Do horses really need neck rugs?

[Gorgeous George]

Sorry another rug question from me! Most people I know use neck rugs on their horses both in and out, I'm just wondering if I really need to do this for George (don't want to be a bad Mummy and make him cold though!) He is a thoroughbred shire ID x and I'm told gets a very thick teddy bear winter coat (I've only had him 4mths), I will only be giving him a minimal clip, probably something like a bib. He goes out inthe day and is in at night so I just wondered if I really need to go out and buy necks for his rugs (I can't really afford it

) or if he'll be ok?

Thanks

 

[dwi]

I would guess from what you've said that he'll be fine. My mw cob was out during the day all through last winter 8am - 6pm with only a mw turnout on, a high blanket clip and no neck cover. I think it helped that she has a huge double mane and that sheltered her neck from the wet.

I don't know where in Essex you are but I used to live there and didn't find the winters that cold at all. Alot of the people who actually need neck covers will be living further north than you or in more exposed areas. Unless you live really near the coast I would say try him without. As with anything you might need to buy him one later but I would cetainly give him a go first

 

[dozzie]

When my oldies were in work they had trace clips but no neck rugs and were absolutely fine (now I dont clip them as they are retired). My ponies didnt ever have rugs!

I use a neck rug for my chestnut purely because it keeps her cleaner and Im lazy!(not because she's preshus!!!)!!!! She only has a trace clip as she doesnt get much coat anyway. If its really cold I leave her outdoor rug on at night as she doesnt have a neck cover on her indoor one.

I do think we overdo the rugs nowadays!!!! But perhaps it does make our lives a bit easier!

Dont worry about it he will be fine as hes in at night anyway and wont be fully clipped. Horses survived for years with full clips and no neck covers!!!!

 

[Blizzard]

I use a neck rug on Lance sometimes, not to keep him warm, to keep him clean!
Beau wears one to keep warm in winter.

I would say George doesnt need one, but you may want one if you find he is a dirty horse LOL

 

[zigzag]

Wear one to keep them clean!!

 

[custard]

I think most of us use them for an easier life but a guy from D and H did say once that a horses neck is 25% of his surface area. Thats a large area to lose heat from if you are feeding for warmth and condition so it's worth getting one for later when it's really nasty and wet/windy.

 

[Bossanova]

Theyre useful for keeping them clean but apart from that I dont think theyre a necessity!

 

[lucym]

with a minimal clip, and being in i reckon he would be ok without one- they are horses after all, designed to live outdoors- and we do pamper them

 

[Chex]

If he's still going to have a hairy neck then he's be completely fine without one (probably

). I only use one when its seriously cold or snowing, and his neck is usually clipped out.

 

[LizzieJ]

To be honest, full neck rugs are a relatively new thing, they all survived ok before, even the fully clipped ones!

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

im only going to buy a neck rug to make my life easier - ie protect his huge mane and need less brushing etc.

 

[rforsyth1984]

ten years ago no one had necks on any rugs (round here anyway!)
My horse has one of thos 'part neck' rugs, but only for in the field in the coldest depths of winter... he's not clipped but gets no winter coat to speak of.

 

[I_A_P]

i only really use one to keep them clean as my field gets seriously muddy and wet in the winter, i have fund that some of the "all in one" combo type ones do slip back a littlw so they still get a little muddy; but the ones with detachable necks dont!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

i clip H int he winter and last year used neck covers but will not be next year. he was always trashing them which i think while trying to get it off. his neck will be clipped and nked this year

 

[MagicMelon]

I wouldn't use one on an unclipped horse or with a minimal clip like a bib.

My natives have rugs on but no necks. My other 2 are hunter clipped so they do have full necks. I do it to keep them cosy and it stops the clip growing back too quick on their neck!

 

[welshiewhiskers]

I too only really use a neck cover to keep the non clipped horses clean and those that are clipped a little extra! but i think yours will be fine with out!

 

[S_N]

[ QUOTE ]
To be honest, full neck rugs are a relatively new thing, they all survived ok before, even the fully clipped ones!

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true - a friend and I were talking about this earlier today! However, what I don't like about standard neck rugs, is that in wet weather, the rain water can and does run down the shoulders. Now if the horse is coming in for the night and a rug change, this can create problems and also, IMO, is not comfortable for the horse that lives out. On all of my standard neck rugs, I have taken off the 'D' rings round for the neck cover to attach too and re-attached them further back on the rug - therefore when the horse grazes, the flap on the neck rug doesn't blow up and expose neck to get wet - that make sense?

 

[Drummer]

I full necks both in and out to keep mine clean and warm, but he is a fully clipped cob and white to boot so I would feel mean turning him out freshly clipped and hogged with no neck or man to keep him warm/dry when it gets really nasty. If you are not clipping much off I think you would be fine without but they are a godsend!