Do I give in and put his rug on tonight?!

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bex1984

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My pony made his feeling on being turned out in the rain very clear last night - I had to drag him all the way to the field
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He's a hairy native, gets sweaty very easily and hasn't been clipped yet. But it's meant to get quite cold tonight, there might be a frost, so I'm wondering about putting his (lovely shiny new) LW on overnight - from about 7pm until 7:30am.

I feel a bit guilty as all the other horses and ponies at the yard are in at night/out with rugs on, and he was not keen on going out last night...

...so would you put a rug on tonight? Or do I leave him, on the basis that he's built for English weather?
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Even if it is cold tonight it will still be mild in comparison to jan / feb... so if you rug now you'll end up having to put heavy weights on him come January!

Leave him, if he gets cold he'll just have to use up a few calories moving round to keep warm.
 
Im a softy and would say yes but only if you have heavier rugs for when hes clipped. Also think it depends on his weight and age. We rugged for the first time last night but they are in at night and they had LW t/o's on (we use breathable rugs that can be used in and out of the stable), we did leave them on today too as it has gone colder. The oldies have had a fleece or cooler on for about a week now at night but they are well into there 20's. Think they reckon its going to be about 2 tonight with a frost but realistically they would all be fine without rugs, its us
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I too have this dilemma for tonight. Much like yours, my two have decent coats (although bigger one has finer coat) and I dont know what to do. Big one had a major strop last night after getting wet.

Thing is, if just cold for 1 night then no use, but if staying cold, suppose we had better!
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Does any one know the 7 day forecast?

LB x
 
If the rug is new and clean I definately wouldn't put it on. It was so wet yesterday he'll only go and get it muddy (or at least mine would!)
 
if he's cold rug him...my girl is a hairy who has not been clipped yet and has been rugged at nights for the past 3 weeks unless its warm enough for me to be out without a coat (about 2 nights in the past 3 weeks)
 
noooooo! LMAO!! FGS people these are natives!! Have you ever seen a wild pony don a rug in the cold weather?? Unless they're clipped, old, very young or ill they'e MADE to live in the cold. beleive it or not, this is why they pile on so much weight (to keep them warm without rugs on, in the wild they then lose the weight keeping warm).

Bex he is a bloomin great hairy ponio!!! Rug him now and by God you'll struggle with his weight next spring!
 
My two are very hairy and apparently hardy types, though someone has yet to tell them.

I did put on summer turnouts last night as it was so wet and horrible but not that cold. Cairo is also an OAP so I like to pamper him.

I am going to put their summer turnouts on tonight as it is supposed to be going down to 0 and their field does not offer any protection. These rugs don't have any lining but do keep off the worst of the damp and wind which is all they need at the moment.

They will be coming in at night from end of the month and will then be clipped and rugged.

As we do not have much grazing left, I am putting out hay so they can eat and keep warm that way.
 
I reckon he looks as though he could stand a few degrees below, if he's the one in your pic.

Its not meant to rain, just be cold, if he's cold he'll stand his hair on end and be absolutely fine. Last night, with wind and loads of rain was a darn sight worse than tonight will be!
 
I do feel a bit mean for leaving him out to get soaked in the rain last night...but he was steaming out in the field when I went to get him in so don't think he was cold!
 
sadly a whopping great rug would spoil the picture. When it snows and you're freezing you're toes off maybe time for a light rug, but not until! (unless you clip him).

I plan to trace clip our native and leave him naked for as long as possible.
 
Our natives are out naked still and getting hairy! 3 Welsh Cobs (2 with foals at foot) and Dales, one of the welshies has a fly rug on however but don't think that counts.
 
Murphy is possibly being clipped next weekend, and then I may have to put a rug on him, but I will resist until then I think! I like him all furry! Glad to hear I'm not the only one leaving hairy beasties out unrugged, I have just moved yards and everyone else seems to be rugging up (including the cobs).
 
Wild ponies can move to the shelter of a valley or hillside ponies in a field cannot...shall we leave you out all night in a field without a coat but you can have a nice thick jumper
 
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Murphy is possibly being clipped next weekend, and then I may have to put a rug on him, but I will resist until then I think! I like him all furry! Glad to hear I'm not the only one leaving hairy beasties out unrugged, I have just moved yards and everyone else seems to be rugging up (including the cobs).

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and you watch next summer when they're all desperately trying to shift the weight off their ponies.

In the showing circles they rug natives up to the hilt to stop them getting so hairy, and what usually happens is they get obese, because they're not using natures way of keeping them warm (burning calories). i would MUCH MUCH rather have a fat ponio in the winter, and leave it naked and on soaked hay only, plus exercise, than the spring and have to restrict it's grass.

Farmers don't rug cows, ... the same as native ponies in the wild don't wear rugs. Trust me, he's alot better off a little cold than too hot.
 
tbh, I'd leave him. Horses and ponies are generally fine when its cold and dry expecially at this time of year. Its wind and rain that make horses cold usually. Or clip him if you do decide to rug. If he's sweating already you'll probably make him more uncomfortable by rugging him unclipped. I'd rather be slightly cold than stuffed up it clothes and overheat.
Mind you, alot depends on what his field is like. Is it exposed or does he have some natural shelter.
 
Deffo clip and rug at same time...

I have a teeny sec b on loan (see pic) and she will be rugless from now to next year, doesn't possess one.

And someone up above me here, said they are putting a summer sheet on their hairy overnight when it isn't raining, but cold, I reckon that actually doesn't help keep any heat in, since it flattens their hair, which they need to stand on end to trap air in and insulate themselves.

Of course, proper hairys need a bit of natural oils in their coat for the wet too, shouldn't be properly groomed. So if your boy is nice and clean and brushed (which he does look) he shouldn't get too much sideways rain on him for hours and hours perhaps..
 
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I have just moved yards and everyone else seems to be rugging up (including the cobs).

[/ QUOTE ] But that is probably for their own convenience, to keep the mud off, rather than because they really need them! I must admit two of mine have lightweight turnouts on for that reason, but my fatty is out naked (and is plastered with mud
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