Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve tried to cover all the likely questions you might have – but if we’ve missed something or you want to know more about a topic, please Contact Us – we’re happy to help.
How do I choose the right size for my horse or pony?
There are currently three sizes available and these are designed to fit horses and ponies between 11hh and 17.2hh. The straps on the pant legs are adjustable to allow for different heights, and the placement of rug attachments will also affect how Canterpants fit your horse. If necessary, the elasticised hem can be turned up to shorten the pant further.
Canterpants are designed to be worn baggy, but not long enough for the horse to be able to step on the pant legs.
Please review our Size Guide to select the best fit for your horse or pony.
Fit can vary considerably depending on the placement of the attachment points on your rug, so please also review our Rug Requirements.
How are Canterpants attached?
Canterpants have been designed to be worn with a rug. The individual pant legs have two clips that attach to the existing leg strap D rings on the horse’s rug and for the front D rings on the Belly Band and Chest Buckle provided as part of the Complete Set (or purchased separately).
We have put together short videos showing how to fit Canterpants. Fitting Instructions.
Canterpants have been designed to fit most standard rugs. To check that your rug is compatible, please review the Rug Requirements.
What if my rug doesn’t have the required fittings?
We’ve designed Canterpants to be simply clipped onto the fittings of a standard rug. We understand that some rugs don’t have the fittings that make this possible. For solutions refer to our Rug Requirements.
Can I use front Canterpants without a Chest Buckle and Belly Band?
Yes – absolutely! You just need to ensure you have attachment points at the front and at the elbow for the front legs. You can use a chest bib, a surcingle or your rug to attach D rings or similar so that you can attach the front legs.
Why do Canterpants have plastic clips and buckle parts?
In designing Canterpants our primary objective was to ensure that they were lightweight and comfortable for the horse. Our second objective was to make them as easy as possible to put on and take off your horse.
Because plastic clips are lightweight and don’t heat up in the sun like metal clips, we felt they were the right fit for Canterpants. We searched a lot of different clips before deciding on the ones we use and they’ve been tested on Reena for the last 10 months, without any issues.
Can I use Canterpants without a rug?
In short - No.
The reason for designing Canterpants was to solve the serious issues associated with fly bite sensitivity and contact dermatitis. Because these horses are usually affected across their entire body, they would typically be wearing a protective rug. We didn’t want to add any further unnecessary heat by having any extra materials across their bodies to attach the pants without a rug.
Starting out, we couldn’t cover all scenarios, so we focused on what we considered the most important ones.
That’s not to say that we won’t develop a rugless version in the future – we just had to make decisions for what we felt would help the most horses now. If this is important to you, feel free to contact us to let us know.
Can I use Canterpants on my donkey, alpaca or other animal?
There’s no reason why you can’t!
But you would need to consider the sizing and also have a rug or covering with appropriate fittings for Canterpants to be attached.
Size Guide Rug Requirements Fitting Instructions
Why zips and not velcro?
There are all sorts of decisions that need to be made when designing a new product and in order for Canterpants to have the widest possible application, we felt it important that the closures were effective against as many types of allergens as possible.
We also had concerns about large sections of velcro being a trap for grass seeds, and the openings that would potentially snag or allow allergens in.
The zips we use are a very tight closure, providing excellent protection against insects, grass seeds, dust and pollen.
However we do use velcro at the pastern to allow for adjustable closure of the elasticised cuff. This was chosen because it is much softer in a potentially sensitive area.
Can I make some suggestions to improve Canterpants?
We love hearing from people on how they think we could improve Canterpants. While we've tried to incorporate all the important aspects in the design, we're not perfect and we're always ready to listen to what you may suggest.
If you have a suggestion please Contact Us via the website Contact form, or by email contact@canterpants.com.au
How do I care for Canterpants?
Canterpants are machine washable, but we recommend care with closures and buckles.
See full instructions on Caring for Canterpants
How do I return or exchange?
Please refer to our policy for Returns and Exchanges. For whatever reason you need to return or exchange, please contact us so we can discuss the best way to manage your requirements. Review our Returns Policy.
I don’t live in Australia. How can I order Canterpants?
We’re sorry, but we’re not currently distributing outside of Australia. Keep in touch by signing up to our emails, or following us on Facebook. That’s where we’ll announce important changes.
How do I make a complaint?
Sometimes things don’t go as expected. While we try very hard to avoid this, if you do have a complaint we’d like the opportunity to make things right.
Please Contact Us to discuss your concerns.