So the time has come to start replacing some of my 12yr old Rambo Wugs. My horses are out more than they are in when blanketed so debating on whether or not to go with more Wugs or detachable necks. One concern is the extra material of the detachable neck getting caught on something or one more thing they can grab on each other and yank around. Thoughts?
My horse wore Wugs for almost 15 years and I just switched to detachable necks last year. I have become a big fan of neck rugs for my horse. My fellow has started to run cold in his older age and also has neck arthritis, but goes out all night. The extra warmth has been really helpful in keeping him comfortable, particularly when you add on precipitation. I purchased a neck rug for each weight of blanket- no fill, medium, and heavy- and he now wears one just about whenever it’s below 40 degrees. If this wasn’t his particular circumstance, adding a neck rug would make me feel a lot less cruel about clipping the neck and turning a horse out in chilly weather!
I haven’t had a problem with horses roughhousing with their neck rugs, and my horse goes out with an absolute nudge of a pony (who also wears a neck rug, and loves it. He scrunches up his neck in it so that his ears are inside the rug, and wears it like a bonnet.)
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My two geldings play way too rough to be able to wear neck covers. They rip them off of each other so I have to stick with high neck blankets instead.
Keep in mind that Wugs and regular neck turnouts fit differently. I have one gelding that has a Rhino wug that fits him perfectly. If I put any regular neck turnout on him I can’t get a good fit around his neck and shoulders. I have tried several different brands and sizes with him and none have been a good fit. He may be weirdly shaped and this may not apply to your horse, but just be aware.
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I love detachable necks, especially for clipped horses. They are a good and easy way to tweak the warmth level when the temperature is a little “in between” blanket weights. Or, if you have one that runs a little cold or a little hot you can make a big impact adding or subtracting the neck.
Also, for a rainy or snowy day with a clipped horse it helps them stay almost totally dry.
The only caveat is that some horses hate them. 
I have a couple at my barn that get really irritated and itchy, and will rub their necks on fenceboards and whatnot. I have a friend with a horse who cut open his head (badly) as he was rubbing and attempting to scratch himself under the hood.
Isn’t the winter so fun?
I would love to see a photo of the pony with his ears tucked in his neck! That sounds super cute.
He’s precious. I’ll ask his person if she’s OK with having his picture shared on the internet, and then see if I can get him to pose. He gets cold very easily (despite having a coat like a shag rug) and has very much appreciated his bonnet.
Thanks all for the replies! I’ve just purchased a medium Rambo with detachable neck for now to see how it goes. Bonus my local tack store was having a 15% off sale!
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sounds like an adorable guy!
