Thank you for your review. Pleased you are happy with the service from Ruggles. This rug is our most popular on the range and we have had amazing reviews about it, the shredding may have been cause by the horse rubbing on something in the field, trees/ wire etc as this is not the feedback we have had.
Any fly rug, even those more expensive specialist types which have elastic at legs, and more coverage cannot keep all pests out. Rugs such as this which don't have the elasticated legs etc of course will not give full protection as pests can get in under the tail flap, under the belly, at shoulder gussets etc especially when they move which will allow more gaps. This rug is transparent so any flies etc that have got in will be more visible.
With regard to the fabric yes it is stiffer than some of our other fabrics - it is 100% nylon diamond weave.