There are so many horse rug manufacturers and suppliers these days, but how do you ascertain which ones are selling quality products before you spend your hard earned dollars? Obviously you're here reading this blog, so we can assure you we're one of the good ones, (she writes with a grin), however we thought we'd list a few things we pay special attention to, so that you may know what to look for yourself.
One of my go to's as a shopper, is to read the reviews. (My husband, Jamie, can often be heard saying - 'The reviews are where it's at'.) The good and the not so good. Sometimes the not so good reviews can be explained, or are unfortunate rarities where something hasn't lived up to standards, but pay particular attention to how the company responds to them. We're not immune to the odd issue, we freely admit it. We wouldn't be human if we were perfect. However, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service, so if something bothers our customers, we want to know about it. We want happy customers and happy horses, and your feedback helps us to improve and tailor our products going forward.
So how do we begin at ground level, to develop a product that won't let you down? Below is a brief explanation of a few of our important requirements when it comes to manufacturing products that last.
Did you know??
- We pay 20-25% more for our buckles to ensure better quality metals, and manually check every metal fitting used on our rugs, for any faults or flaws in the metal or metal plating.
- We go the extra mile with stitching - for example we make sure our straps are sewn and reinforced correctly to prevent them coming loose, or separate from the rug over time.
- Straps and buckles are both stitched using a computerised machine for consistent stitching and reinforcement.
- Our ripstop fabric is woven in house on automatic machines. The fabric is then checked for defects or inconsistencies in the weave etc, prior to being used.
- There are a lot of brilliant recycling processes in the world today, however using recycled fibres for polyester yarn is not yet one of them, as it makes the yarn inconsistent in texture and strength. We pay 30% more to use virgin fibres for our ring spun poly-cotton yarn, to prevent breakages and weaknesses.
- The stitching thread we use is Polyester/Cotton core spun thread that is ideal for horse rugs. The polyester core is wrapped in a cotton covering. The polyester core gives this thread flexibility and strength, while the cotton covering gives it heat resistance and a soft, natural feel and appearance. These threads do not fade or shrink when washed.
- We have a manufacturing team who pays attention to all the small details, and who realises the importance of quality, over price and production speed. We want our products to be affordable yes, but we will never use substandard materials just to meet a price point.
So in a nutshell? We're not the cheapest, and that's on purpose. Cheap has never been part of our ethos here at Earlwood. We'd rather sleep soundly at night knowing your rug will last the distance, than cut corners just to shave a few dollars off. Your horse deserves better than that, and so do you.
We choose materials that are fit for purpose, that will do their job, and that will last. We hear every week from people who have had particular Earlwood Rugs or Hoods in their collection for multiple seasons and/or many years, and are still going strong, and therein lies extra value in your purchase price.
When you buy an Earlwood rug, you're getting more than just fabric and buckles - you're getting years of thought, planning, testing, and a whole lot of care stitched into every seam. Are you ready to see the difference for yourself? Come and join the Earlwood Stable, and just see if your old rugs don't start collecting dust on the shelf, instead of hair from your horse!