Do you change rugs at night?

trundle

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 April 2007
Messages
2,297
Location
Beds / Bucks borders
Visit site
I think I'm the only person on my yard that doesn't, as far as i can see. My girl is currently in an Amigo MW, because its a bit chilly and she does feel the cold. She's out all day and in at night. I have left the MW on overnight, because i felt a bit mean whipping off her nice warm rug and putting a freezing cold stable rug onto her.

Everyone else changes their rugs, and puts fleeces or stable rugs onto their horses though. Am I doing it wrong? Should I put Ella's "pyjamas" on at night?
 
I wouldn't say you are "wrong"
I just like to change mine, prevents rubbing etc and for my own satisfaction that I like buying rugs!!!
tongue.gif
 
Unless it is really cood and wet, as is today, I mak him naked and then put his MW bak on at night.

Make sure she does not over heat in the day, if you do not let her breath, she will be colder in her MW as she will have sweated in the day and there for be sweaty at night HTH
 
It depends on what mood I'm in!
wink.gif

Currently they're in their lightweight turnouts day and night - although I take them off and put them back on when they come in to prevent rubbing
smile.gif

Kate x
 
Personally yes I always change my rugs. Turn outs are for outside and stable rugs are for inside!! I like rugs to have chance to air and breathe and also I groom mine when they come in and it gives me the chance to check them over.
 
It usually doesnt make much difference to me because I get Darcy in to ride, and then put him to bed straight after so either way he'll be having a cold rug
grin.gif


So long as you check them over for any bumps/ scratches etc that could be lurking under their rugs I'm sure its not really a big deal, in the winter when his heavies get soaked through I leave them on over night to dry through rather than putting a soppy one in the morning
smile.gif
 
Nope.

Why take warm rugs off (even warm, damp ones) to put cold clammy ones on?

I can actually think of many reasons to change rugs, but I don't. Come to think of it, I don't own anything but turnouts anyway. Poor deprived nags.
 
In the 'real' winter, no I don't. Mainly as my wimpy, wimpy horse needs a nmber of rugs! Last year, I had no where to dry wet rugs, I just changed the underrugs and let the turn-out dry on him overnight. I still took them off daily to check him over, groom him and re-adjust them.

This year however, I'm at a new yard with rug drying facilities - I think it might be a case of trial and error to see what works best!
 
I always always change Buzz's rug as when he came to me he had a nasty rug rub on his withers, where he'd been thrown out in the field when he arrived and they just put what ever spare rug was around on him, As he didnt speciffically come in for me and i wasn't looking at buying a new one at the time, so didnt really have anything to do with him, so now i check his withers daily when he is rugged to make sure there not being affected in any way,
 
I don't in winter as Mick hates having a cold rug on and Shiney hates having his rug touched full stop, so why battle with them both.

Also, when the weather is wet and windy they stay in, so I put them out while I muck out, then bring them back in - all within about 45 mins, so its easier if they are in turnouts.

When it snowed last year they were in the same rugs for 12 days 24/7 and they were fine. They have got good quality rugs though.
 
Yes but I am another one who wants all the rugs off at least once a day to check and make sure there is no rubs. My stabled boy gets his done twice a day minumum - 3 times during the week as I take all off again when I come down after work. When I had a horse living out - he still had everything taken off at least once a day. I also like to have a bit more off the horse in the day so that they can get the benefit of extra warmth at night. I also find that the temperature is so changeable at the moment that rugging has to be a little flexible anyway!
 
Jasper is also out during the day with a Meduim weight amigo on. Tonight I took it off to check him over but I've put it back on as I know I'll be in a real rush in the morning.
This happens once or twice a week at this time of year but I like to change them, especially in winter when he may need extra layers.
 
Nope, I never change my horses rugs day/night, I only ever take them off to ride or change to a different weight or put another one on underneath, at the moment they have had the same rugs on for about 10 days ... long may it last
laugh.gif
 
errr. yes and no.

I'll explain.
Mum and dad do the horses for me some nights in the winter. And as mum isn't too mobile and dad works long hours I don't ask them to change rugs unless the horses are too hot or too cold.
When OH and or I are up there for the evening, or over night then we will change the rugs at least for a short time.

There is no reason from the rug point of view for changing them if they are warm and dry underneath. I also think a wet rug dries quicker on a warm horse than on a rail.
From the horse point of view, then yes maybe changing them helps avoid rubbing by changing where the rug sits.
 
nope my lot stay in turnouts all winter remove regularly to ride etc and change according to weather also agree wet rugs dry better on warm horses as long as they are not damp inside of rugs
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Why take warm rugs off (even warm, damp ones) to put cold clammy ones on? [ QUOTE ]




surely if they're damp they may become cold??
"fresh" cold rugs will warm up with the body heat

[/ QUOTE ]

I was referring to damp/wet on the outside. Body heat dries them. My horses live in their rugs 24/7 right through the winter. Fortunately we just don't DO rain in winter where I live until it gets above freezing, they have icicles hanging off them but they are still warm and dry inside. If I take a damp rug off it is frozen solid and standing up by itself within minutes, I couldn't possibly put that back on a horse.

They do get stripped off and checked, never had a rug rub yet. On sunny days they even come off for a bit too even if it is -10C
 
On my last yard he was in on a night and most night he had a rug change out of his TO into a stable. I didn't feel too mean either as his stable rugs were pre warmed on the rug dryer
blush.gif
On days I would most likely be in a rush or someone else was going to turn him out I would leave his TO on.
Now he is at home and out 24/7 he is brought in twice a day at least and groomed and either the same rug goes back on if it is going to be a cold day but most of the time he has a rug change in the morning to a lighter rug then his heavier one put back on for over night.
 
nope, mine stay in turnout rugs while they are stabled.

a well fitting rug won't rub anyway (mine all wear bibs as a precaution too) and they are taken off for me to ride and then put back on.

not had any problems, it saves money and wet rugs dry far quicker on the horse than off!
 
No, mine all stay in their turnouts but TBH I think it depends on the quality and fit of the rugs.
Mine are all in Horseware or Fal rugs and I've had no problems with them rubbing, leaking or slipping.
Much quicker and saves money too. There's no way I'd go back to stable rugs now.
 
Top