Horse shivering from cold

[Connemara24]

The 25yr old has had a no fill turnout rug on with a neck, as the weather here today has been horrible high winds and hail and rain. He was warm and dry this morning. They are on a exposed bit of field with no shelter. But the rug has now leaked all over, and he is shaking really badly, and acting quite stressed ( there was a hunt on around where his field is so think that is why he could be quite stressed. I've changed his rug to a fleece and a 50g turnout. Should I ring the vet? I've never had a horse shake this badly. I've got stables down the road which I can bring him in too tonight, but his field buddy doesn't really like coming in but he could deal with it for one night if that's what I need to do? Thanks in advance

 

[Connemara24]

He feels warm now with his new rugs on

 

[Connemara24]

But still shivering

 

[countryal]

I often find in the rain, a no fill rug gets condensation making the rug damp underneath, but a 50g liner stops this. It's like if you wore a no fill waterproof jacket with a vest top, it gets sticky, but put a jumper on and it prevents the damp, sticky feeling.

 

[mini-eventer]

How long has he been like it. I would give him a nice sloppy feed plenty of hay an monitor for an hour or so, if he deteriorates in this time then get the vet but i wouldnt panic yet.

It could be a mixture of the cold and the excitement of hearing the hunt. My connie has always shivered at the drop of a hat in rainy conditions and takes a bit of warming back up.

 

[Connemara24]

I often find in the rain, a no fill rug gets condensation making the rug damp underneath, but a 50g liner stops this. It's like if you wore a no fill waterproof jacket with a vest top, it gets sticky, but put a jumper on and it prevents the damp, sticky feeling.

thank you, he is soaked underneath though. Thanks

 

[Connemara24]

How long has he been like it. I would give him a nice sloppy feed plenty of hay an monitor for an hour or so, if he deteriorates in this time then get the vet but i wouldnt panic yet.

It could be a mixture of the cold and the excitement of hearing the hunt. My connie has always shivered at the drop of a hat in rainy conditions and takes a bit of warming back up.

Ok great thanks. I'm not sure, I came up this morning at 7.30 he was dry as a bone, and came up at 3 he was cold and shaking so went back home got more rugs and he has probably had it on for 30 mins. He is a connie aswell! You would think they would be Hardy ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Might he be shivering and sweating under his rug (as opposed to the rug leaking) because he was razzed up by the hunt? Has the hunt gone?

I'd want an oldie in so as I could keep an eye on them after something like this. Hope he settles soon.

 

[Connemara24]

Might he be shivering and sweating under his rug (as opposed to the rug leaking) because he was razzed up by the hunt? Has the hunt gone?

I'd want an oldie in so as I could keep an eye on them after something like this. Hope he settles soon.

I hadn't thought of that, but he is sweaty on his back everywhere except top of his bum. He would normally just sweat, back legs and chest. I think the hunt has finished. He isn't shaking as badly as he was but still shaking but hardly noticeable. Would you still bring In? Thanks you so much ?

 

[Connemara24]

His fur is quite sticky though like he has been sweaty. He is still quite alert.

 

[meleeka]

If he’s happiest out I’d leave him out with plenty to munch on and remove the extra rug in the morning. I’m another who won’t use no fill rugs, because I find a 50g is much better at keeping the weather off them and stopping them ending up as you describe. A fleece under a no fill should be enough once he’s warmed up.

 

[PurBee]

It sounds like he got riled up by the hunt and sweated under the rug, if after a night of rain, he was dry underneath this morning.
He needs to be dried-off - i’d remove rug as thats trapping moisture, stable/cover from wind/rain and feed hay. (If used to hay, or whatever sloppy warm feed you have)

 

[Connemara24]

If he’s happiest out I’d leave him out with plenty to munch on and remove the extra rug in the morning. I’m another who won’t use no fill rugs, because I find a 50g is much better at keeping the weather off them and stopping them ending up as you describe. A fleece under a no fill should be enough once he’s warmed up.

Great thanks, he loves being In a stable when it's raining he use to have access to them whenever he wanted but we had to move them off the field because of grass sickness in the soil. Thanks

 

[Connemara24]

It sounds like he got riled up by the hunt and sweated under the rug, if after a night of rain, he was dry underneath this morning.
He needs to be dried-off - i’d remove rug as thats trapping moisture, stable/cover from wind/rain and feed hay. (If used to hay, or whatever sloppy warm feed you have)

OK thank you I'll bring him in with hay and give him a big feed. Thank you.

 

[Cortez]

The wet could be sweat, and he could also be shivering from nerves. I would bring in, towel off and re rug with a dry fleece. Giving him a warm feed would also be a quick way to get his temperature up, and plenty of hay.

