Turnout Blankets - value for $$; different Horseware Ireland options

[Flash44]

I had a Rambo many years ago, and that thing lasted a long time before it started needing repairs. But they are expensive. I’ve also had Rhinos, and they did well too. I’ve tried a few other cheap brands and found they don’t even go through one winter without needing repairs. I bought a North Wind, which seemed middle of the road, and it went 2 winters before it needed repairs. It seems that for every $100 you spend, you get about 1 winter of use before it needs repairs. So if repairs cost the same no matter what the brand, is it better to get the pricier turnout?

Also, why so many lines from Horseware? They have Rambos, Rhinos, and Amigos. Is the difference in price a reflection of the quality of materials?

[o0rxkxrox0o]

Last year, I overhauled my blanket collection with Schneider’s Saddlery blankets during a sale.

They fit my mare and my donkey well and were much easier on the wallet than certain other brands, and I have no complaints about the quality, either.

[theresak]

If you have a horse or herd that is hard on blankets, Rambo only.

The Rhino and Amigo blankets do not have the exact same material/construction and are not as tough - part of the reason the price is lower.

The other reason the three Horseware lines have different prices is because Rambo is the only line with all of the bells and whistles and as you go down in price, you loose some of the nice features (3 surcingles, single ring front fastener, etc.).

[Ibex]

There is definitely a drop in grade as you go down, and apparently the Mio’s can be pretty bad. However they’re all excellent quality at their price point. I’ve been very happy with the Amigos, but do see a difference in hardwear and fabric in the rhino I just bought.

(Grade = difference in specifications, features and expected performance
Quality = how well the item meets the specifications. It’s the difference between a Honda Civic with 300,000km on it and nothing more than oil changes done (low grade, high quality) and a super luxury car that constantly breaks (high grade, low quality))

[2miniB]

Yes, Schneiders are cheaper but the quality is pretty bad IME. They don’t hold their waterproofing, aren’t terribly breathable and aren’t durable. I have some of their VTEK blankets for my pony, who’s pretty easy on blankets. Waterproofing only lasts 1-3 months, and everything has runs or small tears. The lining of the neck cover disintegrated, and the replacement they sent was huge so it went back. They might be cheaper initially, but they’re more expensive in the long run since they just don’t last.

The only ‘bargain’ blanket I’ve ever had that’s held up is a Centaur turnout. Still waterproof and no damage after many years of use…even after tossing it in the washing machine with regular detergent.

You can find Rambos cheap online with a little searching

[beowulf]

for the price point, I think Northwinds (with the lifetime guarantee) or Amigos are your best bet.

I love Rambos, but they are so very expensive and the likelihood of them getting destroyed before I can get a good season out of them is very real - our hours live out 24/7, play halter-tag (and sometimes blanket tag!! :eek:) and the blankets do see some hard wear. I have a Rambo that is a decade old that I love, but it is a rarity and the rest of the Rambos I have seen have been shredded.

I bought an Amigo a month ago for my guy; the big difference between Rambo and Amigo (besides the crazy price point) is that Amigo uses different hardware: instead of clasps/clips it’s T-buckles - no leg surcingles on Amigos either. 2 belly straps on A instead of the 3 or 4 that R has.

Despite the quality of Rambos, they do not have a replacement policy which IMHO is insane. I have had plenty of boarders have their brand new Rambos destroyed within a month or two of purchase - not the fault of the Rambos, just that horses will destroy ANYTHING – and they were SOL.

So for that reason, on a budget, I’d only consider NW or Amigo. I actually love my Northwind, it’s purple and cozy and fits my guy great: it still looks brand new despite seeing lots of use, and all of ours have NWs that have held up to many seasons of brutal wear and halter/blanket tag!

If your guy is living alone, no herd, no friends, I’d go Rambo… But if he is in turnout, with other horses, you’re going to end up with a ripped blanket someday… would you rather it be the $450 one, or the $200 one with lifetime guarantee?

[cloudyandcallie]

I have bought numerous blankets and sheets.
The rambos are the best and I’ve never had any problems with any of them. I gave away my bakers and weatherbeatas and the like.
The rambos fit both ottbs and wbs well IME.

[jeta]

Centaur fan here. I have one that is going on 9 years old and only last year needed a major repair. He was turned out with a new paddock mate who is a blanket killer. Minor repairs before that. He was in a large group turnout before with horses that could play pretty hard, but he is top dog, so I think that helped…

I machine wash at home with Nikwax Tech Wash and line dry. I do my own repairs and spray the repair areas with water repellent spray from the Walmart outdoor activities department.

The last couple of years I have gotten pretty good sales on Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales.

[horsepoor]

I’m a die hard Rambo fan. As someone said above, the three lines from Horseware offer different levels of quality for a corresponding price. I don’t know if they have much left, but netequestrian.com has had Rambo, Rhino, and Amigo at some great prices recently that will rival any of the other brands mentioned here. They might have other brands as well, but I don’t even bother anymore with anything else.

