Do you leave your horses t/o on at night?

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doris2008

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Question in the title really! Or do you swop to a stable rug?
I tend to leave my horses with turnouts on at night. I obviously remove them regularly to check all is well but I'm pretty sure horse is happier in snug t/o than changing? And as I said in another post if he accidently snoozes in a damp patch it doesn't soak through!
I also layer with turnouts too as I find they don't slip back so much causing them to rub (not so stretchy) and they have more freedom of movement. In fact if I layer my TB with anything other than t/o's he tries to remove them!
Just wondered what other people do...
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I only lightly clip my horses, and leave my turnout on at night, they are ridden every day and brushed, there coats gleam, why make more work for yourself! Saves alot of time, will change them if soaking wet though.
 
i personally prefer to change them at night - it allows both sets of rugs to air whilst the other is on, plus it gives any spots that get rubbed in one rug a rest whilst the other is on.

but - that said, new, modern t/outs are better at breathing and keeping the horse more comfortable than the old ones, and even some of the modern stable rugs.

so i guess it really does come down to preference.
 
Yes I do and have people on the yard who think that because of that I don't look after my horse properly (not that it bothers me!
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My mare loathes having rugs changed, particularly on cold days switching her nice warm snug rug for a cold one that has been hanging in her stable all night. She is far far happier with quality well fitting turnout rugs kept on 24/7. Like you I check her for rubs etc and readjust, but don't change unless she is on extensive box rest or anything.

Although when I did change to stable rugs for box rest, its the only time she has ended up with rug marks on her shoulders - her turnouts rugs just don't do that.

Agree about the wet patches too - after not using stable rugs for such a long time, I was really shocked by how much more yukky they get than the turnouts.

Also means my mare always has a nice warm dry rug the next day when it is wet weather, as it drys nicely overnight on her without soaking through, whereas the people that switch have to hang their wet turnouts in various places around the yard and they are rarely completely dry the next morning.

Plus when turning three out in the morning before work, it saves tons of time
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I prefer to change my horse's rug. I would take it off to check him every day anyway so its not really any extra work. This is just my personal preference - I don't see anything wrong with leaving an outdoor rug on at night.
 
They tend to stay on it they are wet (obviuosly not soaked through), as leaving them on helps them dry much better... if I had a heated rug room then I expect I would change them!
 
Glad it wasn't just me being a lazy owner then!
Yeh I could never quite understand the whole swopping a wet rug thing (providing not soaked thru!) as they dry much quicker on a warm horse!
You are right about rubs - none of t/o's rub - every other rug I try does - I'm imagining they stretch more thus slip back on my high withered neddy!
 
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I only lightly clip my horses, and leave my turnout on at night, they are ridden every day and brushed, there coats gleam, why make more work for yourself! Saves alot of time, will change them if soaking wet though.

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Ditto
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I prefer to change mine over, especially in spring autumn weather when it is much colder during the night than during the day. Also I find that the t/o rugs tend to be quite heavy when plastered in mud so prefer to make horse more comfy in her stable rug.
 
Hell yes! started doing it a few years ago when running a yard, since i was riding in the morning it seemed silly to make more wk for myself when tired and cold at the end of the day.

never had a prob with it
 
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They tend to stay on it they are wet (obviuosly not soaked through), as leaving them on helps them dry much better... if I had a heated rug room then I expect I would change them!

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Defo agree with that! Touch wood I don't think I've had a completely wet through horse with today's rugs.....
 
I always change V's rug when he comes in.

Force of habit I suppose, that and the fect his turnout rubs his mane badly
 
most of the time they have their stable rugs on, although i do leave them in their TO's if OH or someone else is to put them out the following morning for me. If we have rain for a few days on end I will tend to leave their TO's (providing they are not completely soaked) as they dry much quicker on than off!
 
I change my guys rugs, but mainly because im anthropomorphising if im being honest.... Theres something about stable rugs that look so much snugger and bed like than turnouts... Its like getting to the end of the day and putting your pj's on and snuggling up on the sofa for an hour or so before going to bed, its just not the same in your clothes...
 
Used to change rugs at night.Daughters new horse didn't like getting rugs changed so used to leave in to esp as someone else was turning her out.
Other horse had pjs on but one night decided to leave to on and you know she was cosier in morning than with her 2 stable rugs(a light weight full neck with a medium on top,to was a full neck medium.)so after that left to on.
 
I change mine. My horse is sensitive and rubs easily so I'd rather he was rubbed lightly in a few places than badly rubbed in one place, as would happen if I didn't change it. Last year when I left the TO on he was left with half a mane - the entire bottom was rubbed out
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His mane has still been rubbed this year but he does have some left which is a big improvement.

Also my horse is very big and if a turnout rug is wet and muddy I am unable to get it back on him(!) so he needs a stable rug to wear while the turnout dries a bit.
 
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