Are you putting rugs on?

All mine are in fly rugs, have just washed all my summer sheets and they will be going on as soon as there dry as it has been getting rather nippy here. Should be getting all my other rugs back from cleaners next week so will be fully armed when the nights start drawing in :D
 
yes, lightweight during the night when out and a summer sheet when in during the day. There is no grass, they can't munch to keep warm, it is raining, and I'm a softie.
 
please can you send the rain to warwickshire? down to dust now. all naked and very happy! temps are above 10 degrees so absolutely no need to rug. mine are waterproof and dont shink in the rain and are thankful if it gets cooler at nights. you lot that rug now must have poofs! and what ever will you dress your horses in when autumn and winter come?
 
Mine are out in the day and in at night with a nice big haynet. They are fed twice a day and if it looks like rain in the day they are having a rain sheet on.
The grass is poor here and although we are having plenty of showers it's not making much difference to the ground.
You need to do what you think is best for your horse, regardless of what other people are doing in other parts of the country.
If you feel they need a rug or to start coming in, even if it's only August then that's fine just as it's fine if you decide to leave them out.
Your not being a bad owner if your doing what's best for you and your horse regardless of what others are doing.
There are some horses on my yard that are out 24/7 and will be until the clocks change without rugs and some that are being rugged...it's not as if it's the hottest summer on record and even though we are in August it's dropping down to 10 to 12 degs at night here.

It baffles me why some people on the 1st of April until the 31st of October think that summer is here and the horses are now out regardless...I understand that it's a relief that winter is over but i would rather go on what the weather is doing that day instead of what month we are in...each to their own i guess.
 
What??!!!?? Rugs? On horses??

This is H&H! We don't do those kinds of things! They must stand, and grow thier own!!!

Only joking :D (three cups of tea this morning - will be a short day...:rolleyes:)

On with the hedge-cutting.......!
 
No rugs on my lad at the moment...I will leave it as long as possible...usually October time, when the chill kicks in. He needs to maintain his current slim weight and he has a field stable he can go in if he wants too...although never does for cold or rain!
Even when the temp has dropped to 10 degrees at night I have left him without and he has been perfectly warm in the morning, having spent the night in his outside 'corral' area and field stable.
There are some cobs not far from me that have had lightweight rugs on for most of the summer at night...madness! They are all 'chunky' and in no need of rugs.
 
Honey08 said:
Only fly rugs on ours. They come in at night due to us having FAR too much grass and one suffers sweet itch badly.. Most other horses in the area (various types) are happily living out. I'm very jealous!

We are in Lancs/Yorks?Manchester area, and its poured down all month, but they cope fine. Its actually NATURAL for a horse to stand with their bums to the wind and rain - thats what they do... with their heads down. Any horse in the wild would do that. If they are shivering and shivering then perhaps put a rug on, but then how many layers would you need by Xmas?? I feel very sorry for "humanised" horses, whose owners rug them up at the drop of a hat (or rain). Let them be natural, and use their grease and hair to keep them warm.
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Oooh someone who thinks like me!!! We are indeed a rare bunch. Shock horror but mine are in the field all wet and muddy. One is old and grey but I just give him a brush before I ride. Would not rug him just to keep him clean.
 
hannah28 said:
to all you people who are saying 'rugs in august ?!?' the temps at night are the same as some days in november,
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Not where I am!! I am sleeping every night in my summer PJs and the window wide open.

My horses are both out 24/7, not a rug is sight, and on restricted grazing. :)
 
Still hot where I am, even when it rains! Mine don't have rugs on until they start to look cold or I clip anything. Although I have had an awful time keeping weight on my lanky old beast this summer so I may have to stick a rug on him early. I can't keep the weight off my 5yo tb, she looks like she has a bad case of pregnancy.....
 
MrsElle said:
I feel very cruel - Blue didn't even have a rug on in winter when it got to -15 ....... *runs off* !
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My TB X wintered out no rug no nothing. In spring fat as a pig with about 4 inches of hair. If no rugs at all nature takes over and provides a thick coat. Poor Mother Nature struggles when it is rug on rug off, some rug no rug and so do the horses.
 
MrsElle said:
I feel very cruel - Blue didn't even have a rug on in winter when it got to -15 ....... *runs off* !
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Bella was exactly the same. She has never worn a rug and is 2 later this month. She grew a fur coat of immense proportions last winter.