[Cabaret_SK]

I love my Rambos, haven’t tried Rhino, and won’t touch Amigo. For what I pay for Amigos, I will buy Schneiders (which I have had amazing luck with on a blanket-destroyer).

[Libby2563]

I used to only have Rambos but I’ve transitioned to 1200D Amigos. I haven’t noticed a difference in how they wear/last. I prefer the hardware on them too. A couple winters ago a friend was kind enough to loan me a couple of 75" Rambos for my yearling. One of those needed repairs at the end of the season (caught on some gate hardware), whereas my Amigos never have. That said, I don’t think my horses are particularly hard on blankets so maybe I’m the wrong person to ask.

[Ruth0552]

If you don’t want to buy a Rambo consider buying the SmartPak Ultimate blanket with the guarantee. Honestly I haven’t tried it, but that replacement program sounds good for a horse that will destroy things.

I bought a Schneiders a year and half ago at the recommendation of someone on here. Never again. The waterproofing wasn’t great to begin with, it got a rip in the side, and the stitching came out of one of the bindings. It has now been replaced with a Rambo.

Here’s the REAL difference between Rambo, Rhino and Amigo. Amigo is made in China. Rambos are made in Ireland. I haven’t had a Rhino in a few years so I’m not sure where they are being made at this point. I have never had stitching come out of a Rambo or a rip in the fabric. Of the 3 Amigos I have: 2 have had stitching come out of the binding, and 2 have gotten rips pretty quickly. The ones that ripped were both Mios. And you can almost always find one on sale for $50 or so, and then it’s like, do I get it cleaned and repaired, or just buy a new one? Around here it’s only like a $10 difference. The 3rd Mio I have is a 1200D Amigo Wug and there was still an issue with the stitching. AND all 3 slide off to the left. The Rambos don’t do that nearly as badly.

Netequestrian was having a blow out sale on Rambos- not sure if it’s still going on.

[BigMama1]

You guys are THE BEST! I just ordered the Rambo Duo turnout ($434.95 at Smartpak) for $219 at Netequestrian, plus free shipping, plus an extra 10% off with the coupon code Facebook10. I could kiss you! And coincidentally the only size left was 87, which is my big boys size

[horsepoor]

[QUOTE=Ruth0552;8958313]

Here’s the REAL difference between Rambo, Rhino and Amigo. Amigo is made in China. Rambos are made in Ireland. I haven’t had a Rhino in a few years so I’m not sure where they are being made at this point. [/QUOTE]

Rhinos are also made in China.
And while most of the Rambo turnouts are still made in Ireland, the Optimo, I was disappointed to find, is also made in China.

[Palm_Beach]

[QUOTE=o0rxkxrox0o;8957628]
Last year, I overhauled my blanket collection with Schneider’s Saddlery blankets during a sale.

They fit my mare and my donkey well and were much easier on the wallet than certain other brands, and I have no complaints about the quality, either.[/QUOTE]

I did the same, but did not have much luck. They ripped.

And the Northwinds “Lifetime” Guarantee makes no sense. The outer layer is only guaranteed for 2 years.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8958523]
I did the same, but did not have much luck. They ripped.

And the Northwinds “Lifetime” Guarantee makes no sense. The outer layer is only guaranteed for 2 years.[/QUOTE]

It’s a Lifetime guarantee, trust me. You can return it any time for any reason.

[dani0303]

My 2 shredded their Rhinos in 2-3 wears. They tore where the hardware attaches to the fabric.

I replaced them with Amigos and have been much happier with the quality/price ratio. Their Amigos lasted all winter last year without so much as a minor tear. I think I’ll stick with them for the foreseeable future.

[ejm]

My chief complaint about the Amigo Mio blankets is the belly strap placement which is so far forward that they flap wildly in strong winds and slip sideways more than the Rambo and Rhino blankets.

[quietann]

I have to say, after trying many other blankets, the mare is now exclusively a Rambo Supreme girl.

DH just convinced me that it was better to get a Rambo Supreme light turnout, rather than buying several less expensive ones that will each last 2 years at most.

They are definitely built for bigger, stouter horses than my petite but long-bodied Morgan, so she sort of drowns in them, but they are what works.

[RedHorses]

One of my horses is very good with his blankets. Damage is rare. I buy Rhino Wugs for him - though he does have a midweight Rambo Wug that I got barely used for less than a new Rhino. I buy Rhinos because I feel they are better value for my money. I had one horse in a Rambo Wug and this one in a Rhino Wug kept at the same place in the same manor (24/7 turnout) at the same time. The Rambo did not last enough longer to give me the same value for my dollar.

I find the Rhinos stay waterproof to my required standard far longer than any other blanket. I think it is because the waterproof layer is entirely separate from the outer material.

My other horse has a Rhino original because of that separate waterproof layer. He has rolled through the bonded waterproofing of two Amigo Bravos 1200D and a Canadian Horsewear Maxim each in less than six months. The first Rhino was an experiment that proved successful. He is harder on his blankets, but isn’t a destroyer of blankets. His neck rug is an Amigo 1200D.

The Rhinos, Rambo’s and Amigos fit my horses well, which is a major consideration.