Changing/checking rugs...

[MizElz]

I'm just interested following a discussion I had with someone over the weekend, and also in light of a thread made here a while ago....what are everyone's views regarding a checking or changing a horse's rugs, whether it be stabled or turned out? I know I have been brought up to know that a horse should be checked all over daily; at the very least, once every two days. As such, whether our horses were in and rugged or out, they have always had their rugs removed, had a quick flick over before having the rugs put back on. This allows the skin to breathe, and enables us to check for any blemishes/rubs/sores and general condition.
I was very, very surprised when reading an old thread on here to find that many people seem to think that it is fine for a horse to be out in the same rug, unchecked, for days or even weeks on end; this is completely alien to me, and I can even remember a time when my mum dragged me out in the dusk to check my pony's rug when I admitted I hadnt done it for two days. A lot of us would think nothing of condemning someone for saying, "I havent had the farrier out for four months, and now my horse's feet seem to be falling apart;" is this really so different to someone not checking their horse under its rug for days/weeks/months, only to find that it has been suffering sores/lack of condition/rubs etc? I find it hard to separate the two; I felt little sympathy for one of my neighbours at the weekend who was shocked to find her cob rubbed raw on his shoulders, having not had his rugs checked for a week and a half.
Others may feel differently; I'd be interested to know what people feel about this!

 

[Marchtime]

I'm a stickler for changing rugs. My darling has his rugs changed at 8am and 4pm everyday. I like to reassure myself he hasn't managed to injure himself and that his weight is ok. I got very frustrated when I put him on livery and they left him in his turnout because it was quicker. Needless to say he's back to DIY.

 

[pinkcatkin]

I'm afraid I am a stickler for this sort of thing, in fact I make my life much more difficult because I am so anal. I can't bear the thought of not changing rugs and checking all OK.

I am one of those people that when doing late check, I have to check that their water buckets are full to the top, that there are no droppings in their stables (horrid for them to lie in their poo), that their surcingles are not too tight but not too loose so that they can get a back leg in them when lying down, etc. etc.

 

[vicm2509]

Baron has his rug taken off twice a day. He is in at the moment due to a cut on his leg, but I will take it off in the morning to remove his under rug, same in the evening to put it back on. It is in the evening that I give him a groom and thorough check. If it is warm enough I will leave it off for as long as possible before rugging him up for the night.

But he is usually out in the day so I have no choice but to remove his rugs to put his TO on anyway.

I would always check a horse at LEAST once a day regardless of if he was in or out, rugged or not.

 

[TGM]

I don't take rugs off every single day! They all live out in turnouts and come in daily to be fed and checked. Two are in regular work so their rugs come off most days when they are ridden - otherwise I just check underneath the rug. The retired mare gets checked under her rug every day without removing it, but it is taken off and refitted every three days.

I suppose everyone has different priorities about their horses - I'm not anal about rug-changing, but am a stickler for horses having company and freedom!

 

[Nudibranch]

Daily as a minimum - I was also taught about checking over and refitting. I think it's just good practice and doesn't take very long. Mind you, YO leaves his turnouts on for weeks and only adjusts them if they move!

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]


I would always check a horse at LEAST once a day regardless of if he was in or out, rugged or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. B has her turnout on in the day and changes into her pyjamas at night (

) and I giver her a quick brush over at every change. I liken it to us staying in the same clothes for days on end - it may be nice and warm but you're gonna feel a bit sticky and dull underneath. It keeps her coat looking lovely and gives me an opportunity to check her for bumps and scrapes.

In the summer she is unrugged and out 24/7 and even if I don't intend to ride that day I still go down at least once, preferably twice, to check her over. Her fieldmate's owner also goes down 1-2 times a day and we would call each other if we noticed something amiss, or adjust the other horse's rugs if they've slipped etc.

 

[SO1]

I am afraid we don't take rugs off every day I know its wrong but it does not always happen however he does not get left for weeks or anything like that! His rugs are well fitting and he is not clipped and they have never rubbed.

It is not just me either, there are lots of people at the yard who turnout out for a couple of days without taking off rugs especially if they are not bringing the horses in as its quite tricky to take the rug off in an open field in the dark when its raining without the liner getting wet and then you end up having to put the the rug back on with a wet liner. Our furthest field is a 20 acre field that is 3/4 mile from the yard and I don't like bringing horses along a dark road with traffic so its safer to check them in the field. They are fed hay in the field every day and checked.

 

[zelli]

I check my guys rugs on a daily basis, excpet for very rare occasions when I will admit they dont get taken off. They all live out, and I would never do this with a rug I dont know, in that case I would ignore the weather and do it anyway. I used to know someone who did not believe in changing rugs or taking them off on a regular basis as the horse built up a layer of warm air between themself and a rug, and therefore by removing the rug you were comprimising the horses warmth. I guess its true, but it takes all of about 2 minutes for the new rug to have built up the same warmth!