-14 and no rugs?!?!

nicolenlolly

nicolenlolly

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So just listening to the predicted weather report on the tv whilst doing the housework and heard that predictions of -14 are being given. This is the first year for big cob not having a rug, I have weaned him off them from heavyweight with fleece when I got him two years ago. The section a's had nothing last year so I am less worried about them.

Am I just being soft, will others of you leave them rugless even if it really does get that cold? Ps they don't even have a field shelter :-0
 
Do they have nice wooley coats, and are you feeding adlib hay in the field?

It's not cold, dry weather that causes problems, but cold, wet weather..
 
I am leaving 2 of mine naked, they'll be fine as long as they have food (we do have a field shelter). I think you either rug them or don't, I don't think it does them any favours chopping and changing as the rugs flatten their coats. At what temp do you then decide to take rug off? I have had the same thoughts as you and was so tempted but then thought I'm doing it to make me feel better as its probably not the best for them long term. One of mine is a Welsh A and the other an 18month WBxTB whose never torn a rug.

As long as they have thick coats, plenty of good and some shelter (trees, hills, hedges etc) they'll be fine. I
 
Mine are naked, plenty of hay and a shelter. Unless it rains will stay naked. Their hay feeder is in a lovely sunny spot and they look really happy muching. Tho I did come across an unclipped horse yesterday that had 3 thick rugs on, poor thing looked so unhappy aparently it was being clipped this week so I dread to think what it will be wearing :-(
 
They should be fine if they have long coats and plenty of hay. our youngsters can manage happily so as long as yourscan get out of the wind they will probably be more comfortable than a lot of rugged horses as they can self insulate
 
So long as theyve got ad lib food they'l be fine :) Their own coats are the equivalent to 17 different rug weights.

Also its more strong winds that cause problems, rather than rain - as they have their own waterproofing, wind ruffles the coat and messes with their layering system, hence the need for a windbreak whether that be hedges/shelters.
 
My baby cob lived out rugless 24/7 (unclipped and wooly of course) all winter of 2010, when it was regularly down to -14.

It amazed me how fine he actually was. The tips of his coat would be covered in frost but if you burrowed your hand down to the skin he was toasty and warm. Barely dropped any weight either.

Wet and windy is a different matter.
 
Ours all stay out unrugged.

They have plenty of natural shelter (from all angles and overhead), fed ad lib haylage and/or hay. This ranges from tbs, to cobs. Only two have ever required rugs (for a handful of days) and they are both oldies and it wasn't until March when it was consistant driving rain. The cold they were all toasty in.
 
My retired cob has a thick wooley coat and does not need a rug! I did feel sorry for her when we had that awful wet weather and rugged her - she promptly got rid of the rug herself, I think that says it all! She has shelter in the form of trees and a high natural hedge and plenty of hay to munch.
 
Fine with no rugs (mine is out in -20 sometimes with no rug) provided they are not old, ill, are always out with no rug (so coat has adapted) and they either have shelter from wind and rain or come in at night if thats not available.

Cold and dry and still they find easy, its the wet and the wind or worse the two combined that is the issue.

Edited to add my pony out in -20 is a Haflinger and therefore totally in her element in the snow - she loves it!
 
I have started them on rubbish hay as I want to make sure I minimise the risk of lami recurring. They have hedges and trees so they do have shelter from wind. Its just I drive past so many horses doing the school run and then on the way up to the field and see all these snuggly horses in their big rugs and feel a little bad that maybe they could be warmer if I rugged them - completely for my own peace of mind - I am sure you are all right and I am being a pansy!!

Hubby has said that I can have a field shelter for christmas although I bet they wont use it lol!

They do have very thick coats, in fact you struggle to find the skin under it all and I havent groomed them for about 2 months as they havent been ridden due to all the naff weather. We have both been saying for a while now that the weather is going to be bad purely from the fact that their coats are just so thick!

Thank you for putting my mind at rest, I dont feel like such a rubbish mum now :)
 
I have a 17yo 7/8th TB and a 6yo cross-bred both living out unrugged, and I intend for them to stay that way.
Both have coats like yaks, are carrying plenty of weight and have access to good natural shelter and adlib haylage.

It is much healthier for them this way, providing they maintain body weight reasonably well and aren't shivering wrecks!
 
My 2 year old 3/4bred is unrugged, he has ad lib haylage. To look at he doesn't have a lot of coat but what he has is fluffy and he never feels cold. His fat friend, a big old cob, is naked as he looks like a musk ox and I hope he will lose some wieght - but its not working yet.
 
Mine are clipped and rugged up to eyeballs. But I am soft. Old dear unclipped but rugged well as has been cold this year where previously wasn't. If not too old and good weight i'd think it'd be fine. If it's traumatising you i'd just rug him up. You need sleep at least as much as he needs to be natural.
 
My cobs are really hairy!! in particular the colored is like a yeti - she had frozen ice on her back this morning, proves how well insulated she is. Shes an excellent weight and feels very warm under her woolies.
The section D is very hairy too and equally as warm
If it does get that cold will just up there hay! :D
I'd say your cob would be fine naked.
Its the rain that gets to them, not the icy/snow/dry cold weather.
 
My cob will also be staying naked, no matter how cold it gets.

He only gets a rain sheet on when it's raining and cold/windy. He is in his element and (sadly) hasn't dropped any weight yet!
 
Spotsrock said:
Mine are clipped and rugged up to eyeballs. But I am soft. Old dear unclipped but rugged well as has been cold this year where previously wasn't. If not too old and good weight i'd think it'd be fine. If it's traumatising you i'd just rug him up. You need sleep at least as much as he needs to be natural.
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Do you know that is incredibly sensible advice!
 
I had the honour of lunching with some of the very best equine vets recently, the weather, stable ventilation and equine wind problems were amongst many subjects being chatted about.

A comment from the most senior vet stuck in my mind. - Cold will never kill a horse but pneumonia will.
 
Spotsrock said:
Mine are clipped and rugged up to eyeballs. But I am soft. Old dear unclipped but rugged well as has been cold this year where previously wasn't. If not too old and good weight i'd think it'd be fine. If it's traumatising you i'd just rug him up. You need sleep at least as much as he needs to be natural.
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I'd spend far more time worrying about them sweating up if out and rugged when fine without!

Unclipped or stabled and I normally rug. If rugged early then I'd continue. Unclipped and toasty without then I'd never bother, as they've built their coat to work without rugging by now (obviously if they are unclipped and not toasty then they need help).

This year on the farm (down south east) is currently 9 degrees warmer than two or three years ago (thankfully!)
 
6 naked in our fields. They dont need rugs if they grow enough hair. As long as they get hay all our lot are fine. My elderly cob is 32 and only started having a rug last year and still in a lightwieght now
 
Please let it get that cold again! Winter 2 years ago was fabby: no mud.
My cob is never rugged AND he's clipped (low trace with him belly left on). Just back from checking him and he's toasty warm at -7 tonight.

At such low temps it's too cold to rain so they fluff themselves up and stay really warm. Any snow just lies on top if them. It's when it's 2 degrees and peeing with rain that they get cold.
 
-14 but a crisp dry cold is better than -3 with rain/ sleet/ wet snow. Ok yes it's cold but ski restorts get similar temps and they get horses there. Decent shelter, water and grub they will be fine!
 
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