Swish Horse : FAQ

We think of under rugs as ‘underwear’ for your horse. We wear underwear to keep us and our clothes clean and hygienic. It’s the same for horses. Under rug’s keep your top rugs free from hair, scurf and dirt buildup and they are easy to remove and wash regularly to keep your horse’s coat clean and their skin in good condition.

In summer the under rugs are light and cool enough for them to wear on their own and in winter they provide another layer of warmth and keep your top rugs in good condition so they last longer. Being the first thing against your horse’s skin all day long it is a very important to get a good fitting rug that doesn’t rub. If our underwear rubbed, slipped or irritated our skin we would throw it in the bin! Our horse’s obviously can’t do this, so it is important we make good choices on their behalf so they can be clean, comfy and happy.

Every horse is different. Some horses can be ‘hot’, ‘thin skinned’, ‘allergic’, ‘very active’ or ‘easy care’. Our climate also varies greatly and we need different materials for different times of the year depending on where we live and whether our horse is stabled or paddocked. We are pleased to be able to offer you a choice of materials to suit your horse’s individual needs.

Also beware of other companies that say their rugs are ‘cotton’ rugs when in some cases have little or no cotton at all. We are totally upfront about the exact percentage of each of our materials so you can make an informed decision for your horse. Please refer to the materials/colours page for full details or call us to help recommend the best choice for you.

Yes. All three material choices are fine as a protective ‘cooling’ rug in the warmer summer months. They provide excellent protection against biting insects and the sun’s rays as well as keeping the coat clean and cool. Each material has it’s pros and cons depending on your horse and it’s needs (which is why we offer a choice!).

If you have a ‘hot’ horse or live in a hot climate your best choice for summer is the poly/cotton blend or a light coloured cotton drill. If you have a horse who is tough on rugs or paddocked with other horses we suggest the poly ripstop as this is the most durable of the three.

Just like clothing, each company’s sizes can vary. We strongly recommend you measure your horse before placing an order with us. That way we can check your horse’s measurements against our patterns to make sure you get the perfect fit.

We can also mix and match neck sizes and lengths to suit different shaped horses if required. A good fit is very important for your horse’s comfort and worth taking the time to measure. You’ll find our easy measuring guide to print out and fill in on our sizes page.

You’ve heard the saying ‘you get what you pay for’. Well quite simply our under rugs are the best fit and quality on the market. Your horse can wear it’s under rug all day long, year in year out, so a good fit that lasts well and doesn’t rub is very important.

We also choose not to ‘price strip’ by quoting a smaller price and then making you pay extra for things like lining, tail flaps and shoulder pleats (all the things that make the rug work in the first place). We prefer to offer our rugs ‘all inclusive’ of all the things that make it fit and work so well. All our rugs are made to order here in Australia (not mass produced overseas), which is why we can offer more choices, made to measure options and the highest level of workmanship.

If you look closely at our rugs you will find we have used the best of everything, no compromise. From the unique design and shaping, right down to the webbing and stitching, everything was designed to fit and last. Giving you value for money in the long term. Wouldn’t you rather buy one good rug that fits every five years rather than one cheap rug that doesn’t fit, every year?

Your rug only lasts as long as the fittings and straps. And lets face it – straps do get worn and some buckles can break (it’s a horsey fact of life!) So we’ve made it very easy for replacement strap sets to be purchased from us and simply looped straight onto your rug to use it again immediately. No more time wasting trips to the rug repairer and the life of your rug is extended easily.

Quite simply it is the carefully thought out design and shaping. We thought it worked so well we decided to patent it!
Basically the narrower shape at the top helps to smooth down the hair beautifully making your tail look fabulous (and tamed) whether it’s for a competition, a lesson or just a hack down the road! The zip opening means easy access to keep hair sitting in the right direction and makes it much easier to put on. The tapered out design at the bottom allows the tail to hang fully in a larger area. If you have a thin tail the bag will actually help create the appearance of a thicker tail. If you have are lucky enough to have a thick tail already then our tailbag gives you enough room for it to hang nicely without squishing it up at the bottom.

