Is keeping TBs out in all weathers unrugged cruel?

[Tnavas]

Why limit it to TB studs in Newmarket; think globally lol! Most TB studs everywhere in the world have broodmares and foals living naked all year round

Very true - I am surrounded by TB studs, and all the broodies and the babies are naked - the only ones in covers are the dry mares that have just come out of racing. Once they have come into season and been covered by the stallion their rugs will be history.

 

[Ginger Bear]

I personally wouldn't want either of my tbs living out nude.. Not necessarily because it's cruel just because my two (not all tbs) don't get much of a coat n I'm a bit soft and like knowing that they're a snuggled up munching in their stables at night.. And I know how much they hate being out in bad wind and rain.. I knw they'd get used to it if they lived out but they like going out and they like coming in at night..

 

[TheMule]

Oh my poor little tb, how she suffers!! She lives out 24/7 on good grass, no hard feed. She's in full work (being produced for eventing)
She does have a rug on currently as the weather is so vile but she's been flourishing without!

These were taken 2 weeks ago-

 

[Queenjude]

The Mule - Your horse is definitely looks like a welfare case, you better send her to me now!

I voted no as it totally depends on the horse. Some of them need to be rugged up some don't .

 

[lula]

The Mule - she looks very similar to mine!
This pic was taken about a month ago now. She's evented up to intermediate level but has had the last 6 months off as you can see by the size of her tummy!! ive rugged her the last 2 weeks and she's been fine but she has got a very thin coat so i'll probably keep her rugged now for most of the winter

yours is gorgeous!

[/IMG]

 

[marmalade76]

Yes a bit but not all of it!!!!

There were only two bloody arabians ever involved... one was Godolphin and the other I can't remember...

Darley

 

[Tnavas]

Godolphin, Darley Arabians and the Byerley Turk

 

[tallyho!]

Godolphin, Darley Arabians and the Byerley Turk

Oh yes of course! Thanks for reminding me

 

[gracehorses]

My ex racer spent her first winter out last year, I bought a heavy weight rug but never used it. There is a field shelter and as much hay as she can eat, no hard feed. She was fine, she got hairier than she had the previous year boxed and rugged (and racing) but not excesively so. Her not being hairy concerned me a first then I figured that she didn't feel the cold so didn't grow much hair. Last winter we had lots of snow and temps down to -10°C. We'll see how this winter goes, the rug is still in the bag waiting if she needs it.

 

[Wagtail]

Thanks to everyone who posted pics of their gorgeous horses. I am sure that they are very well cared for and they look a picture of health. So long as they have shelter and loads of hay, then I guess that many cope just fine.

I still could not bring myself to leave mine out rugless though. But in the horse world we all have our different approches. I agree (as I said earlier in the thread) that not all TBs are the same. I feel especially sorry for those poor polo ponies Lula mentioned. Some horses do not grow a thick coat at all and I feel it is unfair for those to be made to winter out with no rug.

Thanks again everyone for an interesting discussion.

 

[CeeBee]

My 2 are definitely not TBs but live out 24/7. I've always rugged but decided not to this year. I do feel guilty today as they are absolutely soaked this morning. But they do seem happy enough and this thread has definitely helped me to stick to my decision, although I really had to grit my teeth when I left them this morning

 

[Wagtail]

I have a retired WB x Welsh mare who grows an exceptionally thick coat. She only goes out for a few hours each day in the winter, and dislikes rugs so I try not to rug her when possible. However, she stands like an angel for me to rug her when the weather is cold and wet. If I don't rug her then she shivers. She lets me know when she doesn't want her rug on by heading me off when I try to put it on. That is when I know she will be fine without.

 

[turkana]

My anglo arab wintered out last year without a rug & she was very happy & perky, her coat didn't get very long but it was very thick & woolly.
She's clipped this year so is well rugged.
Although obviously all horses are individuals I'd expect most arabs to be able to do just fine in cold weather.
I've slept under the stars in the Libyan sahara & it's really, really cold at night.

 

[floradora09]

I voted yes- because I think it's unfair to EXPECT them to live like natives when clearly, they are not. Of course there will be many TBs who are fine out unrugged, but they have not evolved to live like this so for every one of these toughies there will be several wimps!

I fully support letting TBs live out, even my wimpy TB who shivers as soon as he's wet is looking positively FAT at the moment living out with a mark todd HW full neck on

 

[lula]

you and me both lovely. I will be keeping my eye on them and if they drop anymore weight i will be making a fuss to someone i dont care how important or 'knowledgeable' the man who owns them apparently is.

 

[scarymare]

Very true - I am surrounded by TB studs, and all the broodies and the babies are naked - the only ones in covers are the dry mares that have just come out of racing. Once they have come into season and been covered by the stallion their rugs will be history.

