confirmation can be colder rugged than naked !

[JLD]

I posted yesterday as I was a bit confused about rugging, I went with gut feeling and left the boy naked over night, in the morning he was really warm deep in his fur despite being -3 overnight, popped a 100 g on him as was really wet today and he doesn't do wet, and even thought it was +3 all day he was much cooler. Maybe I will need my heavier rugs after all in the wet but will be leaving naked when ever dry. Definitely won't be using the rain sheet for a while !

 

[dogatemysalad]

I'm not sure. I know about the theory of the rain sheet flattening the coat but that's not the whole story. On a still, dry day. with temperatures at -3, an unclipped healthy horse with forage, is fine without a rug.

In persistent heavy rain with the chill factor increased by wind gusts, again at -3, the coat can become sodden and lose it's ability to be fluffy and waterproof. A cold unrugged horse will seek shelter and stand with its back to the wind.

With a rain sheet, even though it flattens the horse's coat, will keep the horse dry and protected from the chill factor.

So in certain conditions, I think the no-fill rug can be useful.

 

[JLD]

I totally agree about the cold and wet, and mine would be utterly miserable unrugged if wet, my surprise was how much cooler he was in a 100 g than I expected compared to his dry fluffed up coat, I thought 100g would have been too warm. I use rain sheets loads in temps of 5' + and wouldn't be without one, but
When v cold I wonder if the loss of trapped air needs a thicker rug to compensate than I had thought.