Oh, and on top of this we only use the best and strongest waterproof thread, seam taping to prevent any rubbing, zip protector to stop hair getting caught in the zip and a ready made velcro attachment.

Did I forget to mention fantastic and experienced customer service, Australian made quality and a choice of custom made with 14 colours of nylon and 9 colours of binding to choose from?





We think of under rugs as ‘underwear’ for your horse. We wear underwear to keep us and our clothes clean and hygienic. It’s the same for horses. Under rug’s keep your top rugs free from hair, scurf and dirt buildup and they are easy to remove and wash regularly to keep your horse’s coat clean and their skin in good condition. In summer the under rugs are light and cool enough for them to wear on their own and in winter they provide another layer of warmth and keep your top rugs in good condition so they last longer. Being the first thing against your horse’s skin all day long it is a very important to get a good fitting rug that doesn’t rub. If our underwear rubbed, slipped or irritated our skin we would throw it in the bin! Our horse’s obviously can’t do this, so it is important we make good choices on their behalf so they can be clean, comfy and happy.


Every horse is different. Some horses can be ‘hot’, ‘thin skinned’, ‘allergic’, ‘very active’ or ‘easy care’. Our climate also varies greatly and we need different materials for different times of the year depending on where we live and whether our horse is stabled or paddocked. We are pleased to be able to offer you a choice of materials to suit your horse’s individual needs. Also beware of other companies that say their rugs are ‘cotton’ rugs when in some cases have little or no cotton at all. We are totally upfront about the exact percentage of each of our materials so you can make an informed decision for your horse. Please refer to the materials/colours page for full details or call us to help recommend the best choice for you.



Yes. All three material choices are fine as a protective ‘cooling’ rug in the warmer summer months. They provide excellent protection against biting insects and the sun’s rays as well as keeping the coat clean and cool. Each material has it’s pros and cons depending on your horse and it’s needs (which is why we offer a choice!). If you have a ‘hot’ horse or live in a hot climate your best choice for summer is the poly/cotton blend or a light coloured cotton drill. If you have a horse who is tough on rugs or paddocked with other horses we suggest the poly ripstop as this is the most durable of the three.



Just like clothing, each company’s sizes can vary. We strongly recommend you measure your horse before placing an order with us. That way we can check your horse’s measurements against our patterns to make sure you get the perfect fit. We can also mix and match neck sizes and lengths to suit different shaped horses if required. A good fit is very important for your horse’s comfort and worth taking the time to measure. You’ll find our easy measuring guide to print out and fill in on our sizes page.



You’ve heard the saying ‘you get what you pay for’. Well quite simply our under rugs are the best fit and quality on the market. Your horse can wear it’s under rug all day long, year in year out, so a good fit that lasts well and doesn’t rub is very important. We also choose not to ‘price strip’ by quoting a smaller price and then making you pay extra for things like lining, tail flaps and shoulder pleats (all the things that make the rug work in the first place). We prefer to offer our rugs ‘all inclusive’ of all the things that make it fit and work so well. All our rugs are made to order here in Australia (not mass produced overseas), which is why we can offer more choices, made to measure options and the highest level of workmanship. If you look closely at our rugs you will find we have used the best of everything, no compromise. From the unique design and shaping, right down to the webbing and stitching, everything was designed to fit and last. Giving you value for money in the long term. Wouldn’t you rather buy one good rug that fits every five years rather than one cheap rug that doesn’t fit, every year?



Your rug only lasts as long as the fittings and straps. And lets face it – straps do get worn and some buckles can break (it’s a horsey fact of life!) So we’ve made it very easy for replacement strap sets to be purchased from us and simply looped straight onto your rug to use it again immediately. No more time wasting trips to the rug repairer and the life of your rug is extended easily.