 

[Connemara24]

The wet could be sweat, and he could also be shivering from nerves. I would bring in, towel off and re rug with a dry fleece. Giving him a warm feed would also be a quick way to get his temperature up, and plenty of hay.

Thank you. he is a bit of a stress head! He is in his stable now he had a large warm feed, And has a very large haynet. I left his fleece off as didn't want him getting hot in the stable and sweating more as he has warmed up alot. Thank you everyone you have been a great help

 

[JackFrost]

Get him tested for cushings (PPID). Difficulty with cold and regulating temperature is a symptom. The only horse I had that ever shivered with cold was a Cushings pony. At his age it is very likley.

 

[Connemara24]

Get him tested for cushings (PPID). Difficulty with cold and regulating temperature is a symptom. The only horse I had that ever shivered with cold was a Cushings pony. At his age it is very likley.

Thank you, i did get him tested for cushings but it came back negative, but he does have ems and is on Ertugliflozin.

 

[Connemara24]

This evening he is quite tucked up more so than this morning, i didn't rug him up when I turned him out as forecasted to be sunny but it wasn't, ( always sweats under rug if sun comes out) he is now in a 50g and toasty underneath. He is quite sensitive to his flank, is he normally anyway because of past ulcers. He is himself except a bit more stressy, but the wind is 56mph eating as usual except neither of them are eating as much hay. I can let them near to the trees for cover (haven't done yet as alot of grass but could make track) forecast to rain all night and wind is sussposed to be 50mph untill midnight, then it settles down. Would you bring in a again? Or could he be showing early signs of colic l don't think it is just seeing what you all think. He has never had colic in his life. Thanks again probably just being paranoid.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

One of my Arab's will shake when the hunt are nearby and his kept in or he gallops about like a maniac, he also started shaking when he had impaction colic once I think its like a coping mechanism for some horses.

I would just keep an eye on him it sounds like his got wound up and upset and galloped about that day.

I would keep mine in with that wind and rain as I don't have shelter but they are not keen on those weather conditions anyway so better off in.

 

[Arzada]

forecast to rain all night and wind is sussposed to be 50mph untill midnight, then it settles down. Would you bring in a again?

In these conditions, yes I'd bring in tonight.

 

[Connemara24]

Thank you everyone one, only just read these but decided to keep him out ?. He felt warm under his rug and was eating his haynet when I left. The other one really hates coming in doesn't really eat anything and just looks over the door all night. Thanks again ?

 

[JackFrost]

I have one that finds being cold and wet very stressful. Remember that horses heat mainly themselves from inside through their digestion, so be sure he has forage to eat, whether it's grass or a haynet outside.
At this time of year they are changing their coats, and the weather has been odd, so he may not have a proper winter coat yet.
If you get further episodes of shivering, I would have a chat with the vet.

 

[Connemara24]

I have one that finds being cold and wet very stressful. Remember that horses heat mainly themselves from inside through their digestion, so be sure he has forage to eat, whether it's grass or a haynet outside.
At this time of year they are changing their coats, and the weather has been odd, so he may not have a proper winter coat yet.
If you get further episodes of shivering, I would have a chat with the vet.

He had access to hay 24/7. The weather has been extremely odd! I found out today that the hunt was actually in the field next to where my horses are, and apparently they could hear my two neighing. Thank you ?

 

[Connemara24]

Has*

 

[PurBee]

Yeah, the weather change this time of year can be brutal. Its been 10 deg nights 15+ days for months, and we’ve suddenly had 2 deg nights, 7 deg days and driving wind and rain. Horses in the wild have choice to go to lowlands and shelter. Domesticated horses need keeping an eye on and adjustments made.
Doesnt help the hunt also were about right by your field, to add to the stress!

There’s a storm passing uk/ireland at the moment so in more exposed places its very blustery, cold and driving rain showers. I went out to find horses fine but fencing down from blown-down branches. Mine are finally ok with extreme wild winds, it took yrs for them to realise they survive them. Initially the stress from blustery spells would freak them out and they needed molly-coddling/reassuring more.

 

[Connemara24]

Yeah, the weather change this time of year can be brutal. Its been 10 deg nights 15+ days for months, and we’ve suddenly had 2 deg nights, 7 deg days and driving wind and rain. Horses in the wild have choice to go to lowlands and shelter. Domesticated horses need keeping an eye on and adjustments made.
Doesnt help the hunt also were about right by your field, to add to the stress!

There’s a storm passing uk/ireland at the moment so in more exposed places its very blustery, cold and driving rain showers. I went out to find horses fine but fencing down from blown-down branches. Mine are finally ok with extreme wild winds, it took yrs for them to realise they survive them. Initially the stress from blustery spells would freak them out and they needed molly-coddling/reassuring more.

Thank you ?