Another Rugging Post...

S

Samantha008

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 September 2010
Messages
469
Location
in the land of make believe :)
Visit site
Ok so have two horses, one lives out all year round and the other stabled ovber the coldest months. Theyre both out ogether now but i cannot for the life of me decide what to do with their rugs! Its really sunny and warm here most days, but nights are COLD!!! My mare has a HW on and is sweating in the day but fab at night. y gelding has a MW turnout and a MW underug, he really feels the cold though. He seems fine, not sweaty or cold but that seems like a lot of rugs. Theyre both ISH. They both drop condition VERY quickly when cold!

Urgh. Whats everyone doing with their horses at the min?

I can only get up there once a day and dont know anyone i could ask to change their rugs in the morning.

Thanks
 
Yeah I'm sat here this morning thinking I wish I'd taken them blooming rugs off this morning.... and mine have only got light weights on !

I'd down grade the rugs and give them hay at night until there is loads of graa the fiber in their guts will keep them warm
 
It really is quite mild during the days down here at the moment.
Are they clipped / working?

I'd be quite concerned to be leaving horses out in the daytime with that level of rugging, they must be very uncomfortable. Can you not get someone to do their rugs in the morning for you?

FWIW I have a 15yo 7/8th TB not in work living out 24/7 naked and hairy, and a 5yo MW, clipped out in full work who is in 200g no neck during day and 300g combo at night.
 
You really need to give us more info on what they are like? What type are they, are they clipped, do they feel the cold, can you go twice a day and change rugs?

My IDx mare who is hunter clipped has only a lightweight and lycra hood on during the day and a MW rug in her stable at night. If she was out she would have the same during the day but a MW turnout at night with the hood.

It is difficult at this time of year but they won't die if they get a bit cold but they will be very uncomfortable if they get hot and sweat. You are better off letting them get a bit cold that sweat and lose lose of condition and possibly a chill if they sweat.

I would ditch the heavyweight unless they are very thin skinned thoroughbreds with weight issues and fully clipped.
 
I know theyve got too much on, but im worried about them at night. Theyve only got a hedgerow and a tree for shelter and obvs the tree is pretty naked at the min

Would it make sense to drop the mare to a MW and the gelding to one HW instead of two MWS????

I hate rugs :(
 
I would drop them both to middleweights, preferably without necks. At least they then should both stand some chance of regulating their temperature during the day. Horses do not feel the cold like we do. Give them extra hay at night and they will generate their own body warmth. As long as they can move and eat overnight they will be absolutely fine.
 
Gelding (ish) is not clipped out but has a VERY FINE coat and ive only had him a couple of months, his previous mum had him out over winter in 2 MWs and a HW :eek: Hes practically a tb buldwise!!

The mare (ish) ill put into a MW, shes underweight and wintered out for the first time (retired now) so im still trying to find out what she can deal with. Shes only 6 though.

Both get 2 feeds a day and lots and lots of hay.

I cant get their rugs changed in the monring. I need to find a happy medium. Ive not been at this yard long so dont really know anyine and there isnt a groom service. The lady in the field next to me throws my feeds in in the morning but thats it!!
 
My TB (unclipped) is out in a LW combo (he is a mud monster) 24/7, during the day he is hot and at night sometimes I imagine he will have to resort to his fat stores but he is absolutely comfortable. He doesn't drop condition very easily so i'm not worried about him at all. He does have a small fluffy coat but nothing like my other mixed breed pony with a coat at least 3-4 inches long.
 
I'd go for MWs for both of them with no neck - they will learn to regulate thair own temps and they really do not feel the cold like we do. I only live in Bucks so up the road from you and although the weather is wet this morning it is due to dry and warm up and this weekend due to be very nice indeed. Get metcheck on your website favourites.
 
I don't know where you are but here it's lovely and warm during the day (though the wind is cold) but colder overnight. If your horses are both out 24/7 now then I'd reduce the rugs - remember they can move around to keep warm and will generate heat as they digest their hay.

My 15yo IDxTB (very good doer, though quite a good weight ATM) has a blanket clip and is rapidly shedding his winter coat, with summer coat coming through quickly. He is in at night wearing a 100g stable rug on cold nights (it was -3C last night here so he had it on) and just his LW (no fill) TO during the day. At night if it's warm he stays in just the TO rug, as he's a warm horse anyway, and if it's pouring with rain he has a no fill neck cover put onto the TO. I'm using less rugs than everyone else at the yard though as I'm trying to get a bit more weight off him before the grass comes through...
 
I would rather a horse be too cold than too hot and I always under rug rather than over rug. My TB has a fleece on at night and a lightweight (no filling) rug during the day. They can move around if they are cold and food helps them keep warm.
 
Ours are naked in the day and at night all but two have got rainsheets on. I'd see if you can pay someone to either take their rugs off in the mornings or put them in lower weight ones for the day otherwise they are going to be sweating their cobs off.
 
Looks like you've got all the answers regarding rugs you need!

Just one thing though.....how one earth have you got an ISH that DROPS weight? Mine can put on 2 stone in pure fat just from thin air I swear.
 
At least if a horse is cold it can move around and warm up, if it's too hot because it's got far too heavy or many rugs on then what can it do to cool down?

I dunno whether some people forget that horses aren't people, and just because we think it's cold doesn't mean that our horses do! They have their own natural rugs as nature intended!

Mine's gone through the winter in a maximum of a 40g rug, most of the time no fill, and he's been fine! He's not clipped or sensitive.
 
mine is a wimpy IDxTB, he is still in a MW stable rug at night no neck, and in the day he is having rain sheet ontop of that, if its dry he has the neck folded back, if its wet he has no fil neck on also.
If i was you i would drop both into MW's especially the older one who is sweating as once she sweats she will be colder at night. The youngster will be fine in a MW, if you are worried about condition just give extra forage at night. Remember now they are out they can walk around to keep warm, and the extra hay will keep warm from inside out. Ideally no necks whilst it is dry, if it turns wet again then add a neck (no fill ideally).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top