wither. Make sure your horse/pony is comfortable and you are happy with the fit before turning out. 

The photo below demonstrates a well sized & fitted hood.  If you are in doubt regarding sizing, please take two photographs (as you can see below) one with the head up and one with the head down and pop them over to us via email.  We can then check the size and fit for you before you use it.

Click the video below to view our Hood fitting guide.

 

Rugs

It is worth having a good read through this advice prior to ordering as our sizing is not really comparable to regular rug fitting.

Basically, the rugs/blankets are cut true to length (if you lay it flat, it will measure the length on the label) BUT as there is stretch in the fabric - and the fit is recommended to be tight (not roomy, loose or long), many do opt for 1-2 sizes smaller than they would normally purchase in a Turn Out or similar non-stretch, loose fitting rug/blanket.

(for example, Lucky our Shire horse ambassador in the photo here is 17.3 and would normally wear a 7'0 draft size rug/blanket. She comfortably wears our 6'6 (78") as shown here in the photo)

 

We recommend that all customers are super fussy with the fit, following the advice videos carefully, before leaving on the horse or pony. If unsure, take a couple of photos and email them to us to check (side view, rug/blanket pulled back, photo from side and rear).

We advise when trying on a rug, stand to the rear of your horse and give the rug a good tug back.  This will give you an idea of where the rug will sit after a period of time.  The rug must not hang over the base of the tail even when pulled back. The seam for the tail protection should sit just above the base of the tail. The rug neck is designed to sit high, a good 5 inches or so in front of the sensitive wither area. The neck must be tight, the neck and chest area will loosen off with use and will mold to the horses shape.

Trying the Rug on

Before trying on any Snuggy garment make sure the horse/pony is clean and scurf free

Un-do the Velcro tabs of the rug belly and slip the neck opening over the horse’s/pony’s head

Pull rug backwards into position and fasten Velcro tabs on each side (at the front of each patch is best)

Slip tail over elastic fillet strap and fasten tail wrap around tail if the rug has one

Make sure the fleece pad sits well in front of the wither at the base of the neck

Check the length of the rug is correct, it should finish at the top of the tail If using with a hood, make sure the rug sits on top of the hood.

Click the video below to view our Rug fitting guide. The rug featured in this video is a Base Body although the fitting of the rug and sizing is the same for our winter under rug, bug body, sweet itch rug, fleece rug and lycra body rug.

 

Headless Hoods

Before trying on any Snuggy garment make sure the horse/pony is clean and scurf free

If you have a Hood without a zip undo the velcro tab at the top on the neck, gather the neck fabric in both hands, place opening over horse’s/pony’s nose and pull carefully up over the face and down the neck.

If you have a zip place the big opening over the horse’s/pony’s head and arrange hood into position

Straighten the horse’s/pony’s mane from the back of the hood, pass belly band through the elastic strap and fasten tightly on the girth just behind the elbow – DO NOT FASTEN FURTHER BACK AS THIS WILL REDUCE THE LENGTH OF THE NECK. The chest may be baggy but that’s fine.

Fasten the velcro tab at the top of the underside of the neck to ensure it sits neatly in the groove just behind the cheekbone.

Check that when the horse/pony puts its head down fully the neck is long enough and stays in position just behind the ears. Make sure your horse/pony is comfortable and you are happy with the fit before turning out.

Click the video below for a guide to correctly sized & fitted pull on Headless Turn Out Hood.

Click the video below for a guide to correctly sized & fitted ZIPPED Headless Turn Out Hood. 

Heads

For Heads without a zip simply pull over nose and slip over ears. Make sure all elastic adjusters are nice and tight. The head should be a snug fit on the face and neck, not baggy or loose anywhere.If you have Head with a zip, open up, place on head and fit into position before doing up the zip. Again making sure all elastic adjusters are nice and tight.

To achieve a good fit, tighten the adjusters when the horse’s head is in a lowered position.

