20 degrees and wearing turnout rugs.

My horse is out 24 7 fr summer and hasn't had a rug on for weeks, its so muggy! He'd sweat in even a lightweight rug, others at the yard have been rugging up for the tiniest bits of rain but it is up to them i guess. My boy is happy so thats all that counts :)
 
In general my horses are how i like them :D i dont give a flying fig what anyone else thinks they can jog on, and one of them has a rug on :eek: but it is a flysheet :D
On every thread it is obvious we all have different ideas of our horses needs usually based on our own horses, but my 30yo's needs differ from my fit 8yo and my 10yo who the midgies have a taste for.
 
Normally I would not rug in this weather, but had to put them all on last night as the temperature dropped and the rain was far heavier and more prolonged than had been forecast. A couple of the horses were shivering :eek:. They are all no fill rain sheets and are removed during the day, but will go back on in a couple of hours as more heavy rain and wind is forecast tonight. :(
 
Someone in the next field had a turnout on her horse at dinnertime today, poor thing must have been boiling in the sun, and it's still humid too. The others all had rugs on overnight and were taken off this morning. It was hot last night as well. They are horses, not babies!!!!
ETA, it was dry here last night.
 
Has it occurred to anyone that the reason horses get shivery is because they have rugs on most of the time? I have Spanish horses - not really designed for cold temperatures - yet they all go out without rugs year round (some that itch get fly rugs when it's midgey). The only horse I ever had that shivered in the wet was a big, butch cob that had come from a show yard. He grew out of it when I ignored his wimpishness and chased him around to warm up.
 
Let's not forget we are talking about horses here. Animals who's skin is fine to be freeze marked. Heavy rain fall in 20 degrees is NOT going to kill ANY horse. I understand a breathable rain sheet if you plan to ride. I understand a fly rug. But a rug on anything in 20 degrees is crazy. They can control their temperatures... I wouldnt wrap my baby in a blanket today when we walked to the yard, if I had, she'd have been sweating, so why rug the horse?
 
I agree to a point Cortez. But my older TB mare isn't going to get over it anymore. She's not an easy keeper as it is. I agree everyone keeps them differently. But I also don't have time to wait til dry and demud for them to be worked. Especially in winter when the days are short enough. I also don't have much cover in fields. But yes, they'd most likely be tougher without. Horses can and do get hypothermia so I can't watch them shaking and toss more hay and say get over it. But I realise that's my personal preference.

Terri
 
I was humming and hah-ing about whether to put a lightweight on overnight yesterday as it was absolutely hammering down.

It eased off slightly so I went down to check my mare, and not only was she almost dry, she was actually steaming! She was covered in white marks so had obviously worked up a sweat when it was pouring, and dried off in the five minutes lull in the downpour.

At the end of the day, I'd rather they were a bit cold in the summer than too hot - if they're chilly they can go for a runaround, but if they're too hot they'll just wilt.
 
Mine are in during the day and out at night. They are much more comfortable that way, less flies and no need to rug (unless it is really torrential).
Their coats don't fade with the sun and they avoid the dreaded clegs too.
 
BSJAlove said:
Let's not forget we are talking about horses here. Animals who's skin is fine to be freeze marked. Heavy rain fall in 20 degrees is NOT going to kill ANY horse. I understand a breathable rain sheet if you plan to ride. I understand a fly rug. But a rug on anything in 20 degrees is crazy. They can control their temperatures... I wouldnt wrap my baby in a blanket today when we walked to the yard, if I had, she'd have been sweating, so why rug the horse?
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High five to that.

There is nothing that bugs me more than seeing a horse in a turnout rug on a warm, sunny day. Yes they've been domesticated and live differently to how they do in the wild, I understand that (and some of ours are rugged in winter as required), but I honestly think it's cruel to let a horse stand there sweating. To my mind horses should be turned out with adequate shelter to protect them from the rain, not be forced to effectively wear a coat on a potentially warm and muggy day in case they get damp and chilly for a brief moment.

I'd far rather a horse had to warm itself up when the weather takes a turn for the worse than that it stood there sweltering in a layer it can't remove or that it's natural heat control can't help with.

And yes, I know that all horses are different and a lot of owners think they know best. I don't pretend to be an expert and know everything about them but that's just how I feel about rugging!

ETA: No offence intended at all. I've seen my horse shiver on a particularly rainy day in August but she took herself off to her shelter and I made sure adequate forage was provided. Within no time at all the shivering stopped and she was happy and a sensible temperature. It was August! Not cold! Just the rain caught her off guard and she needed time to adjust.
 
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My horses all have rugs off, its going down to 12 degrees tonight and raining- they still have their rugs off! They have a field shelter and 3 out of 4 are fat despite being muzzled and exercised every day. The skinnier pony has just come from Ireland and has survived for over 5 years out in Ireland rug-less so I think he will be just fine :D

There are a couple of donkeys up the road rugged up (NOT fly sheets, they are in lightweight rugs :( ) I have no idea why, but they look miserable and I'm concerned for their health in that temperature- mine get a cold shower and stand in the stables in the afternoon to cool off.
 
in my book, unless special circumstances (ie sick/old horse) then I don't need rug over about 12 degrees. A wet horse can be ridden, it won't hurt it. I am using fly rugs atm as they are on part of the field with no field shelter due to spraying for buttercup.
 
