In 1979, Tom MacGuinness had just returned from eight years as a Christian missionary in South America and was working as an instructor at his family’s riding school in Dundalk, Ireland. Increasingly frustrated by turnout blankets that leaked, slipped and made horses sweat, Tom set out to design a product that would remedy these problems. In doing so, he wound up revolutionizing the horse blanket market.
After much research, experimentation, toil – and learning to sew by hand and machine – he developed a fully waterproof and breathable prototype made from lightweight ballistic nylon, a virtually indestructible material created by DuPont during World War II for flak jackets.
Tom’s partner in life and business, his wife Carol, christened the blanket Rambo for its durability and strength and, in 1985, the couple founded Horseware Ireland, which is today a global leader in the production of not only blankets, but also a wide range of unique, high-quality equestrian products.
By 1996, the Rambo Original had become the world’s top-selling turnout blanket due to its innovative design and high quality. It also became the standard to which competitors designed and created their own products.
Tom MacGuinness, Horseware Ireland founder and CEO, is an avid rider and won his first FEI-level endurance race in June and competed in the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
“When I started looking at blankets,” says Tom MacGuinness, Horseware Ireland’s founder and CEO, “people were using jute rugs to protect their horses. The terrible thing about these blankets was that the fabrics didn’t breathe, they didn’t stay waterproof and they were extremely heavy to lift. Looking at the horses we had, I figured there had to be a better way of doing it and, if it didn’t exist, I was going to figure it out myself! I think we have. Sure, when asked about the quality of the rug, I’ve had someone say, ‘It’s akin to a Gucci waistcoat!’”
Today, the now-iconic, multiple award-winning Rambo collection consists of a number of models: Original, Supreme, Wug, Duo, and Optimo. They all feature the ballistic nylon outers, which are not only extremely tough but are also slippery and, therefore, resist the grip of other horses’ teeth. Horseware Ireland’s Aquatrans technology ensures waterproofness without sacrificing breathability. Rambo’s Vari-Layer technology thermobonded fiberfill resists compression, allowing the blankets to maintain loft and thermal capacity. The fibre is made from 80 per cent recycled material, highlighting Horseware Ireland’s environmental commitment.
Horseware Ireland also offers the Rhino and Amigo blanket ranges, in addition to a large array of rider wear, equipment, a sports therapy line and pet accessories. Operating under the maxim “Innovation not Imitation,” all products are designed and developed at Horseware Ireland’s headquarters in Dundalk, where the story began 35 years ago (and where the Rambo blankets are still manufactured). In all, the company employs more than 700 people at this facility and others in China, Cambodia and North Carolina. All products undergo extensive in-house and field testing for at least a year before they hit the market.
“I’m still very much involved in the business and continue to work closely with the R&D and marketing departments. The focus on being the best remains and our rugs are tested for at least one year before they hit the shelves, and in many cases tested for up to three years. The Rambo remains the pinnacle of our blankets but we’ve some really exciting products in our other ranges, such as the Amigo Reflectech, our newest high-tech addition. I feel energized to keep going as it’s interesting to see what we come up with next!” says Tom, 68.
Still an avid rider, he won his first FEI-level endurance race in June and competed in the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Tom currently ranks number 22 in the FEI Endurance Open Riders World Ranking and has qualified for the World Championships next year in Italy, September 3-6.
