Another rugging question

[PolarSkye]

. . . and I am not trying to start a war here, I would genuinely like some advice.

Kal is not clipped (Polish sporthorse . . . lots of TB in there, bit of a wuss). I do rug him b/c he does get cold. He's been wearing just the one rug - his HW NZ. Today it is much, much colder than it has been and I don't anticipate that it will warm up that much so I was considering putting a light underrug on him as well. Question is, b/c I'm already putting a rug on him and flattening that lovely, fluffy coat he currently has, am I voiding the benefit of that coat . . . and, if so, perhaps I should think about rugging him as though he doesn't have that coat?

Hope that makes sense . . . off to take a shower and get ready to head up to yard . . . any and all advice/thoughts welcome . . . but can we be constructive please . . . thanks .

P

 

[Tinypony]

A lady on my discussion group has been using one of these on one of her horses this winter. http://www.intelligenthorsecare.co.uk/coolheat-rugs
So far it's kept the horse warm when it's cold, dry when it's wet, and not too hot when the temperature has increased. Although they're expensive I'm seriously tempted to invest when I've got some cash. I have the same dilemma as you. I've ended up only using lightweight rugs if I need the horse dry, but it's not cold. If I decide a rug is needed then it has a fill. My favourites are the Fal 40g rugs, which are keeping mine toasty at the moment. I'll go up to a MW if we get rain/snow and driving wind.

 

[4faults]

I would go on what you feel wen you see him. Is he cold?

My WB mare is in a medium weight stable rug with heavy weight turnout on top and the mostly tb gelding is in 3 stable stable rugs both are fully clipped and they are toasty

 

[PolarSkye]

Well he wore a HW poly (with neck) last night and this morning wasn't overly warm . . . not frozen, but not "toasty" . . . he's gone out with a lightweight (no neck) topped off with his HW NZ (with neck) and I felt him before I left yard and he was just nicely warm. There isn't much grass out there for them, they're not running around much (good thing as the ground is like iron) and his field is on the side of a hill and is quite exposed.

I do wonder, though, about the coat question . . . does putting a rug on top of a fluffy coat negate said coat's insulating qualities?

Answers on a postcard please .

P

 

[be positive]

Yes to some extent putting a rug on will stop the coat being as good at keeping the horse warm as it is flattened against him, the heavier the rug the more flat it will be. However by keeping them in an unnatural way in the first place, grooming, rugging and working them means that they will need the natural effect to be compensated by wearing appropriate rugs in order to be comfortable.
Broodmares and youngsters can easily be left with no rugs, they are not expected to work and can live more naturally they will then grow the coat required to keep warm.