Fat ponies and cold weather

[PSD]

How are you all managing yours?

I’ve got a chunky welsh c, farrier passed comment he’s looking rather “well” for this time of year. He’s on hay, won’t touch it soaked so I give him the less good stuff (I’m on a livery yard so it’s hard) plus with the cold weather the vet doesn’t advise soaking anyway. He’s in work every day, only has feed (hand full of ease and excel) before exercise but he is carrying more weight than I’d like.

He isn’t rugged, however temps are dropping to around -7/8 here in next few days so I’m wondering if it’s reasonable to keep him unrugged during this?

He has a decent winter coat too which makes him look bigger than he actually is! to add - he’s stabled overnight.

 

[94lunagem]

I also have “well” natives who until yesterday have been unrugged this winter. I’m pretty matter of fact about management, they have enough to eat, plenty of natural shelter and a field shelter, and I always prefer them to be a bit too cool than a bit too warm. But we’re forecast -6 so I have now rugged, looking at forecast probably until the weekend.

 

[meleeka]

My traditional cob livery isn’t rugged. He is checked for warmth daily, so if he’s chilly he’ll get a rug. I’ve only ever seen him shiver once and that was when it was 5 degrees and raining.

My Shetlands definitely don’t need rugging. One of them was on Shetland this time last year, so even our -4 probably doesn’t register without a wind.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Only my elderly Shetland gets rugged at all at the min and that's only when it's raining. The rest are tubby natives, with plenty of forage, either grass or hayledge and shelter in the form of natural and field shelters. I'd only rug or bring in if it was wet, windy and very cold.

 

[SEL]

Last year I didn't rug my Dales X in minus 14 and she was fine. This year she's fat but she's also not 100% and as we haven't got to the bottom of that yet I've rugged her tonight. Normally her and my young cob would have zoomies around the field to warm up but she's not at all playful right now and I'd rather her be comfortable.

Could well be I'm just making me feel better but I'm ok with that!

 

[Dave's Mam]

Dave is chaser clipped & not rugged. He's toasty warm if I press my hand up into his armpits.
I'm trying to balance keeping him at a good weight, but also keeping hay going through him after the sand colic in November. He is worked 5 days out of 7 on average, and he's also very active in the field playing with his herd.
It's not easy to keep these good doers trim.

 

[Ceifer]

Mine has a rug only when it’s raining. If it’s dry (which to be fair is a rarity) he’s naked. His coat puffs up nicely when dry and does what it’s supposed to do.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I definitely wouldn’t rug in your situation.

 

[Sossigpoker]

My 12 hand New Forest type pony isn't clipped and is naked. He's got a bit of weight on him but not too bad. He's in at night with plenty of second cut hay and has long,.old grass during the day.
He's only been having a rain sheet on when wet as the paddock doesn't have any shelter.
In this cold and dry weather He's warmer out naked.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I should add that Dave isn't rugged at all, even well into minus temps. He's like a yak, never seen him shiver & he's in great form.
He's had a turnout rug on twice in the 8 years I have owned him.
Obviously rug to your pony's needs.

 

[marmalade76]

Why not make the most of the opportunity for him to use up a few calories keeping warm? My little Welshie used to live out 24/7/365 with no rugs. Then I shared her with an old friend for her granddaughters to ride, she wanted to rug her to keep her clean, I said fine but you'll have to buy the rugs yourself so she did, full neck. Pony had laminitis by April.

 

[Boulty]

If overweight but otherwise healthy with a decent coat & used to being naked then no I wouldn’t rug.

That cold or colder with hail or snow and high winds I might consider it depending on hay & shelter availability.

My Highland is also plumper than I’d like with a sort of chaser clip. The only way he’s getting a rug is if I fully clip him (or if I really really need him clean & dry for some reason).

 

[shanti]

Not a pony, but I have an Arab who is an extremely good doer. I only rug if it's raining excessively and cold. He gets unlimited hay and has shelter that he never uses because apparently shelters are just expensive field ornaments.

 

[PSD]

It’s so tough with these native ponies in winter. Last year he was a lot leaner and granted he probably looks bigger as he’s fluffy. But I read an article about over rugging linking to EMS in natives so decided to leave him without this year and he’s doing well.

Didn’t expect him to hold his weight better than he ever has! Hopefully the cold snap will encourage him to use up some calories. Thanks for the reassurance.

Oh and we’ve woke to snow today! Not helpful

 

[rabatsa]

I have had fatties here to slim down, they are fed with the donkeys. Barley straw in a net 24/7 and a small net of hay am and pm. The hay is fed from the floor but same amount and the straw is in a large ring feeder, so they are not constantly tugging at nets.

 

[AutumnDays]

My plump pair are only in no fill rugs when it's raining and windy, as we are right on the coast and it gets vicious. They come in at night to dry their feet out then. Otherwise it's no rugs. After all that rain we had they are currently in just over an acre paddock with the sheep while other half does a massive drainage project on the other fields as they became lakes eventually, and no extra hat being given, so hopefully some pounds will be lost!

