Do you rug straight after riding?

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kit279

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I'm trying to keep my TB fit enough to go hunting - he goes maybe 2-3 times a month max. He's not clipped as he lives out all year round with decent rugs on. I manage to hack him out 2-3 times a week and do some fast work with him so he does get a little sweaty, mainly under his saddle. I do always walk him off and groom him afterwards but now the clocks have gone back, the only time I can ride is really in the mornings before work so I don't have time to let him completely dry off (with the whole sweat sheet/straw shebang).

Does anyone else ride, then rug up straight away?

His rugs are breathable so in theory it shouldn't be a problem but I just thought I'd ask!
 
if i dont have time to wait for them to cool/dry off then iu usually just put a fleece on to soak some of the sweat up for i minute but most of the time i will put them in the stable and if they wont settle i just chuck a rug on them and put the out.
 
i do the same as you because of lack of time.never had any probs because i try to cool off on the last bit of ride.
 
Why don't you think about giving him a trace clip? The quickest way for a horse to get chilled is to turn it out warm and wet (even with a rug on). And you'll find it impossible once you start hunting him. He would be much more comfortable without some of his coat.
 
I used to give my a 7/8 tb a chaser clip and he used to live out 24/7 with a good rug on and he was fine. Your horse would be much more comfortable with a clip, especially if you're going to hunt him.
If you have a good rug on him he won't get cold as long he has ad-lib hay to chew on which will keep him warm.
 
personally i would never turn out a hot sweaty horse, it is the way i was bought up, and my aunt (who taught me) lost a horse due to it getting a chill
i know nowadays rugs are breathable etc, and people do get away with turning out hot horses, but i would think the best option would be to do a little clip, and invest in a really good wicking rug (ie coolex or thermatex) to dry him off quickly
smile.gif
 
Personally I would not put a rug on a sweaty horse other than a fleece type. This is why my cob is full clipped even though he does not always work hard, but I ride late at night and need to be able to immediately rug and put him in the stable.

In summer, it is different, I just hose off the sweat and turn out as it is warm and they can roll and move about to dry off and if it is raining, well they are wet anyway. I do make sure they are cooled off first though.

I would consider clipping, to avoid a sweaty and potentially damp and chilled rugged horse.
 
my horse is fully clipped and lives out. he still gets seriously sweaty and steamy schooling though. i cool down for last 5-10mins in walk, then stick thermatex on him, wait until steam slows down a bit then feed (only fibre feed) and then stick turnout on and back out. he's not normally completely dry but i dont finish riding till 8pm and it's normally 9pm by time i get him out - i cant wait all night. he seems ok with this. i cant imagine how i'd cope if he wasn't clipped.
 
If my horse gets very sweaty i wash him off and stick a cooler on him. If i need to get him out quick i rub him down with a towel to dry him as much as possible and then put his turnout on. Never had any problems.
 
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