Clipped horse and no neck rugs, opinions?

muckypony

muckypony

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Hi all. My welshie is fully clipped and rugged up, lives in at night. His mane has just started coming out where the neck rug is rubbing it. I show him so want a full mane!

I'm toying with the idea of just using standard neck rugs even though he's clipped.. Am I cruel!? I would like him turned out in a full neck though, do you think this will still rub?

Thanks in advance! :)
 
I never use a neck in the stable but also don't have rubbing issues in combo turnouts. So no not cruel IMO and maybe change rug brands
 
I have yet to find a full neck rug that doesn't rub the mane so I always just use high necks or standard necks. If he is in at night I can't see any problem with you just using a standard neck during the day.
 
Full necks always rub my mares mane, she's fully clipped and has standard neck rugs. However, her heavyweight full neck stable doesn't rub so i use that if its really cold when shes in.
 
No, I don't think its cruel to just use a standard rug.
Necks on rugs are a fairly recent thing and I know quite a few clipped hunters who wear standard neck rugs and are fine.
I can't help you on whether your turnout will also rub. My mare wears full neck turnouts and stable rugs in winter and I've never had a problem but I think it depends on the fit of the neck cover and how sensitive your horse is maybe.
:-)
 
I never use necks or combos - hate the things for that very reason, there is no reason to not use a standard neck on a clipped horse, they survived long before combos were invented and I have to say that they were invented for pure rider convenience to reduce grooming time.
 
My rug never rubs mane but its a full neck rug rather than one with detachable neck. I wouldn't worry and would turn out with no neck if need be, my chap is unrugged today, was hunter clipped but it has half grown out and yard/field shelter/arena which they are shut on is in sun so even though Max 3 degrees will be warm from sun!
 
Time was when there were no neck rugs at all, so you are not being cruel.

I have had many different styles of neck rug, all of them detachable, and non of them have rubbed my horse's rather thin mane.
 
Alf lived out all last winter, fully clipped, in a standard neck rug. His neck got a bit woolly, but his mane didn't get rubbed out.
This year he has a detachable neck rug, and I am praying that it rubs his mane out - the scruffy carthorse!
 
I posted about exactly this last week - I have a haffie and want her mane to be lovely and long but worried she would get cold. After the replies I got saying she would be fine she is now out 24/7 with a no neck rug and a full clip - remember if they have a long mane that will protect them from the elements a bit!
 
Got down yard tonight hunter clipped horse in no rug 1 degree not shivering, I am a a mean mummy as his stifle and good portion around it was clipped for surgery so still almost skinned but sun was out, goes to show ! Even tiny bit of rain however he would have been screaming blue murder! Just to add he is looking very well too if you know what I mean !
 
This year I'm trying not to use neck covers unless it's raining and not at all in the stable. TB has a low trace clip, is well covered and I've let his mane grow a little longer and thicker than usual. I did worry about him being cold but he has been fine so far. I have been making sure he has plenty of hay at all times to keep his internal warmth going. It's not been easy I admit - I really feel the cold myself and have been guilty of 'humanising' him in the past I think, but he seems to be proving he's a tough guy!
 
I have a little wussy pony that likes to be warm. He has allergies and lives in a rug pretty much all year with no loss of mane. If you want to use a neck then keeping the mane clean, rug clean and letting air get to the mane regularly is absolutely key

I fold the neck back or use a standard rug in the stable when its mild or use the neck turned up or a Snuggy Hood when its cold, Whatever I use I always make sure the mane airs once a day even if thats only long enough to pick out his hooves and him eat his tea
 
Mine go out without necks when fully clipped unless its raining hard. If its cold and wet I feel they have no hair or grease to protect their skin so on these days they go out with full necks on. It works for us and their manes dont fall out as long as the rugs fit well, are changed regularly, and they are not left for long periods with the mane covered. Mine also wear full necks in the stable at night when below freezing but I fold the neck back when they come in and only pull it up when I do the late night check.
 
Thanks everyone, I feel much less mean now :P have dug out a heavy standard neck so tonight its no neck!! Shall see if he's survived when I do late night check!
 
I'd go for one of the "half neck" rugs as a compromise and maybe next year try a different rug brand. Mind you my previous horse lived out during day clipped for several years in a no neck rug cos I was paranoid about mane rubbing
 
I ride a fully clipped and hogged hunter who lives out 24/7 in a rug with no neck. Only problem that we found with it was that for hunting or competitions he is a PITA to get his neck and body a matching shade of white (he's a mainly white piebald) but he is never cold.
 
I don't know if my mare is an odd shape, but I've got both PE and Decathlon rigs with detachable necks and they never rub her mane.

Until yesterday (when the weather changed to -5°C and snow) she was out without a neck on, but often felt chilly when bringing her in.
 
I have loads of different rug brands, all have rubbed. Just done a late check and he is nice and snug (in his 4 rugs....) He's probably glad!!
 
A few people at our yard have been using the bossy bib mane savers with good results.
Just to confirm as long as the horse is warm it doesn't matter which bits of it is covered :)
 
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