Rump rugs
| December 8, 2009 | Posted by Melinda under Uncategorized |
For the last eighteen months I have been “meaning” to make a rump rug.
New definition of word “meaning to”. Def. Will not get done, or at least will be procrastinated to the point where the item is no longer needed.
While in my obstinate quest to find the “perfect” model to pattern my rump rug after (see that’s why it was taking so long – research!), Adventure’s on Arabee posted her version of a rump rug. It had a few interesting details that I liked, such as a button and loop system for tying up. This week I got around to making my own!
It was perfect timing. We have had very very very cold weather here this week. It actually SNOWED on Monday. Very rare. The last time it snowed in the Sacramento area was 2002. Before that it was in the 1970’s.
It mostly rained in my area and after flying to the stable from work (even though we were in the middle of a “crisis” my impassioned pleas to check on my poor cold horsey were granted….) I ran to poor Farley’s pen with a cart full of blankets and coolers. She was underneath her shelter for once, but she was still wet and cold….but not shivering yet.
I put a cooler and a rain sheet on her, and left her with a big bucket of hot mash. I was concerned that the rain sheet would trap moisture – that has been my experience at rides, even with a cooler underneath. But, I had no choice. Work was an absolute, non-negotiable priority for the day.
When I returned after work, she was dry! and warm! It worked! On to finishing the rump rug. While Farley grazed nearby (see above – it was still FREEZING so while the blankets aired out on the fence, she was decked out with my irish knit/cooler combo) I did the finishing touches – velcro fasteners.
Pictured below is the (almost) finished rump rug. There are 2 velcro loops attaching it to the back of the saddle. The edging is yellow, but the camera has bleached it out to match button and saddle pad.
I don’t have a sewing machine right now so everything had to be hand stitched. Every. single. little. stitch.
Below is a close up of the back/rear. See the seam? I wanted 2 different colors, so I ordered 1/2 yard of each color. Unfortunately this means a seam. If I had wanted a solid colored rug, I could have ordered 1 yard of fabric and there would have been no seam – the rug would have a fold at the saddle. I could have gotten around this by ordering 1 full yard of each color, and having extra, but I’m cheap. So I stitched. and stitched. and stitched.
Instead of tying the fleece together, I decided to do a blanket stitch all the way around.
For loops to tie up the rug, I crocheted red yarn and fastened underneath.
The loops come back up and go to the buttons to tie up the rug. It should be easy to do one-handed. My buttons are set forward of the saddle a few inches because I usually ride with cantle packs during rides and wanted to be able to access the button easily with the packs on.
Basic directions for making a rump rug (Adventures on Arabee does it better…):
wow you have an amazing idea. I usually buy a new equipments for my horse via online at http://bufordsaddle.com/ because they have a great products and offer discounts.
mmm…why does Arabee’s “one yard” rump rug come further down the flanks than my “one yard” rump rug? Even with the center seam, it shouldn’t make 6-8″ of difference! Mabye it depends on whcih way you turn the fabric….mmmm….At least it is cheap if it ends up too small. On the other hand, maybe it will be good to not have a lot of extra fabric flapping around.
Excuse my ignorance, but why is the rump rug needed? I understand warming up the rump muscles before riding hard, but couldn’t 15 minutes of walking do this?
BTW- This is a very cute project!
If the rump muscles chill, they can cramp or start to shiver. My main use of a rump rug is at vet checks or when walking into a vet check. As they cool down in the walk-in they can start to get too cold.
I do have a nice wool one I keep in my crew bag (it’s like a quarter sheet, so not good for trail – too big). When I come into the check I grab my bag and throw it on her rump to keep it warm. At vet checks without crew bags, I resort to putting my jacket/vest whatever on her rump to keep it warm.
Having a rug on my saddle will buy me some time to get into my bag once I’m at the vet check, and make sure that if she starts to get cold because we are going slow, I can hopefully keep her warm(er).
On a cool ride, it doesn’t take much for Farley to start shivering. She’s very warm from the effort on the trail, and sweaty. Standing for an hour, wet, with a breeze can chill her very quickly. I liken it to marathoning. I can run a marathon in December in shorts and a singlet, but afterwards I get COLD fast! Even after a regular run in tights and a long sleeve, I’m warm for a while, but after I cool down, I tend to get very cold.
I admit that my rump rug isn’t nearly as inexpensive as yours, but I LOOOOOOOVE it:
(purple) Fleece underneath, (black) waterproof/breathable on top.
You can “deploy” and “roll up” the rug from the saddle AT A TROT (yes, I have done this, many times!) using the elastic drawstrings on each end.
They also last for freakin’ ever: I’ve had mine 6+ years, and use it 3 seasons every year.
Best of all, they are made by a friend of mine.
Got money to spend? I recommend these. Sporttack carries them, but I buy direct from Victoria:
http://home.earthlink.net/~vwhiteor/cyarumprugs/
Thanks for asking the question that was burning in my mind, Heather. I had no idea whatsoever what a rump rug was, so thanks for beating me to the punch.
Ok, thats interesting, I always thought people used them at the beginning of a ride when it was cold before sunrise. I can really see a benefit a vet checks when it isn’t handy to carry around a cooler!
I had never even heard of a rump rug. I was wondering why your quarter sheet looked so small at the top of the post…and then I saw it bundled up and now I get it. That is a very cool idea!
AareneX – I agree that the CYA rump rugs are very nice. At a rainy ride a couple of years ago a VERY nice lady offered to let me borrow and I did. My first idea for making one was to make elastic draws like the CYA rugs, but it’s a lot of work and the buttons are easier to make.
If I ever purchase a rump rug, it will be a CYA rug.
My only complaint about the CYA rug is that I needed 2 hands to roll up the rug – one to push the button on the keeper thingy, and one to pull the elastic through. One thing I like about the button system is that it’s one handed. Maybe I just needed more practice with the CYA?
I am so impressed with your rump rug!! I would have never had the patience to do it by hand!!
As for the length difference – maybe your fabric was 45″ and not 60″ from selvedge to selvedge?
Looks like it turned out great!