Everyone else rugging up their horses but me??

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Quartz

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All the livery horses are being rugged up now, all day, not just the evenings. Yes the nights are cold around 1 degree, but during the day the sun is shining bright and I don't even wear a coat and I don't have any body hair, unlike my horse!!! Therefore am I wrong to leave him without his rug? I know he would sweat during the day and its not possible to get there everyday to take it on and off. Especially as away next week. I am wondering if I should just leave instructions for the YO to rug if up if the temp really drops next week. Thoughts please?
 
I guess it depends how fine your horse is but I would think during the day unrugged he'll be fine unless it goes that very wet and windy way which can be draining if it goes on for days. I think being a little bit cold is much better than sweating profusely under a rug. At least when cold a horse can do something about it by moving round, fluffing up hair, etc. Mine is a very hairy native and won't probably get a clip until a couple of weeks time. I won't be putting on a rug every day (lightweight turnout, no fill) unless the weather is foul during the day or until it gets to be regularly 1-2 degrees at night as he just gets too hot as the geldings all tend to charge round a lot of a day and our lot have to be stabled at night from the end of October. I think as you suggest when you're away just ask your YO to assess the weather herself/himself and rug accordingly.
 
It depends on lots of things. My mares and youngstock wont be rugged at all but my riding horse is in full rambo supreme HW already (and has been for weeks). I don't want to clip him so am trying to stop him growing too much coat. Do what suits you.
 
My 3 geldings aren't rugged up - they are absolutely fine. I hate to see horses rugged up too much when it is warm. Unless your horse is dropping weight, I am sure he will be fine.
 
No all mine are naked including the TB. all happy and warm, not clipping as they are having the winter off, but will only rug when they need it.
 
Mine are all still unrugged and will stay that way until the weather changes to lots of rain and really icey winds.
 
My TB has a medium weight rug on but he was really skinny when I got him only 2 months ago and I'm scared of him losing any weight, but my TB X Connie is naked and is doing fine.
 
He has quite a lot of his winter coat, as he seems quite fluffy to me and he's a good weight. I did try rugging him up when temps dropped to 4 at night but when I would take it off in the morning when temp was upto 11 he would already be sweating. Hate these kind of decisions as can never know for sure which is the best way to do it!!!
 
we are all naked during the day. In at night. But this time of year is a sod for working out whether to rug or not. Our yard is mainly TB's inc my horse....will prob start to rug when it gets wet.
 
My new TB is rugged up, currently in a MW. He came to us in very poor condition and I don't want him using what little weight he has to keep warm.

Each to their own. Our 'tough as old boots' shire horse was as happy as larry unrugged and hairy last winter
 
We have two Newfies out 24/ 7, 365 and neither of them are likely to see a rug any time soon, not even Fol, who is 17.

They are really cute and fluffy now, so different from the sleek and shiny summer look.
 
I've got a TBxWelsh D and ShirexTB, both out during the day and in at night. Neither are clipped yet, the TBxD is due a full clip very shortly (as soon as the rugs are back from the washers) and the Shirex is having an apron clip when I get round to it. Both are quite woolly at the moment.
Both have rain sheets on during the day if the forcast is wet and windy as both will shiver in this weather, even though there are trees, hedges and a shelter :rolleyes: Both are naked in the stable at night.
 
My OAP TB is un-rugged he has always been a very warm horse & doesnt thank you for a rug. The most i use is a 40grm lightweight T/O on him even in the depths of winter.

My ISH has a lightweight on & my WB who is a wuss mostly has a lightweight on but is sometimes needing his 40grm on overnight atm he's on Box rest so i think thats why he's cold. None of the above horses are clipped.
 
Mine is still unrugged 24/7 - he is carrying a bit of a tummy and needs to lose weight so I'm delaying rugging as long as poss and plan to under rug over the winter.

He'll be blanket clipped in a couple of weeks (he gets tight in his back otherwise I'd whip it all off!) and even then unless the weather is really foul he'll stay in a lightweight.

Tbh I tend to rug to the horse - if he is cold he'll get a rug, if he's not, he doesn't!
 
One of mine is unrugged and will remain so until it starts raining
The other has a small clip and tends to get skinny so is out in a MW at night and in the day if the sun isnt shining
 
Understand your dilemma as have just been away on holiday and wanted everything to be as simple as possible. I looked at it from the point of view that a horse that is too hot can get in trouble in one day (overheating ,trying to remove own rug etc) but a horse that is a little too cold will take several days before it causes a problem. Always under rug rather than over rug, a little extra hay will compensate.
 
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