MrsMozart
Just passing through...
I am the worst horse owner ever.
I checked Dizz yesterday evening. She was fine in her rainsheet (no neck). Just nice and warm. I thought about changing the rug for one with a neck, but as she's a hot horse I didn't want to cook her, so didn't.
This morning D1 went into the field to bring out Dizz and Grey Mare. I didn't have long boots on and didn't want to get wet feet! Anyhoo, I watched Dizz walking over and thought she didn't look right, not lame, just not right; plus her head was high and her neck set, which is not her way of moving. When she reached me I could see why - the poor bloody horse was shaking like a jelly on a washing machine . My poor horse was so wet and cold! D1 said she was trying to shelter under the tree (no leaves yet!).
Got her in the stable as quick as possible and D1 and I worked like a blinking Forumla 1 team - the wet rug was off as the towelling robe was handed over, then a fleece, then a lightweight with a neck, then a medium weight, then a heavyweight with a neck, then another medium weight. A warm bran mash followed. Slowly the heavy trembling reduced to shivering then stopped. Once she'd warmed up, the towelling robe, the fleece, and the lightweight came off (they were all damp to wet); an hour with the heavyweight with neck and a medium weight, then down to just the heavyweight. Ad lib hay throughout. Left her in 'till tomorrow and brough the others in as well to give them a break from the rain, although the Amigo lightweight with a neck was dry underneath and the Little Lad that normally shivers in heavy rain was as happy as Larry in it.
So. This is the first year that I've had the Dizz that she's been clipped. Never had this problem before, despite her living out all last winter. At least now I know how she reacts to heavy rain when she's clipped.
I have kicked myself around the yard and back again for not checking the weather forecast and at least changing her rug to a rainsheet with a neck last night
I checked Dizz yesterday evening. She was fine in her rainsheet (no neck). Just nice and warm. I thought about changing the rug for one with a neck, but as she's a hot horse I didn't want to cook her, so didn't.
This morning D1 went into the field to bring out Dizz and Grey Mare. I didn't have long boots on and didn't want to get wet feet! Anyhoo, I watched Dizz walking over and thought she didn't look right, not lame, just not right; plus her head was high and her neck set, which is not her way of moving. When she reached me I could see why - the poor bloody horse was shaking like a jelly on a washing machine . My poor horse was so wet and cold! D1 said she was trying to shelter under the tree (no leaves yet!).
Got her in the stable as quick as possible and D1 and I worked like a blinking Forumla 1 team - the wet rug was off as the towelling robe was handed over, then a fleece, then a lightweight with a neck, then a medium weight, then a heavyweight with a neck, then another medium weight. A warm bran mash followed. Slowly the heavy trembling reduced to shivering then stopped. Once she'd warmed up, the towelling robe, the fleece, and the lightweight came off (they were all damp to wet); an hour with the heavyweight with neck and a medium weight, then down to just the heavyweight. Ad lib hay throughout. Left her in 'till tomorrow and brough the others in as well to give them a break from the rain, although the Amigo lightweight with a neck was dry underneath and the Little Lad that normally shivers in heavy rain was as happy as Larry in it.
So. This is the first year that I've had the Dizz that she's been clipped. Never had this problem before, despite her living out all last winter. At least now I know how she reacts to heavy rain when she's clipped.
I have kicked myself around the yard and back again for not checking the weather forecast and at least changing her rug to a rainsheet with a neck last night