Quite simply it is the carefully thought out design and shaping. We thought it worked so well we decided to patent it! Basically the narrower shape at the top helps to smooth down the hair beautifully making your tail look fabulous (and tamed) whether it’s for a competition, a lesson or just a hack down the road! The zip opening means easy access to keep hair sitting in the right direction and makes it much easier to put on. The tapered out design at the bottom allows the tail to hang fully in a larger area. If you have a thin tail the bag will actually help create the appearance of a thicker tail. If you have are lucky enough to have a thick tail already then our tailbag gives you enough room for it to hang nicely without squishing it up at the bottom. Oh, and on top of this we only use the best and strongest waterproof thread, seam taping to prevent any rubbing, zip protector to stop hair getting caught in the zip and a ready made velcro attachment. Did I forget to mention fantastic and experienced customer service, Australian made quality and a choice of custom made with 14 colours of nylon and 9 colours of binding to choose from?



Yes – the material is very light and the horse can easily swish at flies much better than with a cotton tailbag.



Absolutely! – If the tailbag is correctly attached to a well fitting rug that doesn’t slip then it is virtually impossible for the horse to bend it’s dock up and out of the top of the tailored design. After all what’s the point of a tailbag that comes off!? (especially the night before a competition after you have spent an hour washing and combing it to look fabulous!)



Lets face it - the tail is a rather noticeable part of a horse. It also helps to create balance with the horses outline and movement and can accentuate the horse’s hindquarters. When a horse has a thin, dry, damaged, stained or bleached tail it is very noticeable and greatly effects your horses overall appearance. Most of us who compete go to the trouble to rug our horses to keep their coats clean, dry, healthy and looking their best. So why would we forget about the tail and leave it unprotected to be destroyed by the sun, wind and muck? It makes sense to cover it and preserve its beauty, which will in turn compliment your horse’s appearance.



Yes - for the best results we recommend your horse wear our Swish Horse ‘daybag’ whenever they are wearing their rugs. This will give you maximum protection against sun bleaching, damage and staining. Also, the more you wear the bag, the less combing your tail needs so the less hair you remove accidentally. The hair becomes stronger and is less likely to break. If you just want to keep your tail clean the night before a show then the ‘daybag’ is also your first choice. However we don’t recommend you keep the ‘travelbag’ on every day as the neoprene part is similar to a bandage and constant extended use could create circulation damage to the tailbone. The ‘travelbag’ was designed for just that - superior cushioning protection against damage and staining whilst in transit.



Not at all – the material has a showerproof coating on one side and as it is not 100% waterproof it still allows air to pass through the fabric whilst still providing good rain protection. The bag is open at the top and bottom and still has plenty of space to allow air to circulate. All our internal seams around the tailbone are covered with a soft taping so no rubbing whatsoever occurs.



That’s true - but after the first few washes it softens beautifully. The stiffness comes from the different dyes for each colour. Once washed the material loosens and softens very well but still keeps it’s fabulous strength, showerproofing and colour. No longer do we have to put up with sodden wet cotton bags that provide no rain protection at all and get filthy and stained in the mud. ‘Yuck!’



Absolutely – we believe you should spend your time riding your horses, not bent over scrubbing stains in the laundry tub! Cold wash only though, as hot water could damage the showerproof coating. Another advantage of our bags is that when you get to a show they can be wiped clean with a sponge (or rinsed in a bucket for major stains!) and will be dry by the time you’re ready to go home (we all know you can’t do that with the old cotton bags!).



Please refer to our sizing chart as this will give you all the information you should need as well as advice on how to measure you horse. Still confused? Please call or email us and we can help you make the right choice.



Yes – Sometimes ponies with big bushy tails may need a WB dock size but only a pony length. Quarter horses and some draught types and Andulusian breeds have large tails and need bigger dock sizes. We realise horses come in all shapes and sizes and although we have attempted to provide a comprehensive sizing system, you just can’t fit all of the horses, all of the time! Please call or email us and we would be happy customise your order to your exact measurements.



Yes – give us a call to custom order.



Not everyone is born with sewing skills but don’t worry this is reasonably simple. Read the brochure that comes with each tailbag carefully, as that provides detailed descriptions and drawings to make it easier to understand. Still not sure? Please call us and we will happily talk you through it.



As soon as we receive your payment we begin to process your order. On average we aim to have an order to Australian customers within 2 to 3 weeks. Overseas customers must obviously allow extra time.