Horseware Ireland celebrates 30 years of rugs and more
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
Thirty years ago in 1985 in a small town in Ireland called Dundalk, Tom and Carol MacGuinness decided to set their sights on making a rug that ‘didn’t leak, didn’t make the horse sweat and didn’t slip.’ So, after months of research and hand-stitching a prototype was created which ‘set the standard’ for modern rug design – and is now known to many as the Rambo Original.
The traditions and trust in the family-run business continued to grow, and there can hardly be an equestrian yard in Great Britain that doesn’t have a rug room filled with any number of Horseware Ireland rugs – from Rambo to Rhino, Amigo to Mio – turnout, stable, fly sheet and cooler. Humans and canines are not forgotten either with a range of clothing and smaller rugs for ‘man’s other best friend.’
Creating rugs for all different breeds – which are tested for at least one year (often three) and trialled on at least twenty different ponies before they are available on stockist shelves – it is hardly surprising that to supply demand Horseware Ireland make enough rugs to cover an entire football pitch every day (or 300 pitches a year to add further perspective). To keep up with all the orders over 120 people are employed in Dundalk and many more in Kinston, North Carolina, China and Cambodia.
The company also works to ensure that their manufacturing process is environmentally friendly, last year 5,833 trees were planted and 100% of the energy for their Irish factory is home grown – from ‘renewable Irish wind power.’
As Tom MacGuinness, Horseware Ireland CEO & Founder explains, ‘Our products are made with the same attention to detail and high quality material that we prided ourselves on in 1985. We are constantly striving to produce the best we can and have grown into a leading manufacturer of clothing for horses and riders. We never stop evolving; we’re always seeking out untrodden paths, pushing boundaries and finding new challenges. We believe that because we create, we innovate. And through innovation we aim to make a difference to the lives of you and your horse. We even keep a Rambo rug on the roof of our factory in Ireland, just for luck. (And to test the waterproofing!)’.
To celebrate their thirtieth anniversary, Horseware Ireland have created a limited edition Rambo Duo rug in their infamous green with red trim – like all their others made from ballistic nylon fabric, originally created for flak jackets worn by airmen in World War II.
Check out the Horseware Ireland thirtieth anniversary video on Hurlinghampolo.com.
For more information visit: www.horseware.com