Cold Troy

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From the post asking what your foals are wearing at the moment I noticed quite a few were still naked...

I was wondering whether some horses are prone to feeling the cold more? The stud owner asked me to take Troy a medium weight stable rug up for the nights because he was standing in the pen shivering
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He hates (and I mean hates) being outside and wet, even though he was not rugged until he was 7 months and was out in torential rain for the summer.

Do I just have a really wussy colt, or are others like this?
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I had hoped he would not really be rugged, but he seems to be very unhappy when he is cold
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I'm going up to see him on Friday, so beware, you will get lots of pictures
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My lads are not showing any signs of being bothered. Both are well fed twice a day & will stay out until Christmas. No horse likes the wind & rain, & must have some form of protection. Mammels shiver to generate heat, so though they are cold it may not actually be an issue, (so long as they have the fuel to provide the energy to keep warm). Each horse is an individual so what suits one wont suit another. I would have preffered to have bought mine in 3wks ago, but the colt has other ideas, & mum was priority as she was the one loosing weight. If I could have arranged stabling out of the area of Mo, then I would have had them in, but as it was they were stressing each other out. Funny when you think he has not cared an ounce her going off on her little jaunts since he was 3mths!
 
I've never rugged any of my weanlings at all even the TBs because they just haven't needed it, they have decent coats of their own. I know we're a few miles south of you but not enough I would have thought to make that much difference! If they've come in wet and a bit shivery, once they are eating their hay, they are soon dry and happy so is there any chance he is a bit short on grub/forage too?
If I remember, he's had a rug on for some time so he won't have had the chance to grow a decent coat either, that doesn't help. What about getting him a turnout that can be left on overnight, that way he doesn't have to change from a warm to a cold rug; if the outside of the rug is wet, it will also help to dry it out better too so less work for the staff as well?

I bet you'll be amazed how much he will have grown when you see him next!
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bey is very wossy too-shes loves her stable.
she had no rug on last winter(weanling) but she was stabled almost the whole time due to the yard policy(out in school each day)
this year shes got her mw rug on and soon she will have a mw with neck cover too as its getting colder and she spends the whole time in the shelter sulking if its raining until i bring her in!
 
They let them all out together and the other morning they opened the pen and all five just stood staring at them as if they were crazy!!! So they stayed in that day because they wouldn't budge
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I just think he is a complete wuss... he used to hate being wet when he was a baby, literally throwing himself on the floor because of it and getting incredibly grumpy! He only started being rugged when he was living out at stud, so from 7 months, and that was a light weight turnout which was taken off in the day and put back on at night. Until 7 months he had not had a rug on (apart from to try one on him to get him used to the idea)...

He now has a lovely snuggly medium weight turnout and a medium weight stable rug...
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Both 5'9"
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Pat - I can't wait to see him. It's been three weeks since I was last up there, so really looking forwards to Friday!!!
 
Ours use to foal around April/May. We never ever rugged them from natives to arab & TB's! They also lived out 24/7.
Though we did have a herd of around 25-30 horses at any time so they could stand together for extra warmth & had huge walls in the fields for shelter. The arab lived till he was 27 so it didn't do him any harm!!

Each is an individual & down to what the owner is use too! There are no set rules.
 
Our foal is rugged 24/7 and has been since couple months old and the rain started.
But when we got Titus as a 4yo he had never had a rug on and only ever been in a stable once when born!!!! He's full TB and is always warm no matter what!!! Must admit he is pampered now though!
 
If he's cold and needs a rug, don't hesitate to keep him rugged - not every foal is able to cope with the weather! Personally, I would rather mine used their feed to grow and mature, not to try to keep warm.

5'9 is massive though - how old is he?
 
He is 9 months yesterday
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He was a pretty big foal when he was born (poor Han) and when his passport was done it says he should make 17hh. His Mum is around 16.3hh (but could have some big IDs on her side)and his Dad is 16.1hh.
 
Forgot to add, he does seem to be slowing down in the growth front... he is only on haylage and grass and I have only ever given him a small handful of Alfa A when his Mum was eating hers because he keps stealing hers and she got angry with him. She is very particular about her food
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I would rather mine used their feed to grow and mature, not to try to keep warm.

Not sure you understand how feeding works. Nutrient requirements for a growing foal are directly related to the animal's growth rate. The requirements for growth equal the sum of the foal's maintenance requirements plus the nutrients needed for the deposition of new body tissue. The goal when feeding growing horses is to maintain an even growth rate and prevent sudden growth spurts, which place extra stress on young joints and bones. Food is fuel to the body as well as providing all the nutrients to maintain the cells etc. So long as my vet is happy with them, then so am I. If I am concerned then it is their advice I seek. Below is a piece taken from an expert in the field of equine nutrition

Feeding Weanlings 4-5 months and Yearlings
At the weanling and yearling stages of development, hay quality is very important. High quality legume-grass mixed hay is ideal although top quality grass hay that is properly supplemented will supply similar nutrients.

80% of bone development occurs w/in the first year therefore Phosphorous and Calcium levels are critical. Deficiencies in calcium and phosphorus can lead to incidences of developmental bone disease. Calcium and Phosphorus must be supplies to meet the minimum requirements and be in proper ratio—the younger the foal, the more critical the ratio of calcium to phosphorus. Muscle development also occurs at rapid rate in young foals. This development continues at a reducing rate until about 5 years of age, at which time the animal has reached mature size. Because of this deposition, energy and protein are of great concern in growing horses.

