Cold pony rugging......?!?!?!

Fimbacob said:
Is he munching his hay or not that bothered? Fermenting forage will also generate heat to help keep him warm. If he is not likely to pile the pounds on, perhaps try mixing haylage in with his hay.
I know how you feel tho, my traddy has his heavyweight with full neck on tonight and snow on its way!!
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He keeps munching through the night, would give him haylage, but have free hay (we made it) and also he is prone to lami so have to be careful :-) Silly 'hardy' horseys!
 
My mare feels the cold easily. She's 23 but it has been the same all her life. She's now in an indoor barn which makes a huge difference, even at minus 10 the water buckets in the stables never freeze, just a bit of ice on the edge, she's never worn so few rugs. I've found having a lovely deep straw bed helps, shavings would require at least another rug. And as the bottom layer I always use a rug that's naturally warmer material, such as a fleece or thermatex, rather than one with a cotton or smooth lining. And ad lib forage, although the amount mine can put away is enough to heat several towns, never mind one horse.
 
Could you put a fleece on first? My horse is always warmer with a fleece (think its the close contact) and a medium rug on, than a super heavy 400g! Or a thermatex, cooler etc underneath these rugs that is closely touching the skin, works wonders :)
 
I find that just a different style of rug keeps my horse a lot warmer- He was out in a 400g combo but although it was very heavy, it was actually quite thin and more a compacted style of filling. I was panicking because at 2 degrees he was cold and with it forecast to get a lot colder than that (and him hating coming in) I didn't know what I was going to do!
So instead of sticking more rugs on top- I borrowed my friends 350g rug that was 'puffy'- more like a cushion, although lighter he cooked in it! (cant remember the brand though :( )

I then settled for his 'chillcheater' stable rug underneath a 100g turnout which kept him just about right.

Personally hate hate hate fleeces under rugs- always seem to pull and rub and have only made a horse colder by being too tight every time I've seen one used!
 
How warm is your stable? My boys are in proper old fashioned thatched roof brick stables and when it's been -5 outside it's 8 in the stable.

Is there a way you can insulate your stable better? Maybe also give a warm feed.
 
I've only experienced fleeces slipping back & rubbing etc when either it doesn't fit, or has rubbish fasteners on the chest that loosen, or is just mega cheap & nasty & looses its shape after 3 days. My mares been wearing a weatherbeeta one as the bottom layer probably half the time for about the last six winters, it has yet to rub, slip or move around.
 
Personally I've found putting fleece's under rugs just rub or don't stay in place:confused: Think it might be because he lays down most of the night, and rolls quite a lot so they move quite bad. :rolleyes: Was thinking about getting a snuggy jams rug as that looks like it will stay put better :confused:

Stables aren't any warmer than outside (I have thermometers) so at night atm is about 0/-2 degrees, going up to about 3 degrees in the day (although he's in field then) Unfortunately can't insulate it any more as yard owner is very...erm...particular ;) He has a big bed though!

Spolit pony also has just over a kg of warm feed every evening :-) :o:D
 
It has been very mild and now is very cold and so probably a shock to the system. In future, perhaps give this pony only a minimal clip?
 
If he's that cold a horse all the time, why give him such a big clip? Personally I'd just have done a minimal clip (like a trace). It sounds like he's a serious woose! I've never put 3 rugs on any of mine - 2 yes, but never needed 3.
 
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