Mmm, oh dear. I've been feeling guilty today, since I chucked one of mine out with a lightweight on. The youngster who rarely gets rugged, went out without, but the older girl shivers and sulks and is generally furious if she's left out in the rain without a rug, warm or not. It looked like it was going to lamp it down before I left the yard and they're out all day and night. S*d's law, of course, it went on to be sunny and warm. So, I'll have a hot cross horse in the morning instead of the wet cross one I'd undoubtedly have had if I hadn't rugged her. British summertime, got to love it...
 
I think you cant really generalise and say all horses should be fine over a certain temp, just like people some will feel the cold more than others especially the older ones.

Im definately not a fan of overrugging and my horse has never been rugged in summer or broke a sweat in a rug but he is getting old now and has a waterproof rug on him most the time.
I do take it off if the weather gets very warm and there is definately no chance of rain so he has had it off since tuesday but the rain just started drizzling so I ran over and on goes his rug. Last time he got stuck in rain he could not stop shivering, so to me having him in a lightweight half fly half waterproof rug is right for him! Im sure people pass and wonder why he is in a rug but I know my horse and they dont!!
 
CP has been wearing a lightweight turnout because she is clipped right out, yesterday I left it was torre trial rain Nd two hours later bright sunshine!
 
My thin skinned TB has had a no fill rainsheet put on tonight as it's forecast to batter down with rain where I am, overnight. The New Forest wasn't rugged all winter and probably won't be this winter. I rug my horses as I see appropriate and treat them as the individuals I know them as, not what other people dictate I should or shouldn't do.
 
I committed to having mine naked when I got him, naked and barefoot except in the coldest of temperatures. He's an Arab, I've had to rethink as most of what I know relates to natives. So this winter he'll be rugged up a bit more fully to help keep weight on (I know! Keep weight ON! crazy). At the moment he's got a waterproof full neck fly rug on, as he gets rainscald at the drop of a hat if he gets rained on. This pains me greatly, but he hates being itchy. To be fair it actually seems to keep him cooler in the heat as it's white. No sweating so far, in 23 degree sunshine. I just think there is such a market for waterproof fly rugs, it's the best horse related purchase I've made. Amigo Aussie, if anyone wants one!
 
Mine are all naked, they do have their stables to come into if they want so aren't stuck in the rain. If it's raining, I might stick a lightweight rug on the horse I want to ride in the morning so he's dry - generally not though.

Interestingly, last night when it was one of those torrential downpours, I shut my three on the yard, with haynets and access to their stables. All were naked. Two chose to stand in the stables and eat the third stood in the rain and got soaking wet. He could have gone inside if he'd wanted, the net he was eating was tied in an empty stable and he's boss pony so could have booted the other two out of he'd felt so inclined. (The other two, are also the two that have been pandered and rugged in the past)

If he hadn't chosen to stand there, and was instead in the field with no shelter I'd have felt guilty and would probably have rushed out to fetch him in, to dry him off and rug him up. What does that say - us humans are far more bothered about our little darlings getting wet than they are ;) He was dry about an hour after it stopped raining - far quicker than any rug would dry.
 
Mine has had a rug on but I've got a waterproof fly rug left it off the other day because it was 23 degrees and he came in with bites like tennis balls .so it hard to know what to do for the best
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
mine have got the rambo waterproof liners in their fly rugs most days, brilliant at keeping rain off their backs without making them hot.

the half and half rain sheet/fly rugs look good too.

hard to know what to for the best at 6.30am, ours would be tucked up and shivering if they got rained on all day but there have been days they have gone out in LW and then its brightened up by 10am and im cursing. very difficult to get it right every single day.
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This, my boy has to wear a fly rug, which i can put a waterproof liner in. however if heavy rain is forecasted I might as well put a lightweight no fill rain sheet on. Believe me, I would much rather he didn't have to wear any rug but he gets really bothered by flies.

I do agree that most horses can do without and would feel much better without. (although having watched my mare roll in freshly rained on dust yesterday and then spending a stupid amount of time brushing it all out to ride I would quite happily rug her at the merest sniff of mud!)
 
Same as Jericho. I have a shelter in one field so mare goes there as less grass, and she can cope naked unless flies awful. Big lad is a total wimp with the flies, so if itis likely to be mild but wet, wears no fill turnout to protect him from being bitten. He needs more grass so I have no choice but to give him at least 50% of his turnout where there is grass but not shelter= flies. The other one is also not affected by flies so goes naked, and without much shelter.
 
Lots of sweeping statements here. My horses, I know what is best for them individually and care for them accordingly. Here is MY pet hate. Sanctimonious sweeping statements. There is no rule for all horses, no temperature cut off and it's ridiculous to make one size fit all. At my yard, horses are rugged according to their individual needs. Some are better with nothing, some need a rainsheet, some go out at night, some during the day. A dose of common sense is a much better course of action.
 
