Getting used to not rugging........

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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So my new boy has never been rugged in his 8yrs and although it's a totally new mindset for me I am determined NOT to rug him even in a lightweight.

It has been hard the last couple of days as it's been cold, windy and heavy showers but he's a hardy type and has not been bothered. I've just given him hay twice a day as the grass isn't that great yet.

Has anyone else gone from being someone who always uses rugs to someone who doesn't?
 
I used to layer them on as soon as it got chilly. These days not so much as I know how hard it is to get the weight off Rio as soon as spring hits so I don't mind having some help from the weather :)
 
I am a professional "rug therapist" I treat many people like yourself through the traumatic experience of transitioning horses from and to rugging.

I understand that this issue can spiral out of control and can even lead to death. We all know the mortality rates of rug-induced coma is rising.

I am here to help and prevent any harm that could be caused by the subsequent stress levels of this very difficult problem horse owners face.

Call me free on 08009979961 for a free consultation.
 
I had always rugged as owned a wimpy TB, then got a WB youngster (never rugged) and a Welsh A (has been rugged in the past but not by me). So for the last 2 yrs I've stuck to my guns. I took the mentality that you rug as per horses requirements not our own/to make ourselves feel better.

Different story if they are in hard work/competing and have no natural coats/grease to keep them cosy.
 
I find the best way to reassure myself is to spy on them (if they see you they rush to the gate and beg for food/ stable etc.) but if you're not there you see them stand out in the most horrid sleety hail storms happily grazing with the water running off their coats in the way it was designed to without ever getting close to their skin.
My big horse (with a chaser clip) has been naked for 2 months now, he's always toasty and they never go near the field shelter (unless escaping flys in the summer)
Feel them after a good soaking and you'll be amazed how warm and dry their skin is (assuming not fully clipped/ no hair v fine type)
 
tallyho! said:
I am a professional "rug therapist" I treat many people like yourself through the traumatic experience of transitioning horses from and to rugging.

I understand that this issue can spiral out of control and can even lead to death. We all know the mortality rates of rug-induced coma is rising.

I am here to help and prevent any harm that could be caused by the subsequent stress levels of this very difficult problem horse owners face.

Call me free on 08009979961 for a free consultation.
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Haha, For a minute I thought you were serious (top line only!) - Love it!
Its not something I could cope with I admit but this is more due to the mud factor than being worried the horse was cold! Id never ever have time to ride in winter if my horse want covered as much as possible!
Im currently nervously trying not to use a full neck or add a neck cover in an effort to let my horse feel the zap and respect my new electric fence- even this is tough!
 
poiuytrewq said:
Haha, For a minute I thought you were serious (top line only!) - Love it!
Its not something I could cope with I admit but this is more due to the mud factor than being worried the horse was cold! Id never ever have time to ride in winter if my horse want covered as much as possible!
Im currently nervously trying not to use a full neck or add a neck cover in an effort to let my horse feel the zap and respect my new electric fence- even this is tough!
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Only tongue in cheek! ;) glad you found it funny.

I think people are sensible and do what suits depending on situation... I do have friends whom I think actually NEED therapy. I mean I'm talking like over 100 rugs for four horses... seriously.

I have four for one horse. I've used all of them this winter but it has been extremely wet. If weather is good and dry then none of us bother on our yard of six. Each year is different.

I show and compete but would not compromise natural living for endless rugging if I can help it. It's nice to see horses roll, scratch itchy bits with teeth, scratch belly etc. I'm sure if we had issues like sweet itch we would reassess and find a solution be that rugging or medication or even both!
 
I am heartily bored with rugs at the moment. it was done when the weather was grotty, as I just rugged them, and got on with life. Now it's cold at night, sometimes sunny during the day, sometimes cloudy, sometimes rainy - and at least 4 temperature changes every 24 hours. I have been whipping different weights of rug off and on several times a day, and I'm sick of it! Got one who is full clipped, one blanket clipped and two scrawny old ladies though, so I have to carry on like this til temperatures stabilise! Meh!
 
It makes life much simpler not to have to rug. This year we have only used the light weights on the 2 ridden boys, mainly to keep them dry /clean for riding. Of the two retirees one is unrugged and one has only had a light weight on. Rug clening bill is going to be cheap this year.
 
l don't rug my natives unless its necessary as they are hardy with lovely thick winter coats but if they are clipped l rug them accordingly. This winter they have been rugged due to being clipped. Where they are kept its pretty windy & they are out 24/7 unless the weather is really bad then l'll bring them in just to have a respite for the odd day. l have heavy, medium & light weight rugs so l can use whichever l think they need depending on temperature/weather. At night the clipped ones are in medium weights & my ISH has a lightweight on & she's lovely & tostie. When we had the lovely warm weather the other week they were all naked in the day which they loved & were just rugged at night when it was chilly. But l will be glad once l can take the rugs off as l don't think rugging all the time benefits them.
 
If he's never been rugged and does well then I shouldn't start now. Sometimes it's as well to remember that horses were on the planet long before rugs were invented and not only survived but thrived.
 
At the end of thd day if he's hardy rugging him won't benefit him - l'd only resort to rugging if his ears were cold. Think we all humanise our horses to much like someone has already said once upon a time rugs didn't exist so they relied on their thick winter coats. Also at least you know he's not sweating as some horses are often over-rugged & it doesn't do them any good.
 
Being unrugged is fine, as long as they have good shelter so they can moderate their own temperature.

The ones that upset me are the horses in large open flat exposed fields with no hedges or trees - that seems a bit unfair to me, rugged or no.
 
canteron said:
Being unrugged is fine, as long as they have good shelter so they can moderate their own temperature.

The ones that upset me are the horses in large open flat exposed fields with no hedges or trees - that seems a bit unfair to me, rugged or no.
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Thats like it was at my old yard there were hedges but in winter the horses would be at the gate when their was a down pour in the wind. It was awful seeing horses that didn't have a thick coat like mine had huddling up together shivering but their owners didn't seem fussed.
 
canteron said:
Being unrugged is fine, as long as they have good shelter so they can moderate their own temperature.

The ones that upset me are the horses in large open flat exposed fields with no hedges or trees - that seems a bit unfair to me, rugged or no.
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My bugbear that... and ones in fenced off squares in rows with nowhere to go and nowhere to hide.
 
When we got the shetty as companion, it was tempting even though I know she doesn't need it so I've had to sit on my hands on occasion. I reassure myself by continually copping a good feel and sticking my fingers right in her coat to check she's warm enough. She always is so stopped worrying as much :-)
 
I have a foot in both camps, two of mine are unrugged and have been all winter, I also have two 20yr olds, a poor doer TB and an arthritic WB, both have ended the winter in MWs, if the weather is warm their rugs come off for the day, it was so nice to see them muddy, but rugged up at night, can't wait to dispense with the rugs
 
blitznbobs said:
My 3 little ones have been naked all winter only the cob gets rugged and that's cos he's clipped out ( and if I'm honest mostly white)
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TBH my good doer has been rugged through the winter just so l don't have to brush caked mud off every day... He gets it everywhere - including the inside of his ears!
 
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