A rugging question

[Supertrooper]

It looks like tomorrow we are back to artic conditions, although we have missed the worst of it so far in the midlands. I've just checked the forecast for the next few days and if it's correct the weather tomorrow is not nice!! Cold/windy and rain

Our shire x cob, has been out so far with no rugs (unclipped and needed to loose weight which he has done) he has had a rain sheet on when wet or very foggy. He has got a medium weight rug (220g) and I think he should have this on tomorrow as I always feel it's the wind/rain combination that gets them and we have no real shelter.

Would you agree?? Runs off and hides while everyone argues

 

[Dolcé]

If he has lost the weight you wanted him to lose then I think it would only be fair to rug him in the conditions expected. I agree completely with you, it is the wet and cold together that gets to them and causes them to get cold and miserable. If he were mine then I would rug with a medium weight, I always worry that a rain sheet flattens the coat and then they can't stay warm enough (but I may be wrong on that, just how I feel) because there is no warm air trapped in the coat.

 

[AngieandBen]

A shire x cob? I wouldn't bother rugging at all unless he's underwieght

 

[louisesb]

As he's now lost the weight, I would rug with the medium weight to make sure he doesn't lose any more. Totally agree it's the wind and wet that gets them down, cold but dry and they are usually absolutely fine.

 

[chestnut cob]

See how warm he is and change accordingly. If he is cold then yes, put the bigger rug on but if he is the right temperature then I'd leave him in just the rainsheet.

 

[Izzwizz]

Yes - agree with you, if hes lost the weight then rug accordingly.

 

[Dizzydancer]

I would be waiting until the morning maybe just put on the rain sheet again unless he is now under weight, it is the wet/windy combination that tends to upset them however if the MW is the heaviest rug you have for him I would be worried it is not even jan/feb yet which is when it goes truly cold usually. But you know him just keep an eye on if he is cold/hot then rug to his temp

 

[katherine1975]

I have two cobs, one is overweight. They both have a blanket clip and the the overweight cob is happily living out in 100g turn out, the other cob has a 200g when it is very cold.

 

[spotty_pony]

OP, I agree with you. Horses tend to feel the cold more when it is cold and wet than when it is just really cold.

 

[juliette]

Recent article in your horse says you should not use a rain sheet on an unclipped hairy horse because it flattens the hair and actually makes the horse colder, they recommend you use a medium weight or nothing.