full neck rugs still on

I always opted for colder rather than hotter as getting a wee bit of a chill isnt going to kill them, but getting baked could. They survived for millions of years without rugs, so a few hours without isnt a big issue.
 
Just to add IMO using a no fill TO in extreme weather conditions on a horse with a very fine coat would make you an idiot. All a no fill to will do is stop their hair fluffing up.
My point is that I would never feel the need to stop and lecture you on how to care for your horse or waste someones time reporting you.
Why can't horse owners just accept everyones different and most are trying their best?
For example my horses get physio every 8 weeks, when I watch other people at competitions and there horse clearly has a sore back I don't march over and ram my opinion down their throat.I just think that a few years ago I didn't realise how important physio was and there will be horses with far worse going on
 
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most are trying their best
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Some people are ignorant though - I certainly don't know everything - and things that seem obvious to those that know, are not obvious to those that don't. So sometimes a kindly word, sensitively put is actually helpful.

I would never let my Mum make rugging decisions, she's not horsey and feels the cold, so she thinks that everything else does too. The number of times that she's asked if the horses are cold, when they are sunbathing is a very large number. If it showers on a hot day, she asks if they need rugging (horses do melt in the rain ;) :p).

I don't go up to random horse owners IRL and tell them how to look after their horses, but for some reason, people do find it acceptable to tell me how to look after mine. So far I have learnt that I do pretty much everything wrong (hell, i don't even buy the right breed of horse). I have got over feeling grrrrr about it now and ignore it (obviously I am polite, I just don't take the advice that I don't agree with).
 
two friends the other day had light weight rugs on their horses, one with a neck. went and checked on them when i was doing field checks and they were sweating so stood there and called the owners telling them i was unrugging as their horses were sweating. Job done.

These two were clipped too so dread to think what unclipped horses are like under those rugs. Luckily my friends were very grateful, its happened before though when ive removed a rug from another persons horse and they went mad. i would rather not have a boil in a bag pony when i am on duty thankyou very much.
 
...I think...if its warm enough for people to be wandering around in T-shirts and shorts, then putting a rug on a hairy horse is out and out stupidity.(Unless its a fly/boett rug obviously).

Poor thing hasn't a choice, can't exactly strip itself off to cool down. It could, however if it were a bit on the chilly side warm itself up easily by walking around....
 
I just wish people would realise that horses are individuals and should be rugged according the individual's needs:(

A couple of days ago I had four out unrugged, one in 100g full neck and one in 200g full neck. All were comfortable and rugged (or not) according to their requirements. None have been clipped this winter.
 
See, I read your first post and agreed, rug posts in general do annoy me because I do believe you shouldn't be left in the sole care of a horse if you are not sure how many/few rugs your horses needs on at any moment of the day or night throughout the year.

Countrychic said:
My horses are still rugged, I would be confident to say you wouldn't look after them as well as I do!
Still if you feel the need to go and tell everyone in your area how to look after their horses who am I to stop you? Enjoy :rolleyes:
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I then read this comment and decided that you are probably one of the equine related people I would avoid, there are several different ways to look after horses, people don't always agree on these, but rugging your horse in anything other than a fly sheet in 22degree heat in May (IMO) is not good magagement.
 
Not that you wanting to avoid me would bother me in the slightest (sounds like it might be a blessing!!) but we live in the Borders, on the top of a hill and my horses were fully clipped late in the year. I'm sick of this thread, my point was, yes those ponies might have been too hot but I think in general people are too quick to ram how they keep their horses down others throats. I know the way mine are kept wouldn't suit everyone but I'm happy and secure that I'm doing the right thing for them and I don't need to convert anyone else. it's very difficult to know other horses requirements from a glance in a field. We used to have a little cob that was rugged much heavier than my 3/4 TB. I don't need others opinions on that, it worked for them and that's all that counts.
 
Hmm I think OP wasn't saying "OMG EVERYONE WHO OWNS A HORSE SHOULDN'T HAVE A RUG ON AT THE MOMENT"

but more in that context and specific situation they felt that the horses may be uncomfortable ? Down the road from us yesterday 22 degrees no breeze, there was 3 horses out in rugs they again were chunky native types and looked far to warm. Sadly it's the owners choice if they keep them on and i wouldnt dream of going round and saying anything as at the end of the day they are the concern of the owner.

Put those handbags down ladies !!!
 
Interesting.

There are many horses where I keep mine and they all have different requirements. 2 of the liveries are still rugged up overnight with heavyweights/medium weights with necks on, 1 horse is a 28 year old TB and the other has just started putting on weight after looking like a hat rack for the last 6 months.

