50g rug in cold weather - will it offer any warmth benefit?

[Little bit old-fashioned]

Hi everyone, I would love some advice if anyone can spare it.

Tonight it drops to -1 here. Cold and clear. The WB (living out unclipped) runs warm and has been happy so far without a rug.

Last night dropped to 3 degrees and I put a 50g on her. This morning soon as sun came out (still 4degrees) she was already getting warm so of course it came off.

Im dithering about tonight. Don't really want to put anything thicker on - so my question is - does a 50g actually give them any warmth benefit? Will it help her stay a little warmer or will it actually make her colder because she can't raise up her winter coat to trap warmth?

Would love to know your thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kerrieberry2]

my warmblood and connie x tb both have irish clips and have only got 50g rugs on at night and rain sheets during the day today! mine wear 50g most of the winter, as like yours, they both run warm! and I only go up if its going to be minus figures for long periods of time over night, in which case I either go for 100g or if really really cold I'll put 100g on top of the 50g

 

[cauda equina]

Being unclipped, if she's a good weight and has plenty of forage, does she need a rug at all?
I tend not to rug mine for dry cold because their own woolly coats are enough, but do rug if it's wet and cold

 

[Alibear]

Amber's not clipped but doesn't grow much coat and is very happy in her 50g turn out until it drops below 0 and then she goes up to 100g. The same with stable rugs but switch to 100g below 5 degrees when she's in as she's not moving around as much.

 

[Little bit old-fashioned]

my warmblood and connie x tb both have irish clips and have only got 50g rugs on at night and rain sheets during the day today! mine wear 50g most of the winter, as like yours, they both run warm! and I only go up if its going to be minus figures for long periods of time over night, in which case I either go for 100g or if really really cold I'll put 100g on top of the 50g

That's great thank you for replying. Really reassuring to know that the 50g will still offer that little extra support. I was worrying I might be making her colder with a 50g than no rug!

Both mine run hot it turns out - although this is first time having unclipped WB and TB in winter so they are a lot better equipped to deal with the elements. We have a rug sharing situation going on at the moment and I was expecting the TB to always be 1 rug up (at least) on the WB and that I'd want to put the 200g on the TB at minus 1 and 100g on the WB but no chance!

So was then worrying that putting the 50g on might actually be doing less rather than more help for the WB - so this is really reassuring

Much appreciated!

 

[Kirstd33]

My retired coblet lives out unclipped and I just popped a 50g rug on him on Friday in that 36 hr deluge we had and I've left it on him now as our temps are forecast to be between +5 in the day and -1 at night for the next 4-5 days. Thats quite warm enough for him until the temps drop well below freezing.

 

[Little bit old-fashioned]

Being unclipped, if she's a good weight and has plenty of forage, does she need a rug at all?
I tend not to rug mine for dry cold because their own woolly coats are enough, but do rug if it's wet and cold

Thank you - she has plenty of grass still and there is hay out as well overnight as the grass is losing its spark for sure. She also has condition to spare after the autumn flush of grass.

I do wonder whether to leave her but thought if a 50g does offer a little extra benefit - and there is a little wind chill - it would be a good idea.

Got a friends fat pony cross out with them and he most certainly won't be getting a rug. Was very pleased to see the temp drop enough to make his metabolism work a little harder

 

[SEL]

Thank you - she has plenty of grass still and there is hay out as well overnight as the grass is losing its spark for sure. She also has condition to spare after the autumn flush of grass.

I do wonder whether to leave her but thought if a 50g does offer a little extra benefit - and there is a little wind chill - it would be a good idea.

Got a friends fat pony cross out with them and he most certainly won't be getting a rug. Was very pleased to see the temp drop enough to make his metabolism work a little harder

The drop in temperatures will be a shock to the system so I would probably pop it on overnight. I won't be rugging my little native pony because she's found the past couple of weeks far, far too warm (even with an irish clip) and has a very good layer of blubber - but the other two will be in 100g - 200g if its going below zero

 

[Sanversera]

Not really adequate, I'd say you need a 100gm or 200 GM especially if it rains or snow

 

[Fransurrey]

My cob runs hot and he was clipped yesterday (full neck off, belly off and thighs - gawd knows what we call that these days...). He was fine at 8am this morning in his 50 g rug that he'd had on overnight.

