Am I really mean?

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Christmas_Kate

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Ponio is still out 24/7. He's out with another horse (welsh x).

I've been getting countless people asking me why i'm not rugging him. I clipped him out (body only, left legs and face) about 5 weeks ago (i think lol). His winter coat is now coming through, so he's getting a bit fluffy, IMO has a good layer of coat about 1/2 inch thick (this grows to 2 inches through the winter).

He's a shetland. Need I say more? I think if i rug him now I'll be making a rod for my own back. He's getting a few lbs on him, and i think if I rug him I'll be helping him to keep piling weight on (I cannot move him to another field, they're all in use and cattle cannot be moved atm before anyone starts).

I've just had another person approach me and say 'don't you think he'd like his little coat on at night?"

Is it that cruel to keep him unrugged?
 
Why did you clip him a few weeks ago?

Would you be able to put a rug on him but fence a smaller area of the paddock off just for him?
 
because it was so hot... and he was in work.

Now I cannot move him atm, and cannot fence this field off, he's out with another and electric fencing would cause an accident.
 
Depends how hairy he is. Personally I would rug a clipped horse, even if it was just a light sheet. Its less about the thickness of the rug - if he's been clipped then he won't get the protection from his coat against the wind and rain.
 
If, despite being clipped and he now has a good coat comibng through, then no. Shetlands are very tough little creatures and don't generally need rugging.
 
agree with donkeymad, if his coat's coming through, leave him unrugged. unless you live in Shetland, he probably thinks he's in the bahamas anyway! tell that to whoever tells you to put his little coat on, bless him! shetties are tough as old boots. if you clip him again, then rug him, i'd say.
 
Oh, I don't intend on clipping him atm, there'd be no point, he;s not coming in and cannot work atm.

His coat is short at 1/2 an inch but thick and 'wooly'. He doesnt seem cold, is warm on the skin and behind the ears.
 
i think if you rug him up now he wont feel the benefit as much when it gets really cold, it's like going inside leving your coat on and then going outside with nonextra layers to put on!you'd be frozen!!don't worry bout it til it gets really cold chuck!! ellz xox
 
no you're not mean! Murphy is often the only unrugged horse on the yard at the mo but he's a native so I refuse to rug him until he's been clipped. Judging by how much Murph's winter coat has grown in the past 3 weeks I'm sure your ponio is fluffy enough.

plus Katy, you and I both know it won't do our little monsters any harm if they shiver away a few calories (see this month's Your Horse mag BTW!)
wink.gif
 


Shetland ponies in their natural environment- Shetland, which is far more exposed and windier/ wetter in winter and I have yet to see a Shetland rugged up here in winter. Most live in herds on heathery hills with very little intervention from their owners other than extra feed in winter.
I'm sure your pony will be fine, any dissenters-just show them these pics!
 
If it makes you feel better, my TB was clipped a week ago and has only had a rug on the past two nights or so. So I think your shettie will cope!
 
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