Oh & I might add there is nothing wrong in rugging youngstock, just 1/2 the time the rugs do not fit, especially around the neck area. This creates more issues then it solves, also the rug stops the coat doing its job which is to trap warm air. This is why they feel the wind/rain more then just a drop in temperture, because the wind opens up the coat allowing the rain in. The ideal situation would be to provide a field shelter.
 
Regarding feed, I have been following the advice of the stud owner and a nutritionist. He was on an excellent pasture from being born until 7-8 months when he was weaned from his Mum. He looks in great condition, but the reason i added about the feed is that when I have posted previously about how he is growing some have commented on the amounts of feed he might be getting could be making him grow too quickly. So I thought I would add that he has not been on anything that would do this... I think he may be on a small amount of feed now they are in more, but will check when I go up on Friday.

He is on excellent quality haylage at the stud, it is beautiful what they feed there and is tested etc etc. I wish I could steal some for Han and Grace
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I have bought some rugs that have a smaller neck area. He has a DH stable rug which fits him really well, much better than the other one I tried on him (then took back) which was a WB one. I have not seen his turnout on, but the stud said it fits fine and should last him the winter (fingers crossed
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).

They are not out that much at the moment, he is in a pen with five other colts and having a ball
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But when they do go out they have plenty of shelter, but if he is not in a rug he stands at the gate wanting to come in
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With a rug he is happy as a pig in muck (literally
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They are not out that much at the moment, he is in a pen with five other colts and having a ball But when they do go out they have plenty of shelter, but if he is not in a rug he stands at the gate wanting to come in With a rug he is happy as a pig in muck (literally )

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Interestingly the youngster that was a weenling last year also needed to be rugged this time last year. At just over a year old now - he is naked, fluffy and lookin grand.

Each is different though - and I would much rather rug it and have it thrive, than not and see it fade before my eyes.

Troy sounds as if he is at a very caring establishment, and it's great to hear that he is getting the kind of attention that you would give him yourself if he were home with you. Sounds like it's a huge success
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I would love to have him out this time next year without... thanks amymay, hopefully that will be Troy's case next year
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He is just a big baby
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He looks fantastic when I go up... he is scruffy, smelly and very very happy
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I couldn't ask for more for him
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It is a huge success, it is the best decision I have ever made, and I was so worried I was doing the wrong thing by turning him away for a year or so. I have also found somewhere that could take him as an entire to live out through the summer too in over 200 acres. So in spring I can either keep him where I keep the girls, or he can go and live out somewhere else for a year
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Rug him, as every foal is different.
Last year three of ours were rugged, one not, she grew a coat like a bear and never once looked miserable.
This year all are rugged (William is inside 24/7 as he is on vet's orders he can only have a short play every day whilst supervised).
If he's shivering he's very cold indeed as most here don't shiver even when out all the time in really low temperatures. Unless the stud owner has already used one of her own rugs I'd be up there today to be honest.
 
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Not sure you understand how feeding works.

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Oh, forgive me - I assumed that being cold required extra calories to keep warm.

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The requirements for growth equal the sum of the foal's maintenance requirements plus the nutrients needed for the deposition of new body tissue.

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Yes, I agree with you 100% here, but if the animal is cold, it will require more in the way of maintenance. Rugging will help address this.

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The goal when feeding growing horses is to maintain an even growth rate and prevent sudden growth spurts, which place extra stress on young joints and bones.

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Yep - this is why I prefer to have mine rugged to compensate for sudden changes in temperature, or rain we weren't expecting or whatever. I'm not saying my way is better than anyone else's, simply stating that I would rather mine used their feed to grow and mature, not to try to keep warm.

Also agree with you on the need for carefully selecting a rug that fits decently - lots of modern rugs do fit foals very well, but you do end up having a large wardrobe for a single animal - ok in my case as I have several foals, but expensive for the single foal owner. Some sort of shelter in the field surely goes without saying.
 
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Rug him, as every foal is different.
Last year three of ours were rugged, one not, she grew a coat like a bear and never once looked miserable.
This year all are rugged (William is inside 24/7 as he is on vet's orders he can only have a short play every day whilst supervised).
If he's shivering he's very cold indeed as most here don't shiver even when out all the time in really low temperatures. Unless the stud owner has already used one of her own rugs I'd be up there today to be honest.

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He has a lovely medium weight one on that I took up 3 weeks ago... I was just worried that I was over rugging him, but if others would do the same then I am happy
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Lol am going with the wuss option too!
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Our two babies are also 7 months old and they are both out 24/7 with no rugs and a big bale hay to eat. They are both Welsh D babies but still!
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No the reply was to Ashbank. I was the only one to make the comment about feed/fuel. As I also stated "No horse likes the wind & rain, & must have some form of protection" & "Each horse is an individual so what suits one wont suit another". Prince wore a rug from Jan last yr, but I made sure it fitted him properly, & it was to help him/me cope with the wind & rain. I dont like to see mine shiver either, but I also dont like to see rugs hanging off their necks and or pulling on their withers.
 
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As I also stated "No horse likes the wind & rain, & must have some form of protection" & "Each horse is an individual so what suits one wont suit another".

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So we're actually in agreement..

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I dont like to see mine shiver either, but I also dont like to see rugs hanging off their necks and or pulling on their withers.

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Quite, which is why I find rugs that fit them!
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