 

[Little bit old-fashioned]

Thank you everyone for all the replies. Its been so helpful! I really appreciate this forum - 10 years off horses and I constantly doubt myself now when making decisions! So nice to have somewhere you can drop a question like this and you get so many friendly replies xx

As we are cold and clear I think my thinking to lean towards the 50 tonight was a good one and reassured by lots of you here all using them too for just a little extra.

Thank you again!

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

If she is unclipped and runs warm , then I wouldn’t put a rug on if it’s forecast to be cold and dry. What’s her weight like?

 

[JBM]

None of mine are clipped and only one who has a rug on is underweight atm so needs the help
But they have a big bale in the middle of the field so as long as they have something to eat and have natural or manmade shelter they are warm

 

[ihatework]

I find the majority of horses that are unclimbed much prefer to be rugless when it’s dry, even if weather is colder. Their coat is so well adapted. It’s the cold and wet they are more likely to struggle in if they are a little delicate!

Now, practicality for riding and keeping clean, might dictate the rug!

 

[IrishMilo]

Not really adequate, I'd say you need a 100gm or 200 GM especially if it rains or snow

A 200g on a well covered horse who runs hot and is usually naked is excessive at best. No wonder we've got a rugging welfare epidemic!

 

[Sanversera]

My bib clipped cob has, perhaps surprisingly quite a short coat. In wet weather if it's below 5 degrees he definitely needs rugging and he really does feel the cold. He's presently in a 100 gm. If the weather gets milder after this cold spell he'll be unrugged or popped into a 50 GM to keep clean so I can ride.

 

[TheMule]

50g is my most used rug for my half clipped warmblood and unclipped TB. I will admit to using it primarily to save myself a lot of grooming time, but I do think it helps keep them a bit warmer, particularly if the wet/ wind

 

[Tiddlypom]

50g rugs are now my most used weight.

A bit of warmth, but unlikely to cook the horse if the day turns out milder than expected.

Having two oldies, one having PSSM, I do go heavier when it’s cold and wet but the 50gs are the standbys.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Unclipped Arab and Blanket clip on Highland pony - both in 50g and both warm.

The rug went on Arab when we had constant rain.
Highland has been rugged for a couple of months - she's older and doesn't run warm these days. When the temp drops she will likely be in 100g. She is doing better than the last few years as she was in 100g in Aug and up at 200 or 300g later in the year. I think this year she might manage with 100g all winter but we will see.

 

[Widgeon]

50g is my most used rug for my half clipped warmblood and unclipped TB. I will admit to using it primarily to save myself a lot of grooming time, but I do think it helps keep them a bit warmer, particularly if the wet/ wind

Same here, mine has been in a no-fill but I will swap for the 50g tomorrow. He'll probably stay in that pretty well all winter if it stays cold. 50gs are super useful rugs!

 

[Trot_on]

I was about to swap my clipped out Connie from his 50g to a 150g tonight, but he was lovely and toasty underneath so left it on!

 

[AppyLover1996]

My older lad Baggs feels the cold easily, despite being well covered, so at the moment he is in a 200g with a half neck design and is warm but doesn't over heat. He is unclipped and in very light work currently. He does have some arthritis and is prone to ulcers so I do tend to air on the side of him being a tad too warm than a bit cold, as once he feels cold, it takes forever for him to warm back up.

Rabbit my youngster on the other hand runs hot easily and is currently more than happy in a 150g turnout rug with no neck.

50g rugs are really useful and given that your WB is unclipped and has been happily naked without a rug, I'd say it deffo helps x

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I also have unclipped ponies. The WB runs warm but has little by way of a winter coat this year so is in a no fill especially given how wet it’s been and because if he gets cold he colics. On the other hand my not very hardy native Connie who looks like a yak but shivers on a wet June day is already in a 100gm because he’s skinny underneath all that hair and I don’t want him losing any more weight. It’s so dependent on the individual animal and there isn’t a one rule that fits all so go with what you feel comfortable with. You can always take the rug off if it warms up.

 

[Sanversera]

Horrible forecast for tonight, heavy rain followed by sleet . I'm putting a 100 gm with neck on the big cob but the little cob will be naked as he's a coat like a bear. They have a field shelter but doubt they'll use it.