Change in routine or a chill

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vicksey

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I have kept my cob stabled overnight (for the first time all summer) the past 2 nights due to the weather. I noticed last night before I left and this morning mucking out that his poo's were lighter in colour, harder, smaller and more rounded and he had hardly wee’d (has access to a water feeder which is clean).

I wondered whether it could be just from a change in routine or maybe he was cold. He was fully clipped a month ago but his hair has grown back quite a bit.

He comes in daily for feed (alfa alfa and a balancer and a few oats, linseed oil and a bit of salt if he sweats) all summer and some hay so I didn’t think it could have been due to that, but he was quite cold yesterday day out in the wind and rain with only a rain sheet on (thought it would brighten up) this morning he wasn’t exactly warm in the stable either. I have wrapped him up today in a mid weight and neck as we have some lovely hail, hard rain and strong winds. Thinking of adding a bit of speedy beet or fibre beet to his diet or increasing the rugs. Any thoughts.
Thanks
 
His poo's will be lighter due to eating plenty of hay and less grass, grass poo's tend to be dark and quite wet, whereas hay poo's are light and 'fluffy'.
As for the peeing, my mare refuses to pee in the stable for the first week when she comes in, prefering to squat straight down when i turn her out! She soon comes round to the idea that peeing in the stable is much easier!
 
You put him out yesterday day time in a sheet, not the night time yes? It was 15 degrees here yesterday so if your weather was like mine I think you'd have cooked him in a medium weight! I'd have been plumping for a fleece and sheet myself.

If he feels cold then add rugs though. I think you've probably answered your own question in honesty :)
 
Thanks guys, I was beside myself in work yesterday with the weather being bad, so rugged more overnight and today. He would have been nice and toasty. His hair has grown back considerably and has more hair then most of the finer horses on the yard, but non the less the temps have gone lower in the past few days so thanks for that!!! :)

I’m glad you said that forestfantasy about your girl. My boy usually hates weeing in the stable if he comes in for a few hours and does it as soon as he gets out on some grass or in the ménage. He only had a light sprinkle of shavings (normally deep litter in a fashion and take the wee out weekly) so maybe it was that.

Wont panic just yet ey!
 
jesstickle said:
You put him out yesterday day time in a sheet, not the night time yes? It was 15 degrees here yesterday so if your weather was like mine I think you'd have cooked him in a medium weight! I'd have been plumping for a fleece and sheet myself.

If he feels cold then add rugs though. I think you've probably answered your own question in honesty :)
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Yes he went out yesterday and stopped in overnight last night. It was only about 9-10 here yesterday and we had terrible hale and wind and rain all day and he was cold to touch when I went for him at 5pm :( silly mummy. He is usually quite a warm boy so thought he would be ok but the weather just didnt let up, I think yesterday took everyone by surprise. Today will be the test when he comes in in a neck and med weight, maybe he will have melted.
 
Just to check, a chill wouldnt have caused his droppoings to be different, sorry if this is a stupid question :s

Thanks for replying everyone
 
forestfantasy said:
Blimey, i want to live there! it was 5-8 degrees max here yesterday & raining!
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It doesn't rain here. Very rarely anyway. I'll swap you as it means the last two years the hay production here has been awful! I think I'd rather have the cold than no hay and barren paddocks because the stupid grass won't grow! Blooming east angular!

OP, don't beat yourself up that you got caught out by the weather. It happens. And getting cold in of itself shouldn't make him ill (unless we're talking cold enough for hypothermia, which we aren't). Now he's warmed up he should be fine :)
 
vicksey said:
Yes he went out yesterday and stopped in overnight last night. It was only about 9-10 here yesterday and we had terrible hale and wind and rain all day and he was cold to touch when I went for him at 5pm :( silly mummy. He is usually quite a warm boy so thought he would be ok but the weather just didnt let up, I think yesterday took everyone by surprise. Today will be the test when he comes in in a neck and med weight, maybe he will have melted.
Click to expand...

A rain sheet will not keep any horse warm as it has no fill - merely dry.
 
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