IMPORTANT – Always make sure you sew the spare Velcro loop piece to the top edge of your rug neck to fasten the Head to the rug via the Head’s d-ring. This helps keep the Head safely in position. It is essential that the Head is attached to your rug neck as instructed. If you don’t have a sewing machine to attach the provided loop to your rug neck edge we recommend plaiting thread as it’s very strong and easy to source! If you need spare Velcro loops for additional rug necks please contact us.

Check that when the horse/pony puts its head down fully the head does not pull up into the eye or fall forwards up the neck. Make sure your horse/pony is comfortable and you are happy with the fit before turning out.

Check out the Head fitting video below.

Bug Bodies

Choosing the size - please remember that the fit design is tight and that there is stretch in the fabric. The rug must not hang over the base of the tail - with the seam for the tail protection sitting just above the base of the tail. The rug neck is designed to sit high, a good 5 inches or so in front of the sensitive wither area. The neck must be tight. Some customers do order 1-2 sizes smaller to ensure the close fit needed. 

Before trying on any Snuggy garment make sure the horse/pony is clean and scurf free

Remove the neck of the Bug Body and un-do the Velcro tabs of the rug belly, then slip the neck opening over the horse’s/pony’s head

Pull rug backwards into position and fasten Velcro tabs on each side (at the front of each patch is best)

Slip tail over elastic fillet strap and fasten tail wrap around tail

Make sure the fleece pad sits well in front of the wither at the base of the neck

Check the length of the rug is correct, it should finish at the top of the tail

Un-do the Velcro tab at the head end of the neck piece and slide over the horse’s/pony’s head and down the neck. Attach the Velcro strips either size of the neck and fasten the Velcro loops at the wither and chest to ensure there are no gaps

Encourage the horse/pony to put its head down and check the neck is long enough.

Click the video below to view our Bug Body fitting guide.

 

Tail Bags

Option 1- Plaited tail: Plait tail from below dock, secure. Slide tail into bag, thread Velcro strap through the plait at the top of the tail and attach. Pull elastic tight with toggle.

Option 2- Unplaited Tail: Plait tail approximately 2-3” below dock then secure. (with a band) Open Velcro at bottom of bag, place hand in bag, grasp tail and guide tail into bag, fasten Velcro. Once tail is in place, thread Velcro strap through plait at top (as above) and secure. Pull elastic tight with toggle.

If required you can fold the tail bag in half by looping the elastic at the bottom of the bag through the toggle at the top.

You can watch the Tail Bag fitting video below.

 

Rug Liners

Before trying on any Snuggy garment make sure the horse/pony is clean and scurf free

Slip the neck opening over the horse’s/pony’s head

Pull rug backwards into position place tail over elastic fillet strap.

Make sure the neck sits in front of the wither at the base of the neck, not on or behind the wither.

Check the length of the rug is correct, it should finish at the top of the tail

If using with a Hood pass the Hood belly band through the two spare loops and secure as normal.

If using without a Hood use a spare fillet string or piece of elastic to connect the two spare tabs if required.

 

General Advice

You can by all means use the hood with a high/full/combo rug but if the rug is already rubbing, it is unlikely that your hood will prevent this whilst using the same rug.

Our hoods have always been water repellent rather than water proof - and were actually designed and introduced over 30 years ago - when the old green New Zealand rugs didn't have necks - and were only water repellent. They are perfectly suitable for use with no other cover on top.

If the weather is wet and the horse lives out, and we experience heavy persistent rain, the hood will feel wet. Put your hand up inside the hood and whilst the horse will be damp he will not feel cold and uncomfortable. Leave the hood on, it will dry as quickly as the coat would without any cover but being wind resistant, will not experience wind chill.

If the horse comes in at night wet, again, leave the hood on. It'll be dry within the hour. Personally I have 2 x hoods and matching bodies and wash them weekly, changing one for the other. Other than that, they stay on unless we are riding in which case they come off and if damp and muddy, go back on damp and muddy.

When washing them (and we recommend once a fortnight), please use plenty of detergent and softener.... If you would like to add extra proofing, use Nik Wax Polar Proof which will aid water repellency, It is a wash in product that simply goes in the washing machine with the hood/rug.

Please get straight in touch with any concerns or questions.