I am looking into them because my horse who wears Horseware blankets is getting rubs on her shoulders. On another thread, it said the Optima does not rub so I am thinking of getting one. I have heard they run larger than other Rambos but a salesperson at a tack store said that is not true.
Also, overall is it worth the expense…so far I cannot find one in my horse’s size on sale for a more reasonable price.
I think the definitely run larger. They seem to fit horses with a large shoulder better than other Rambo blankets. But my guy pretty much fits into 78 Rambo/Rhino, but wears a 75 Optimo with room to spare.
no they do not run big. There is a lot more material to the optimo than to the rambo supreme turnout. But you measure both from the center of the chest to the edge of the tail, the edge, not the center, around the widest part of the shoulder, etc.
They are great but they have a lot of material with the pleats, etc., and they hang down on sides and go under barrel.
So if your horse wears a 78 in other rambos, get the 78.
The only times I’'ve had issues are that I had to choose either a 75 or a 72, not a 74 which one of my horse’s wears. The 72 is a little short on her, and the 75 is a little long over the tail. Yep, I bought both sizes to see which would fit her best.
The 78 on my boy is just perfect as have all his rambos been.
Check eBay. Sometimes people buy the wrong size and you can buy one that has not been used, just tried on. Cloudy and Callie wore their rambos and I buried Callie in them. Cloudy and Hattie wear their rambos. I bought the first at full price, then found others on sale on eBay and at the Cheshire Horse store in New England. So check for sales. I also have the Rambo Supreme turnouts.
The liners can be used interchangeably with both rambos.
What size does your mare wear? Daisy is probably as umm, rotund as Hattie, so double check her sizing so you won’t get one too short.
Yes, my horse takes a 75 in the Rambo optimo and his normal 78 in his other Rambos
I don’t find they run big and I’ve never had one rub. Unless you have the cotton sheets that they sell.
My guy wears a 75/76 in all brands… and he is nicely tucked in the Rambo Duo. fits him like it was made for him.
Yes, they do run bigger. My horse that is 78 in other Rambo sheets and blankets is in a 75 in the Optimo. Other horse is 72 in other Rambos and has a 69 Optimo that fits him. The first one was purchased a few years back, but the latter was purchased this winter, so I don’t think the sizing has changed too recently for me not to suggest going down a size. If you are actually looking at them in the store, pull them out and compare.
As for the value – I’ve only bought mine at bargain store prices. I would not choose them over the regular Rambo stuff as I think the pieced together nature is bound to fail eventually, and the Optimo is made in China (regular Rambo is still made in Ireland, Rhino/Amigo in China). I don’t think the fit is that much better to justify the exorbitant expense, but YMMV.
Cloudy got his first optimo when they first came out and it’s just as good as his others, although I do not like it that it was made in China (where trump has his hats and those looooong ties made).
The rambos have always been good. Had the first optimo not been good, and he still wears it, I’d not have bought others on sale including the ones that Hattie wears. She has some 72s and some 75s. All of Cloudy’s are 78s.
OP, you may borrow one of ours to test out. You know my #, I think from when we all were helping our friend who died.
I would say they are a little roomier than other Rambos (especially through the shoulder), but not enough that I would go down a size. I think sizing down would be far too small.
I used to work at a tack store that sold Horseware Ireland, and I got lots of training from their wonderful rep we worked with. The reason some people are saying their horses went down a size and others say they run true to size is most likely due to their horses’ builds. The Optimo is specifically designed for horses with large shoulders (ie. big shouldered Warmbloods), so if you have a horse with big shoulders in a 78 Rambo, he will be a 78 in the Optimo. However, if you have a finer built horse, he will likely take a size smaller.
What build would you say your horse is? The rubs might be from the style of rug you have chosen not fitting your horse’s particular build. Many people do not realize Horseware Ireland has different cuts designed to fit different builds. The Optimo is for big shouldered WB’s, the “Wug” style is designed for narrower horse’s with a higher wither (TB types), the All-In-One style is also designed for a narrower build, the “Stock Horse” line is for Quarter Horse types, the “XL” line is for draft and draft crosses, and the rest of the regular Rambo/Rhino/Amigo blankets are designed for your average Warmblood.
Yes, they do.
Venice, sorry to disagree but my VERY large shouldered (with a crazy high-set neck) draft cross measures and wears an 84" in other Rambo styles and the 81" Optimo fits him with room to spare.
The website I ordered mine from even cautioned buyers to go down a size.
I think the quality is fine. I’ve had the Optimo for close to 2 years now and it’s held up well.
Another vote for the fact that they run large. I bought 87 based on measurement and in reality the 84 fits him.
Agreed, they run large. They may not measure in length to be larger, but because of the extra material I would do down a size unless your other rambo is super snug.
They run large. I have Optimos in 72, 75, 78, 81 and 84 for various horses. My mare typically can wear a 76 or 78 in most brands, and she’s in a 75 in the Optimo, and can even go down to a 72.
I like them - never had one rub, and quality is fine. I’ve been using them for 4 years or so, on youngstock, WBs and OTTBs.
Yes, IME they run one size too large. My guy who wore a Supreme in an 84", took an 81" in the Optimo.
