Anyone going rugless this winter?

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sms

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My horses have always lived out with plenty of hay and open access to bedded down stables whenever they choose. But this year I would like to try them rugless. They are all young fit and carrying decent weight and mostly native. However I have one warmblood. She hates being rugged so would really rather I didn't have to but she is the thinnest coated of the lot. Would love to hear from anyone else who doesn't rug just to put my mind at rest that I'm not being mean? Thanks
 
I have an Amigo which is a lightweight rug, inexpensive and easy fit, no leg straps, might do for the WB just to make sure she does not suffer extremes. Others I would leave, but the main problem with my boy is that he sweats and itches so needs a trace clip, also he always rolls in mud, like plastered, so impossible to ride.
 
mine is a welsh D and she lives out with no rug every year and grows the coat to show for it! She's always fine .. if it snows she has her lightweight turnout on.
however the only time she is rugged is if she's being ridden instead of turned away therefore clipped out.
your natives will certainly be fine :) seeing as it'd be their first time play it by ear and see how they all manage without rugs.
 
I only rug in the most foulest of weather when my NF is turned out - and she only comes in at night when its driving rain. She has the tendancy to be a fatty, so I prefer she has plenty of hay and burn the calories off keeping warm rather than rug her & she be given tiny portions of fodder = boredom. BTW she also has a bib clip so I'm probably a extreme cruel mummy!
 
Depending on the weather my cob may end up going rugless. I was unable to ride for most of last winter due to the snow so there will be no point clipping him if he is having the winter off!
 
Wish mine could go rugless... It'd save a lot of money :D

.. But he's a pansy and has a rug on today!! (Remind me why I bought a TB?? Lol) :D

I'm sure the natives could go rugless with ease, I would probably try the WB without but have rugs to hand just in case :)
 
Thanks everyone! None of the horses are ridden so don't have that to worry about. I already have a huge supply of rugs so if any of them start to suffer I can rug them quickly but from your advice it seems its worth a try. Dry cold weather is fine but it's wet and windy that'll make me weaken. I must be strong and let their coats develop!
 
Out of my three only the TB is rugged up, the cob is naked and grows a huge coat as does the yearling welsh D, they where out in the snow with no rugs just trees for shelter and a big round hay bale, they coped fine and came out of winter fat!! this year the cob will be ridden and because she has a lot of white on her (think mud monster) and also her thick coat, she will be clipped (bib to start with) and rugged accordingly.
So long as there warm and dry with plenty to eat they survive pretty well :)
 
Don't rug and see how it goes - we only rug up the non-ridden if they start to loose weight

Actually putting a thin rug on does more harm than good as it flattens the coat and stops it trapping air and working properly
 
As for the natives, they will thrive. The Warmblood may need a rug if the rain is persistant driving rain, but you did mention that you have stables, so it can go in and out as it pleases and you could put hay in there too so it can eat and keep dry at the same time.

Mine are NF partbred types, and live out all year with just natural shelter on 10 acres with oodles of grass. Last winter was cold but very dry, so they went rugless throughout. However, I do have 100g fill turnouts on hand for the kind of weather i described above.

I rough mine off early on, so no trimming or bathing or body brushes come August!.

ALso, you mentioned feeding hay?, if that is ad-lib, that's fab. Fibre is digested slowly in the horse's hindgut, this keeps the horse warm from the inside out.
 
Lucinda MacAlpine (dressage rider) keeps all her dressage horses out 24/7 365 unclipped and unrugged. They all seem to cope really well.

When my pony comes back from being on loan, I won't be rugging him in winter again, I'm not convinced it is really as necessary as it has come to seem. Unless you are competing regularly or hunting, I don't think clipping and rugging is beneficial to the horse.

(yes I know there are always exceptions, I am talking *in general*)
 
I don't rug my youngsters or my cob. They have ad-lib haylage and have lived out in the last 2 harsh winters. However with the forecast for the worst winter for ever, I may try and get the youngsters rugged - scary if they get caught though so have invested in some "smart gum" strap breakers just in case
 
There are TB near us (about 20) that are roughed off and left unrugged all winter and are out 24/7. As long as they have shelter (natural or otherwise) and access to plenty of hay they will be fine - they are tougher then they look:) As others have said leave their coats to grow naturally - they will have the necessary oils etc You have rugs if they become necessary:)
 
I know a few TBs who live out unrugged. The polo ponies opposite my place spend most of the winter like that, without a shelter to go into, either! Your horses will be fine!
 
Now Im not showing Im tempted to let the pony go natural but Im not sure I can cope with all that hair so will probably give in and clip. Hopefully I'll have found a loan home for her by then tho!

If we have another winter like the last one then there is no chance the horse will cope rugless - even unclipped and rugged she was freezing!
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks ponies are fine out naked! People at my yard last year had rugs on as soon as the persistent rain started near the end of September and then I got the reputation for being the 'mean mum' who left my 2, a chunky cob who has the best central heating system I know of and a little welsh pony who rips every rug he ever has on, out naked. My 2 only started having light sheets put on when it turned freezing over night + rain, just to keep them dry.

Winter is my best opportunity to make them shiver their greedy summer guts off...they literally had about 2 sections of hay a day each then ad lib during the heavy snow and they coped fine. I always find my 2 are the ones standing right out in the middle of the field grazing in a heavy storm so they obviously embrace their nakedness!
 
well i am worse than most of you..........i clip a chase and no rug, out in the day and in during the night, even in the snow

runs and hides for cover
 
Lightweight rug on mine to keep him clean and dry for riding. He will be bib clipped and also lives on air. He went out rugless when the snow was powdery and soft. It's not like he ever asks to come in unless it is chucking it down and blowing a gale. I hope we don't get so much snow though as it meant no riding for 2 months and the rest of the winter unfit.
 
Never had to put a rug on mine, he stays naked even in the snow. Came out of last winter looking a little too well despite living out 24/7 with only hay!
 
Wow thats made me feel a lot better! Thanks for all your responses. Will definately give it a go now x
 
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