Have I done the right thing?

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Abandluc

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My elderly mare lives out with one other horse. For the last 4 years she hasn't worn a rug at all.
Last winter she dropped a lot of weight so this year we started to give them hay early and they as much as they will eat twice a day. She has held weight well and is in good condition,

When I went out to them tonight they were both very cold and wet. Both were shivering and very hungery.
Even in all the snow we had, they never felt cold but today has been heavy rain and fairly windy, so I think the rain has got right in their coats.

So I went back out with more hay and a rug!

The other horse owner won't put a rug on her horse cos she's wet but I think she will dry under her rug.

Also the rug is a rambo and has got a 'shiny' lining - not a fleecey or woollen lining so my feeling is, it won't get damp and hold water.
What would you have done? Would you rug a wet horse?
 
i hve done before. my horse hadnt been rugged until the begining of nov. we were out hacking when it chucked it down. when we got back i did my best to dry the worst, then put a lightweight on him. he dried under it no problem.
 
Do people still thatch their horses? I can remember being told about this YEARS ago (probably shortly after the Charge of the Light Brigade
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). You put a layer of straw on the horse and then put the rug on over the top. Mind you, with breathable rugs, you shouldn't need to do this.
 
Yer I was always taught it was a complete no no to put a rug on a wet horse and if no option, then thatch them.

But it was probably because the rugs didn't have breathable linings and would absorb the water and stay damp.........maybe?!
 
I would have done the same!!
I'd rather know she had a chance of drying off and getting warm and with the rain being so bitterly cold I wouldnt want to think she could get any wetter and colder.
It dosnt matter so much when it snows as the air is drier and slightly warmer which dosnt get through their coats like the wet and wind can
 
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Do people still thatch their horses?

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I rode out the other week and came back soaked through, she was steamy sweaty but soaked from the rain so i made a wisp from straw and rubbed her down - which she thoroughly enjoyed
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then put a layer of straw under her rug, went back a few hours later and she was snuggly and dry
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I've done this on more than one occasion. Rugs are much better than they were in Ye Olde Days and as said before, are breathable. I've checked under my mares rug an hour or so later and she's been dry. I think it's better than leaving them shivering and soaked for sure!
 
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