Every couple of months we seem to have a thread about how Horseware blankets are sized, with differing opinions on whether a certain line runs large or small. In a grand quest for a new midweight and heavyweight this winter my horse tried on nigh on every cut of Rambo, Rhino, and Amigo regular neck that was offered, and I was surprised at the results, so I’m posting the results of this fitting expedition in case it helps someone else.
The model is a 15.2 Irish Sport Horse, compact but with a very large shoulder, a neck set a little high, and ribs which can politely be said to be “well sprung.” He’s a measured 77" and has worn a 75" in Horseware Wugs for the last 15 years.
The Rambo Original, no leg arches, is the best fit in a 75". It has a good drop length and fits well around the shoulders. Expect this cut to run large, and order the next size down.
The horse owns an Amigo Bravo 12 100gm in 75" and it fits like a measured 75". It’s a little short in the back and the drop is about 3" shorter than the Rambo Original in the same size. It’s fine to be worn 10 times a year, which is its purpose in life, but I did not think that this was the right size for him.
I tried the Amigo Bravo 12 XL midweight in 75" thinking that this might be the solution to the drop problem. The XL is cut for 20% lower drop than the standard cut. I tried it in 2 styles: this year’s, which has the V-front closure on the standard neck, and last year’s cut, which has the standard straight surcingle front closure. The XL is the right length withers to tail. The drop was a smidge too long on my horse, but it wasn’t unsafe- it would have been the right length to use this blanket as a top layer. However, in both of the styles, the neck opening was too large for the way my horse’s neck ties into his shoulder. This was especially pronounced in the V-front closure, where the neck of the blanket comes up a little higher on the neck of the horse and makes a steeper angle into the front closure. It would have needed a dart not to rub. The standard closure was better for my horse, but I still thought it was a little too loose around the neck. It wasn’t loose enough to rub but would allow more cold air into the blanket. Verdict: This is a great cut for broader animals and would have been a really good option for some of my horse’s barnmates. If my horse had had a straighter shoulder it would have worked for him. This cut runs large; order a size down from your horse’s measured size.
I then went up a size and tried the Amigo Bravo 12 with straight front closures, midweight, 78". This blanket is the right length from withers to tail and the right drop. It’s a little big in the neck, but won’t let the air in in the same way that the XL cut does. In the standard Bravo 12 cut, order your horse’s measured size; if in doubt, size up.
My biggest surprise was in Rhino. I ordered the Rhino Plus with Varilaryer and V-front closure, heavy, 75". I thought this would be a slam dunk because my horse has worn a 75” in Rhino for 15 years. However! Because of the way the V front changes the neck cut, the 75" became too short from nose to tail! But a 78" would have been too big. Also, I didn’t know this, but the Plus hoods attach with Velcro and not hood rings, so Plus hoods are only compatible with Plus blankets. This cut runs large and you should order the next size down, but it just might not work for a horse with a higher-set neck.
However, the Rhino with Varilayer and straight front closure, heavy, 75" fit absolutely as expected. Although Rhino is sort of notorious for their last 5 years of blankets having absurdly short drops, in the Varilayer this is minimized because the insulation tapers to the edge, so the blanket wraps well around the body. I also think the drop is longer than the Rhino Wug I was replacing, but I didn’t measure to confirm. This cut runs large; order the size down.
I will say that I have been very impressed by the quality of the Amigo Bravo 12. It’s held up well for my horse in turnout, comparably to Rhino and Rambo, and the features- stout hardware, reflective strips, leg arch cut, double lock Velcro at the chest- are what I expect from Horseware. Ultimately I bought the Amigo midweight because it came in 250gm weight as a standard option whereas that weight is available only in the Rhino Varilayer, and conversely bought the Rhino Varilayer heavy for the 450gm insulation where Amigo goes up to 400 (and Rambo to 420 in the $500 Supreme.)
