Fly Rugs in the rain

Liostro

Liostro

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12 June 2011
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Hi knowledgeable people just wondering whether it's best to leave the fly rugs on when we get torrential down poor or take it off. Hate seeing my boy soaked but the weather is one extreme to the other at the moment!!!! I know it's not all that important but just wondered what u guys do?!?!?
 
If its just short downpours, I leave them on, as they dry out quickly. If its windy and non stop all day, I tend to pull them off, and let their coat do it's job. The only one I don't like taking it off is the one that gets sweet itch, so he just gets his changed.
 
Mine has sweet itch, which is why he wears his fly rug. He's a traddie cob so a good hardy type.

I tend to leave him out in his if it tiddles down with rain. He won't die from getting wet!!! Plus there's the problem that if I put on his lightweight turnout on top of the fly rug, and it either stops raining OR gets very warm and humid, then he'll start itching coz he's hot, which isn't what I want to happen.

So he stays out and gets wet. As he's an itchy type the rain cools him down which is again helpful.
 
I found my lad shivering after his fly rug got wet and didn't dry out fast enough. so now if it is going to rain but not cool enough for a rug he goes naked!
 
Our fly rug wearers wear them because of sweet itch so like the other sweet itch poster, I leave them on. Horse dries out, and he's lovely and healthy and (too) fat at the moment so he's obviously not struggling with getting cold and wet.
 
I use the Horsewear fly rugs and sometimes add one of their waterproof liners if I know its going to be persistently wet and cool for a while. Otherwise I just leave the fly rugs on and let them dry on the horse. The waterproof liners are great but do make the fly rug considerably warmer to wear so I dont bother with them all that often, at this time of year.
 
Thanks people!!!! Just nice to know i've got the right idea!!!!
Was without horses for 10years so sometimes need a reminder that they are not human and are wild animals!!!!
But as someone else put... i have seen him shivering occassionly dear of him, hes naked at the mo but as soon as the sun comes again il pop it back on.x
 
I agree with 'Soulfull' and take them off when there is a lot of rain and the temperature is cool as my ponies shiver as the rugs are quite heavy and cold when soaked. Not had them on for a few days recently, including my sweet-itchy pony as just too cold, wet & windy. I just make sure she has flycream applied underneath/udder area where she is attacked most by the midges and so far she seems to be fine. Weather grim this evening so not a fly in sight but will have to get up early to check if the sweet-itch pony needs rug back on, as forecast suggests finer weather tomorrow.
 
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