 

[pistolpete]

My fat highland (retired) is on hay with a small bib clip. Not worn a rug in three years! He gets some hay daily not ad lib. Getting some barley straw for them today as it’s -4. I really hope he drops some weight soon! I feel your pain.

 

[Equi]

My solid mini is giving me anxiety. Never rugged, never fed bar a slice of hay if they come in and never lost weight. I’m going to clip and underrug this week

 

[maya2008]

Ours are out 24/7. The ridden ones have LW rugs or I would never get them clean enough to ride. We manage weight by feeding 50% hay 50% straw. Straw in the morning, hay at night. They would be huge on just hay.

 

[Catbird]

My hw cob has a full clip, is out during the day and is only rugged if it's raining. It's cold here but he's a very warm pony and whenever I've checked him he's fine. He gets grumpy if he's too warm and stands next to you until you take his rug off!
Looks like the wind is picking up here later in the week so he'll have a rainsheeet or 50g rug as the field is a bit exposed. This seems to be helping keep the weight off although there's more to go before spring!

 

[catembi]

My Shetland is unrugged with constant access to shelter and always seems warm enough & cheerful. My Dartmoor is rugged to death, but she has type 2 PSSM and struggles to keep warm. In the same weight of rugs as the TBs, they will be toasty and she will be just warm enough. She is also being treated for EMS, so we've got a lot going on.

 

[Polos Mum]

my hairy has a nice covering of snow on him currently. It's not melting because his coat is so effective the warmth is staying in and not enough is lost to melt snow.
He has a chaser clip and is still naked and toasty when I feel around his ears / armpits.

TBH there's every chance you make him colder if you rug because you'll flatten the hair and the coat can't work as it is supposed to.

The exception would be torrential rain - then if there's no shelter maybe think about it.

 

[Gloi]

On the registered Fell Pony Facebook group is s photo of a mare in the USA where it is -16 ,with snow on her back and icicles hanging off her belly hair looking quite fat and happy. Showing what our native ponies are capable of.

 

[meleeka]

my hairy has a nice covering of snow on him currently. It's not melting because his coat is so effective the warmth is staying in and not enough is lost to melt snow.
He has a chaser clip and is still naked and toasty when I feel around his ears / armpits.

TBH there's every chance you make him colder if you rug because you'll flatten the hair and the coat can't work as it is supposed to.

The exception would be torrential rain - then if there's no shelter maybe think about it.

This was my shetland this morning in -4. He’s bay and this is frost. What wonderful coats they have!

 

[Hackback]

TBH there's every chance you make him colder if you rug because you'll flatten the hair and the coat can't work as it is supposed to.

The exception would be torrential rain - then if there's no shelter maybe think about it.

This is what I was led to believe too. My 3 year old unclipped Arab is out in sub zero conditions unrugged, but he does have a rug at night when it's this cold and he's stabled, because he can't move about to keep warm. His clipped buddy is rugged day and night.

 

[Bellalily]

This

Mine has a rug only when it’s raining. If it’s dry (which to be fair is a rarity) he’s naked. His coat puffs up nicely when dry and does what it’s supposed to do

On the registered Fell Pony Facebook group is s photo of a mare in the USA where it is -16 ,with snow on her back and icicles hanging off her belly hair looking quite fat and happy. Showing what our native ponies are capable of.

Apparently as long as it’s dry, they are fine down to -40C. The TB mare we had who was bred in Aberdeenshire never wore a rug, and my appy x who was also NE Scotland grows an enviable double coat every year, despite having left there 15 years ago. When we had our pet sheep shorn, the guy said he’d never seen sheep with a tummy fleece before, but then they wee also from Scotland, so need it to lie in the snow. Animals are amazing.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Pony (stabled over night and naked ) was looking nice and fluffy over night. Checked this morning and was toasty warm at the base of the coat.
I did give him some hat in the paddock though to go with his crappy old grass and standing hay- much appreciated as shown by the joyful bucking when he saw it arriving!

 

[Widgeon]

I would just check whether he feels cold and whether he's shivering. If it's no to both then he must be okay.

They do cope amazingly well with cold, my Icelandic used to stand with heaps of snow along his back while still managing to be fat.

 

[Widgeon]

much appreciated as shown by the joyful bucking when he saw it arriving!

Yes the hay bucking! Isn't it great. Mine also does a joyful dance when he sees the barrow arriving.

 

[Bellalily]

my hairy has a nice covering of snow on him currently. It's not melting because his coat is so effective the warmth is staying in and not enough is lost to melt snow.
He has a chaser clip and is still naked and toasty when I feel around his ears / armpits.

TBH there's every chance you make him colder if you rug because you'll flatten the hair and the coat can't work as it is supposed to.

The exception would be torrential rain - then if there's no shelter maybe think about it.

Isn’t all rain torrential now?