I notice one or two of Mollie's fieldmates are rugged up at the slightest hint of rain even at the temperatures we've had the last few days, and brought in if it's more than a light shower.

I last owned a horse in the early/mid 1970s and am amazed at how things have changed rug-wise. Then, no-one I knew used a rug unless the horse was clipped in winter. I never saw a rug on a horse in summer, whatever the weather. It never occurred to me to think my horse would come to harm in the rain. We were taught not to "strap" a horse who lived out, just to brush the mud off.

We rarely bathed horses, except for special occasions, and then we kept them in a few days to let the grease build up in their coats.

I stick to my old-fashioned ways and Moll's the only horse on our yard who hasn't worn a rug at all this year.
 
Titchy, mini shet, has a medium weight turnout and a fly rug today :eek: he's clipped right out tho :p. and its raining.

My horse has been wearing a no fill when its been sunny purely because she was getting a sunburnt back and it was a stop gap until I could get her a suitable fly rug with sun protection properties. She hasn't been sweating up, its not been as hot up here I suppose.
 
FionaM12 said:
I notice one or two of Mollie's fieldmates are rugged up at the slightest hint of rain even at the temperatures we've had the last few days, and brought in if it's more than a light shower.

I last owned a horse in the early/mid 1970s and am amazed at how things have changed rug-wise. Then, no-one I knew used a rug unless the horse was clipped in winter. I never saw a rug on a horse in summer, whatever the weather. It never occurred to me to think my horse would come to harm in the rain. We were taught not to "strap" a horse who lived out, just to brush the mud off.

We rarely bathed horses, except for special occasions, and then we kept them in a few days to let the grease build up in their coats.

I stick to my old-fashioned ways and Moll's the only horse on our yard who hasn't worn a rug at all this year.
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Oh how true this is/was. I came back into horses in 2008 following brain & back surgery & needed a reason for getting out of bed to cope with the pain. I started off with Sec As, palominos, so kept them fly sheeted or rugged to protect coat colour & it all escalated from there. A rug for every conceivable element. Tailgator bags for tails (which I still think are a must for white tails). Then I got my Hackney, who has been very, very badly treated & abused. So I mollycoddled her. She hates the rain, hates mud, so I didn't leave her in that situation & would rush to yard & put her in stable. When she was in foal, I had to wean her off rugs so the foal would be able to feed safely. I hated seeing her shivering but knew I had to harden my heart. I still rushed to put her in stable though. I see no point in horses standing in deepish mud, getting soaked (with or without rugs), no grazing & looking miserable as sin, when there is a stable available. It was bitterly cold when the foal (25th March) & to see both mare & foal shivering was awful. I had Shires foal rugs ready & when the vet was there, one of the girls asked when he could have his rug on. 3 years time, came the reply. Apparently they have to learn to shiver for their own protection later on. So, I have 2 brand new 3' foal rugs, still in bag! You only have to see him to see it did him no harm. It was me who was upset by it. My mare is still unrugged & I hate to see her pestered by flies, really hate it but if Red has to go through it, then so has she. I have found that her coat has become impossibly greasy, like someone has rubbed lard over her, so whether that was nature's way of protecting her after she had been so rugged I don't know but I do know that it is easier without rugs, there are no rubbed shoulders and no mane rubbed out but will I go back to them once Red is weaned? Probably. I have a dress circle, full sherpa rug that has never been on her cos I know that it won't fit, as Hackneys are cresty & I know I'll never get the zip done up but these rugs are a bit like hens teeth now, so I thought I'd better get it, just in case. Anyway, all of that to say that when horses are done early morning, there is no way of knowing that the weather will change, so for people at work, unable to get back to the yard to either change or remove rugs, it must be difficult & I bet they are thinking 'oh no, I've got the horse rugged, now it will be too hot', so a difficult situation. If the horses are shown, there is such pressure to have no marks on them, that they live un-natural lives & are rugged up to the eyeballs.
 
gingernut81 said:
Mine has a turnout fly rug (shires one I think) on as he has sweet itch and can't go naked. Please don't generalise all horse owners.
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Similar story, here. Breaking the wet/dry/wet/dry cycle has been a critical part of managing Chloe and so she's in a no-fill with neck today, as her hoody was soaked overnight and I don't trust her others to be robust enough if she rubs against the shelter. I'd rather a dry lightweight than a soaking (and warm) rug next to her skin, which needs no excuse to flare up. I treat it like horse eczema or psoriasis. Thankfully it's quite windy, here, so I don't feel too soft putting her out in it. Bizarrely, after Autumn, she'll be naked for most of the winter (with a shelter). I'll have to reassess in the afternoon, but naturally we have sunny spells, now. Poxy weather!!!!!
 
My grey ISH has a turnout rug on if there is heavy rain as he gets so filthy and also seems to feel the cold and does drop off. However I would not put it on unless very heavy rain.... love seeing horse naked after the long winter.
 
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