hey just wondering is there any big difference between a rug with leg straps and a rug with a tail chord?
not really any big difference. Only that rugs or blankets with tail chords have one chord running behind the horse while rugs with leg straps go in between the horse's legs. Rugs with tail chords would be better for a horse who is stall kept who doesn't move around as much. The tail chord isn't the best for keeping a rug in place, especially when the horse is running around. Some owners don't like to use them because their horse developed a habit of using the chord to rub their tail Rugs with leg straps keep the rug in place and keep it straighter when the horse is moving around. Some horses with sensitive skin can get rubbings or chaffing because of the straps being too tight. They are better if your horse is pasture kept or rolls frequently.
Leg straps will hold the rug in place more efficiently than a tail cord. The tail cord simply keeps the rug from slipping forward, while the leg straps will prevent slippage from side to side and shifting. The rug will fit much better with leg straps than with a tail cord. Some horses are so rambunctious that they will actually get the rug to flip forward over their rumps, rendering the tail cord useless. However it doesn't matter to some horses leg straps vs. tail cord. For example: my QH was a great boy; he was easy on his blankets and did not try to weasel his way out of them. He had a generous rump and I used a rug with a tail cord and had no problems. However, I then used that same rug on my TB, who wore the same size, and she flipped it over her rump. I went to the barn one day and there she was, with the rug completely inverted over her back. It also would shift all over the place, so I put leg straps on it, and it solved my problems. If adjusted correctly, leg straps are more beneficial.
