Hi. I’m Tessa Merson, 34 years old and I’ve owned and competed horses since I was a little girl. Of course, this means I’ve gone through a lot of horse rugs and hoods! I wouldn’t even dare to estimate how many horse hoods I’ve bought (and ultimately chucked out!). Or how much I’ve spent. Sobering thought. But at the end of the day, if you’re dedicated to keeping your horse in top condition, rugging and hooding is a necessity. Brand loyalty isn’t my strong point and I think I’ve tried nearly every brand for every season: Earlwood Equine, Weatherbeeta, Caribu, Rambo, Rhino, Amigo, Skye Park & Eurohunter.
Join me today as we take a closer look at a particular hood that has just been released: Earlwood’s White Mesh Hood with Ears.
FEATURES I LIKED:
THE EARS
For me, the ear covers are the hero of this hood! We have four grey horses in our team, so any product that will assist in keeping their ears white scores big points. The ears on other hoods that I've had in the past tend to go all floppy at the tips, which makes the horses look a bit goofy. However, the Earlwood ears are made from Lycra, so they fit well and have a satin-like feel.
THE HYBRID FABRICS
I live in South-East Queensland and already this year, it is hot! In the past, I tend to take all rugs off when it gets above 35 degrees. But the flies drive the horses crazy, their coats bleach from the sun and of course, they end up filthy! That's why I really appreciate the materials used in this hood. The fabric that runs along the top of the neck and over the face is really soft Cotton that breathes well and won't rub. But the mesh panels are what I'm really keen on! It's hard to find mesh hoods where the mesh actually covers the majority of the horse's neck . But this hood has really generously sized mesh panels that promote airflow. This cooling feature together with the silky texture (not plastic-y!) makes the mesh on this hood the best I've had.
THE RUG ATTACHMENTS
I thought the rug attachments on this hood were worthy of special mention, as the concept is really simple yet effective. It is a length of robust elastic. That's all. This means you can attach on to the elastic whichever sort of clip you like. Or, if you're like me, you simply knot them to the rug Ds.
THE ZIPPER
Personally, I like zip-up hoods purely because I find them more user friendly than pull-on hoods, especially if you're dealing with youngsters or head-shy horses. What is good about the zip on this hood is that it has two velcro closures (all my other zip-up hoods from other brands only have one). This is quite practical as not only will it stop the hood from unzipping but also keeps the hood snug around the face to prevent rubbing.
The Earlwood White Mesh Hood with Ears is available in XS to XL. I'll be buying more of these great hoods this Summer!
