Interesting rugging research

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Polos Mum

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Interesting research undertaken by Brakenhurst collage in Nottinghamshire. Apparently they measured the temperature regulation of a group of horses wearing different types of rugs/ no rug and found that horses that required a bit of extra help to keep warm benefited more from a single rug with a neck cover than from multiple standard neck rugs.

I always thought layers were better but perhaps keeping the neck warm is the key part.

Anyone have a link to the actual findings?
 
Polos Mum said:
I always thought layers were better but perhaps keeping the neck warm is the key part.

Anyone have a link to the actual findings?
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I think this is where manes come in. :) Many horses have their manes shortened don't they.

I'd be interested in the research link too.
 
I heard on the Jeremy Vine show that its been disproven scientifically that people loose heat through their head. I missed the main part of the programme so dont know reasons why. Tootles off to find some info on this.
 
I found this out the other month. My mare isn't a 'chilly' pony and is hunter clipped. It was a fairly mild day but wet and windy. I chucked her 1/2 neck m/w rug on. Came back a couple of hours later to find her shivering. Had it been dry I think she would have been fine in the m/w rug but she had a cold wet neck that had chilled the rest of her body.
I now never turn out in the rain without a full neck. A bit of handywork has converted a spare no fill neck to be a m/w detachable neck to go on her m/w rug.
 
Maesfen said:
A person loses the most heat from their head so it's no surprise really and A is right, that's what manes are for.
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Do horses that originate in colder climates grow their manes to cover both sides of the neck? Just a thought. thinking abot it every single one of my horses have manes that grow to one side or the other naturally, not both. Is this merely coincidental or natures cooling system?
 
Nadolig Llawen said:
Do horses that originate in colder climates grow their manes to cover both sides of the neck? Just a thought. thinking abot it every single one of my horses have manes that grow to one side or the other naturally, not both. Is this merely coincidental or natures cooling system?
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I dont know the answer! but is it the way we brush it? our shetlands have so much mane that it fulls to both sides in places?
 
My new forests mane was never brushed/touched until she was 3 and it lies on the left side.
The highlands mane has always fallen naturally to both sides although it will stay on the right hand side if brushed every few days.
 
I mostly use full neck rugs, this seemed logical to me. Glad to know my thinking has been right! I find if its freezing, even if mine has a thick normal neck on he's still far colder than if he had a thinner full neck on.
 
Nadolig Llawen said:
Do horses that originate in colder climates grow their manes to cover both sides of the neck? Just a thought. thinking abot it every single one of my horses have manes that grow to one side or the other naturally, not both. Is this merely coincidental or natures cooling system?
Click to expand...
I don't think so but I'm not familiar with Icelandics etc. I do know my Shetlands have half the manes they used to after 4 ish years in Ireland to when we lived in N. Yorks. One mare used to have such a thick mane and forelock you couldn't see her face at all. lol I have one gelding (Welsh), whose mane falls equally both sides.
 
I wouldn't have thought it would need researching. If I had a lowcut Tshirt on and was cold, would I be better putting another low cut tshirt on top or swopping it for a jumper that covered all my exposed arms and neck?? I would go for the jumper without a thought, wouldn't you? I've always been a bit baffled by turnout rugs that have less fill in the neck too.
 
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