Bit of advice first year owning heavy shire x cob

[welshcobabe]

Hi first year of having my shire x cob and he has a Irish clip. He has quite a smooth coat for a cob, during the day he is out in a 100 gsm turn out rug, but i have not been putting a rug on at night in his stable however the temp is due to drop to -4 this week. So would a stable rug be in order just a medium weight or should I leave well alone ?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'd prob lift the current 100g rug off, brush over and replace again for in the stable overnight.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I would rug, yes. Plenty of hay too, as they keep warm by digesting.

 

[Fieldlife]

I tended to rug the same in shelter or field. And rug same or more at night, as nights colder. Unless there is a big wind chill, they move less in shelter of stable so balances out.

So if 100gm works in field in day, I would probably keep to that at night too.

But when there is a big temperature downturn at night you might want to put more on at night.

 

[AmyMay]

Yep I’d rug with a stable rug.

 

[abbijay]

Yes I'd rug at night as the temperature is dropping. But if you don't have a stable rug just use your turnout rug. If he seems cold at all I'd buy a fleece as an extra layer rather than get a stable rug.

 

[blitznbobs]

I always rug more in the stable rather than less as they can move in the field and warm up that way but are trapped in the stable so cant

 

[atropa]

I always rug more in the stable rather than less as they can move in the field and warm up that way but are trapped in the stable so cant

My logic too, I always up the stable rug weight a little in comparison to the turnout

 

[Surbie]

I always rug more in the stable rather than less as they can move in the field and warm up that way but are trapped in the stable so cant

I do too. And give more hay if it's a big drop in temperature.

I would rug him. Your choice as to whether you leave the turnout on or use a stable rug. Personally I don't like fleeces on overnight as I find they slip back on my horse and are then really tight across the chest and wither.

 

[welshcobabe]

Thanks for all your advice I am lucky that I have loads of rugs to choose from as he has inherited my old lads rugs so I think a nice medium weight will be fine.