I do think some people think if theyare cold then poor old dobbin must be....they forget they have a fur coat already ;P

My horse is sporting a full neck rug nearly 24/7 now but its a bug rug and it gets taken off everyday so she can be brushed/ridden etc. :)
 
Countrychic said:
Not that you wanting to avoid me would bother me in the slightest (sounds like it might be a blessing!!) but we live in the Borders, on the top of a hill and my horses were fully clipped late in the year. I'm sick of this thread, my point was, yes those ponies might have been too hot but I think in general people are too quick to ram how they keep their horses down others throats. I know the way mine are kept wouldn't suit everyone but I'm happy and secure that I'm doing the right thing for them and I don't need to convert anyone else. it's very difficult to know other horses requirements from a glance in a field. We used to have a little cob that was rugged much heavier than my 3/4 TB. I don't need others opinions on that, it worked for them and that's all that counts.
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You need to realise that no you dont know everything. If you cant accept there is always something about horse care and riding to be learnt then I feel sorry for your horses.
 
I agree OP, those ponies sound like they should really be unrugged!!

One of the ponies at my yard was rugged until recently. It proves that they are very individual, even when they are related!

Pony 1 (rugged) is very fine, even with a thick coat he still gets chilly when I'm in a t-shirt and light jumper.

Pony 2 is a chunky monster who only needs rugging in very very cold conditions.

They are more or less the same age, same breed and even same breeding, so I have no idea why they are so different, but they are!

But yes, it seems a little much to have them rugged in the baking sun!
 
Come up here in the driving wind and rain and single figure temps and tell me my horses dont need rugs ;)

Leave others be and mind your own business is really all i would say on this type of thread.
 
weebarney said:
You need to realise that no you dont know everything. If you cant accept there is always something about horse care and riding to be learnt then I feel sorry for your horses.
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Actually I thought your own comment could well apply to you! And it's "know" not "no".

Leave alone guys. Horses vary so hugely with their rugging requirements, I used to have a prissy WB x and a cob x. Well it was the cob x who needed heavier rugs, WB was always warm. Moving yards years ago and my horses went from no full t/o rugs to h/w in one move.
 
Luci07 said:
Actually I thought your own comment could well apply to you! And it's "know" not "no".

Leave alone guys. Horses vary so hugely with their rugging requirements, I used to have a prissy WB x and a cob x. Well it was the cob x who needed heavier rugs, WB was always warm. Moving yards years ago and my horses went from no full t/o rugs to h/w in one move.
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Oh dear I suggest you read my post again young lady before you criticise my grammar! And I am always open to learning, I learn something nearly everyday on here about horses. Even the professionals don't know everything.
 
Black Beastie said:
Come up here in the driving wind and rain and single figure temps and tell me my horses dont need rugs ;)

Leave others be and mind your own business is really all i would say on this type of thread.
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I'm in Scotland and none of mine are rugged :eek::D

In any case, the OP wasn't talking about horses standing in driving wind and rain but horses out in warm sunshine.

Personally, I hate seeing horses rugged on sunny days - we get so few up here :cool:
 
There was a horse near mine turned up in a field one day that had been rested all winter with a stable rug on. I'm thinking they are going to take it off at some point that 1st day it arrived, nope come rain or shine it wore that rug for about a week, thankfully its naked now!
 
I agree that every horse is individual and has different rugging requirements, but to be fair there are some real numpty owners out there too!

Our LWVTB we had for 3 months, were due to pay for him the following day when his owner went mental at us and refused sale. Her reasons? We changed to a hot shoeing farrier, we arranged back man ('My horse doesn't need the effing back man whats wrong with you, you're mad' was her response - nice) we cut sugar beet out of his diet and instead gave him ad lib haylage overnight (winter), and on a surprisingly sunny day, the day before he was due to get clipped, we turned him out naked for a few hours to have his last recent roll and an itch.

I walk past this horses field most days. So far this year he has been in the same HW TO he was in in the worst of the snow.... on a 10c ish warm day, has been naked when it is 2-5c and chucking it down, and last week when it was a bit chilly his unclipped mate (same owner) was in a LW whilst our ex boy was clipped and naked.

His ribs are now far too prominent.

In this case I feel 'qualified' to comment as I see the horse daily albeit from a distance, know him and have cared for him for a while, and unfortunately have also seen first hand how willfully ignorant his owners are.

Just sad :(
 
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