Horses choose whether or not to be rugged - interesting study

Most of mine are capable of choosing, and allowed to. I offered the two old boys their rugs the other day and Flynn wanted his on and then showed his appreciation by lying down (he won't lie down on chilly ground with no rug). The old Welshy used to refuse a rug until it was below zero and wet, or if he thought it was going to snow. He's uncatchable in the field but when he wants his rug on he will come over to you and stand still for you to put it on him. I had thought that now he's older and loses condition more easily he might want his rug on earlier, but no, not yet. He thought about it for a while but decided no. Flynn decided yesterday that he didn't want his rug back on so as it's warm although windy and he's in a field with a proper shelter I've left him without.

The mares won't be offered their rugs just yet. My youngster won't be given the option of a rug at all and the big gelding who is a bit of a worrywart will have to have me decide until he remembers that rugs don't eat you.

Offering the horses their rugs does mean that I can overrule their decisions with the exception of the old Welshy, because he just will not be caught, even in a 12 x 10 stable, if he doesn't want to be.
 
Two of mine make it clear if they (in Lolas case) want a rug on - she pretty much burrows under it while I'm holding it, or don't want a rug on (Spike - he legs it if he doesn't fancy it). Alf just accepts whatever I decide, although he is definitely happier rugged if it's raining.
 
Excellent. My horse prefers to wear a rainsheet when it is going to rain heavily. Not only can she forecast the weather better than the met office, but she is able to make it very clear when she doesn't want it on.
Interesting study, it could be used for all sorts of things.
 
Same with mine. My mare hates rugs. If you try and put one on, she grabs it with her teeth and pulls it off! My gelding is similar but less extreme. If i'm in doubt, I turn him out naked for half an hour then take his ruf down. He'll either let me catch him, or not!
 
My retired lad not only decided whether to have a rug on but also which one.
If you try and put the wrong one on he will grab the one he wants and push it at you
He has done this for years.
 
My tb would choose. He hated rugs in the summer and in the stable, always wrecked them. But in winter he would literally grab the rug back off you if you tried to take it off and didn't rip it once. My little shetland will work her way out of any rug she has on, unless it is tipping it down and then she wiggles out of it when the rain stops lol
 
I don't think it would work for mine, she'd learn that she got food when she chose one, so would repeatedly choose all three - food would be her overriding concern. Bless her she'll just accept whatever I choose to do really, but it would be nice to know what they prefer.
 
This is a very interesting study . . . the more time I spend with my boy, the more I realize that if I really watch and listen to him, he tells me what he wants . . . by way of example, we had the physio out again today and the whole time she was working on his shoulders, he was pointing to his rear end and nudging her . . . when she finally worked her way along there, he stood without curling his neck and shifted underneath her hands to guide her to where he wanted her to work . . . no joke . . . he was very deliberate.

He practically shoves his nose in his headcollar in the mornings when he's keen to go out . . . but if he's happy in the field I have to actually put it on him to bring him in (I hope that made sense).

Last night, I must have over-rugged him because he was apparently itchy overnight - he rubbed his bottom, his tail and his neck . . . most unlike him, he is just not an itchy horse. I know he has preferences (naturally), I'd love to tune into those a little more . . .

P
 
I am so glad to read this thread. I've always felt like a total lunatic telling people that a couple of ponies have told me they did or didn't want their rugs on.
 
Wagtail said:
I think horses are far more intelligent than we usually give them credit for.
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So true, I just wish I was quicker on understanding. When I decided to put a rain sheet on the pony last week, she clearly told me she didn't want it on by nudging me and then trying to bite the sheet, but I insisted she wear it cos she is clipped and it was pouring down. Now it is milder she is out rugless again and has turned into a very happy mud monster, not a nice look for a grey pony
 
Very interesting.

I will have to train mine to understand and tell me.
Although being skewbald but nearly l white he often has a rug on just to keep clean.
So I'd have tell him he can only go rug mess if he promises not to roll!
 
Wagtail said:
I think horses are far more intelligent than we usually give them credit for.
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I find it most interesting that horses can understand the concept of a rug keeping them warm and dry. That they have the ability to think I'm cold, lets go put a rug on demonstrates a degree of problem solving that they are not always given credit for.
 
texas said:
I am so glad to read this thread. I've always felt like a total lunatic telling people that a couple of ponies have told me they did or didn't want their rugs on.
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Same here, and when I wave my mares fly ask from the gate to see if she wants it on? Well she comes up for it if she does.
 
One of my horse makes it very clear if he wants his fly rug and mask on. If I don't put it on him, he will trot up and down shouting until I fetch it, then he'll stand quietly and he flicks the front of his rugs round himself for me to fasten for him.

He's also very funny with his fly mask. Through spring when there aren't flies about, he will religiously remove his fly mask when it gets dark. In summer once the flies arrive, he keeps it on without fail and has even been known to come and fetch me when it's hanging off to re-position it for him.

My grey would opt not to wear a rug ever. But unfortunately for him as a fully clipped out mud monster, his wishes have to be over-ruled.
 
My old mare definitely lets me know that she does not like to be rugged. I have tried rugging her as she is 21 years old a TBX but the moment I put a rug on her she will stand by the gate and not move at all so not grazing. As soon as I take her rug off she will be in the middle of the field grazing and happy even if it is blowing a gale and pouring with rain. She will just turn her bum to the weather and get on with it. She has access to her stable and only really uses it in the summer to get away from the flies.
 
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