A Rugging Question

MrsElle

MrsElle

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If a native pony is out all day naked, would you rug him if he was in at night?

Bear with me on this, this is my reasoning.......

During the day the temperatures are warmer and pony can move about to keep warm.

At night the temperatures are colder, and if stabled cannot move about if cold. Of course there is no wind chill in a stable, and the pony will not get wet if it rains/snows, but the ambient temperature is still colder in general.

What do you think?
 
Its definitely colder inside than out - I spent about 5 hours in a barn recently and it mustve been 5 degs colder inside than it was outside. I think its the fact its concrete under foot and the air is totally still.

However, if your horse is fed to the optimum, as in suitable to him not over fed ;) and hes out in the day I wouldnt be worrying. I presume he has straw/shavings to stand on rather than direct on concrete?
 
I think it depends on the pony, its age and condition, some feel the cold more than others and it does them no good to stand in a stable getting chilled.
At the moment mine are not rugged but will be when the temperature drops.
 
TigerTail said:
However, if your horse is fed to the optimum, as in suitable to him not over fed ;) and hes out in the day I wouldnt be worrying. I presume he has straw/shavings to stand on rather than direct on concrete?
Click to expand...

It's a hypothetical question as Fat Lad is out 24/7 and naked but for a grazing muzzle :)

It is just something I wondered about.
 
I've got 4 foals who are naked day and night, they come in at night. I have to admit I am still shutting their top doors, which will reduce the draughts, but they are all very happy and thriving on a diet of grass and hay. No loss of condition at all, so I would say naked is fine. Before this year, I wouldn't have said that, I would have gone with your original reasoning that they would be colder inside as they wouldn't be able to move about to help keep warm and would have rugged accordingly (clipped horses mind)
 
I have two barns, one is a large airy building and there are 12 horses in there. The two years old and weaners are all in a loose area, naked.
The brood mares (TBs) are also naked.
The working horses, all clipped are rugged but with just a cotton sheet and medium weight top rug they are plenty warm enough. They did have a blanket on but this was to much as they were tacky in the morning and had been rolling a lot.

Clipped horses are turned out with just a medium rug on. Weather is so mild.

If a horse is out naked and comes in at night I would not rug it. It is not the cold that gets to them to make them shiver, it is when they are wet and cold they are miserable.
 
PennyJ said:
I have to admit I am still shutting their top doors, which will reduce the draughts, but they are all very happy and thriving on a diet of grass and hay.
Click to expand...

Why would you shut their top doors?! Leaving them in the dark, alone and completely stuck? Also as I said moving air is warmer than stationary air - proved by the massive winds we've had in yorks the last week its been 12 in the day now the winds have gone its down to 5! They can stand around the side of the door out of the direct draft if they want to - or lay down so it goes over the top of them.
 
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