Yes, its far too dangerous to rug them and they are far too valuable. Foals cant break free of any rug tangles as they don't have the weight and rugging a broody who is feeding a foal is suicidal as foals get hung in the straps (especially if loose leg straps). I must admit it makes my blood run cold when I see hobby breeders such as myself with rugged broodies. I do my best to educate them but most genuinely haven't thought about the risks. I'd be surprised if any stud rugs their mares, although I did notice my vet does!!! His answer was 'buy cheap rugs that will rip then...

 

[SplashofSoy]

Depends on the horse not the breed. It is unfair and cruel to leave a horse which is clearly cold and not coping with the weather unrugged. The likelyhood a TB will need rugging is greater than a native but we all know exceptions to that basic premise. However if the horse manages fine without rugs then why put a rug on it?

 

[RoobyDoobs]

My 2 are definitely not TBs but live out 24/7. I've always rugged but decided not to this year. I do feel guilty today as they are absolutely soaked this morning. But they do seem happy enough and this thread has definitely helped me to stick to my decision, although I really had to grit my teeth when I left them this morning

***HarveyChristmas*** I have done the same this year. My ID x Cob is a big lad, and has grown a super woolly coat. He lives out 24/7, is full of mud and grot, but he is very very happy. Trips the light fantastic down the field to his stable for tea, and then back again, so I know he's ok! Not riding much, so not grooming (advice given by YO) unless I want to ride, and then only with a rubber curry come round tack areas. I too have had to grit my teeth many times so far as my heart is telling me to rug him and keep him warm and cosy. My head tells me that every day when I see him, rain, cold etc., he is lovely and warm round his ears, in his armpits, and between his back legs. His neck also feels warmer than my hands most evenings, so I know I'm doing the right thing by him, and will continue in the same vein. He's not losing any weight, in fact he looks bigger but I guess thats because of his big woolly coat. Whether I can keep it up if we have snow and -5 temps (or worse) all day every day is another story!!!

 

[rhino]

Actually, I think I should have said warmbloods, as the finest winter coats I have seen have been on warmbloods.

Yes, poor little warmbloods

^^My elderly wb (though actually 3/4 tb)

 

[tallyho!]

I voted yes- because I think it's unfair to EXPECT them to live like natives when clearly, they are not. Of course there will be many TBs who are fine out unrugged, but they have not evolved to live like this so for every one of these toughies there will be several wimps!

I fully support letting TBs live out, even my wimpy TB who shivers as soon as he's wet is looking positively FAT at the moment living out with a mark todd HW full neck on

Ha ha ha ha ha haaaa!!!!!!!

That is hilarious... Evolved???? What like, from 1700 when the breed was developed? That must be the fastest evolutionary development in the known universe, because it is possible that in 300 years, the crossbred native evolved to be an Arab...

 

[RoobyDoobs]

***HarveyChristmas*** I have done the same this year. My ID x Cob is a big lad, and has grown a super woolly coat. He lives out 24/7, is full of mud and grot, but he is very very happy. Trips the light fantastic down the field to his stable for tea, and then back again, so I know he's ok! Not riding much, so not grooming (advice given by YO) unless I want to ride, and then only with a rubber curry come round tack areas. I too have had to grit my teeth many times so far as my heart is telling me to rug him and keep him warm and cosy. My head tells me that every day when I see him, rain, cold etc., he is lovely and warm round his ears, in his armpits, and between his back legs. His neck also feels warmer than my hands most evenings, so I know I'm doing the right thing by him, and will continue in the same vein. He's not losing any weight, in fact he looks bigger but I guess thats because of his big woolly coat. Whether I can keep it up if we have snow and -5 temps (or worse) all day every day is another story!!!

***HarveyChristmas*** Ignore me completely.... I gave in tonight after arriving at his field tonight to find him stood at the gate and cold!!! Within 5 minutes of me bringing him in to feed / check over it was lashing down with freezing rain, 1.5c and getting colder! I just had to do it!!! YO thinks I'm barmy! So, now he is out all wrapped up in his new Falpro rug and I can sleep tonight

 

[Wagtail]

***HarveyChristmas*** Ignore me completely.... I gave in tonight after arriving at his field tonight to find him stood at the gate and cold!!! Within 5 minutes of me bringing him in to feed / check over it was lashing down with freezing rain, 1.5c and getting colder! I just had to do it!!! YO thinks I'm barmy! So, now he is out all wrapped up in his new Falpro rug and I can sleep tonight

Yay!

 

[Sparkles]

If I left my tb lad to 'rough it' with the cobs, he'd look like a rescue case within a week.

 

[Toast]

Well... my WB x TB is....................nekkid!
x

 

[TallulahBright]

Depends on horse but my 7/8 tb has no thickness to her coat, prob won't need to clip next year when she's working, her dad is the same! So out at day in mw with neck and in with mw at night and lots of hay.