If I can get away with it she won't be rugged even once she is backed :cool:
 
thats all well and good,no one is saying all horses should be rugged, but its totally impractical and impossible to keep competition horses fit if they live out un rugged.most horses that compete get washed fairly frequently thus taking the natural oils out their coats and are clipped and trimmed-again taking away natural protection.it would be cruel NOT to provide a rug to replace that.

mine come in at night so that i can monitor feed intake and so i know they are getting enough good grub and rest to fuel them.they cant move much when stabled so again it would be cruel not to provide a rug to keep the chill off.

id been interested to know, how many people whose horses are living out naked 24/7, competed seriously at affil level and are aiming for championship/finals this year.not many ill bet.
 
Mine lived out full time while competing affiliated last summer, but would always be rugged if it was raining, and does come in at nights through the winter. this summer we have absolutely no grass so he has to come in during the day to eat hay, but is out at night. Rugs are used as required; fly rugs if the flies are bad, lightweight turnout if damp. I don't think I could keep him living out through the winter and still compete and train (he does need to be clipped as very very hairy, and is a wimp about cold and wet), but I'm sure there are those who do manage it.
 
Thanks for all your replies, it has been very interesting to read them all. My thought...........yes everyone's horses are different and so is the weather in various parts of the country so will just play it by ear, so to speak. My girls have been naked today but will pop a rainsheet/LW on tonight.
Bloody Lancs weather! lol x
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
thats all well and good,no one is saying all horses should be rugged, but its totally impractical and impossible to keep competition horses fit if they live out un rugged.most horses that compete get washed fairly frequently thus taking the natural oils out their coats and are clipped and trimmed-again taking away natural protection.it would be cruel NOT to provide a rug to replace that.

mine come in at night so that i can monitor feed intake and so i know they are getting enough good grub and rest to fuel them.they cant move much when stabled so again it would be cruel not to provide a rug to keep the chill off.

id been interested to know, how many people whose horses are living out naked 24/7, competed seriously at affil level and are aiming for championship/finals this year.not many ill bet.
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YO has 5 horses - one that is a youngster mainly doing dressage, 2 youngsters, a veteran, and her mare that is eventing at BE, all living out, unrugged at night. In through the day for ease to exercise, and the BE is hoping to be at Badminton grassroots champs
 
I have been putting a light weight rug on my old gelding on a night as he is in his 30's and I want him to keep weight on. My younger horse on the other hand will not be rugged until it turns a lot colder as I don't feel it is necessary, she has plenty of padding that I am trying to get her to loose!
 
My gelding is competing at polocrosse and is very fit- he lives out 24/7 all summer without rugs (although he is HARD!). All our polocrosse horses live out all summer without rugs and I know many polo ponies do too. Winter is different though, most have rugs and are not clipped. Not sure if this proves anyone right or wrong!!
 
My two boys are out overnight, stabled during the day. They wear flyrugs/fringes when it's hot and humid, otherwise they're both naked in the field - although if we get one of those jetwash-like thunderstorms like we had the week before last, I think I'd pop their rainsheets on next time (felt a bit guilty last time as heavens opened 10 minutes after I'd turned them out :o). One gets tiny feed and tiny haynet, other gets two feeds and stuffed haynet. I think it's lovely to see them without rugs. They wear them 24/7 in winter, so a bit of fresh air on their skin must feel good :)
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
so they arent out 24/7 then are they brighthair?!
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well, no but they could be happily - what I was trying to say is they are out in the coldest (and usually wettest part!) part - at night. The only reason they come in is for the babies to be handled, and the others ridden so maybe 9am - 2pm. Some days, if not being ridden, then yes they are out 24/7

Personally I believe keeping them out has a lot of advantages - keeps them fitter, constantly moving and not stiffening up, social reasons, and also they are more chilled out
 
we go by the weather and the temperature rather than the date. If its raining then they go out in LW rugs otherwise out in fly rugs. All in at night all year round and those that are not fat cobs wear a summer sheet at night
 
My Highland will only get a LW in the absolute worst weather as she doesn't generally feel the cold unless is is really bitingly cold, wet and windy. If she is cold, she walks in circles.

My Newfie I think may need a rug as soon as the rain starts. :( She has been shivering through the summer a couple of times.

Depends on the horse. If they're miserable/shivering then fair enough but if they seem content enough, then let them be.
 
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