Keeping ponies outside at -50, with no rugs

[Burnerbee]

I’m fed up of YouTube ‘equine’ people in general - they just want to sell me stuff and sign me up to their Insta (aaah!) - but I’ve found an exception.…

I don’t actually know her name but the channel is the Clever Cowgirl. She lives in deepest Montana (and makes her ‘proper’ money from upselling stuff from thrift stores - and buying quarter horses on behalf of richer clients) but she focuses her videos attention on the rescues she picks up at auctions, types that would probably go for meat. She rehabs them and does an amazing job on them in what are very challenging situations - like right now, when the weather is minus 50!! And most of them are outside day and night, no rugs, just snow on their backs (they prefer it). In her latest video she has to go to a&e because she does her back in, but has to keep doing the horses, with one arm (and it’s yes, max minus 20 even in the day).

So yeah, if you’ve not seen enough horses, I recommend her videos.

Ps. I’m no relation, not a sponsor (she doesn’t have any) etc - though I’d love to go out there and help her - when it’s a bit warmer!

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I actually think I've seen that name below a video I scrolled by some days ago. I'd already watched some other horse videos, and was looking for something else to just listen to while I did other stuff, so I didn't watch it then, but your post made me go back, and do a search. It was a video about that she'd DNA tested a foal she'd bought at an auction, and after watching the video, I must say that I hope Scarlett used up all her bad luck during her first year with the Clever Cowgirl, because she just had one after another health problem pop up.

By the way, here's the video if anyone wants to watch:

 

[southerncomfort]

On the Fell pony group, a lady from Tennessee (i think) has posted pics of her herd, all with large icicles hanging from their sides and bellies.

Absolutely fascinating how the coat protects from extreme cold (she says looking at her own Fell pony running up and down the field staring pointedly towards his stable cos its a bit wet and windy!)

 

[Burnerbee]

On the Fell pony group, a lady from Tennessee (i think) has posted pics of her herd, all with large icicles hanging from their sides and bellies.

Absolutely fascinating how the coat protects from extreme cold (she says looking at her own Fell pony running up and down the field staring pointedly towards his stable cos its a bit wet and windy!)

Yes, the ponies in Montana get quite stressed if the weather goes up to merely freezing point, because their coats are so thick

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Yes, the ponies in Montana get quite stressed if the weather goes up to merely freezing point, because their coats are so thick

It sounds funny when @southerncomfort compare it to her own Fell pony's behaviour, but it's not so strange when you really think about it. Her pony haven't built up a coat capable of keeping him warm, and cosy in minus 50°C, whereas for the horses which have built up such a coat it probably feels as if someone have placed them into a sauna, wearing multiple layers with a fur coat on top, if the temperature too suddenly fluctuate from minus 50°C up to about 0°C.

 

[AthenesOwl]

I’ve watched a few of The Clever Cowgirl’s videos and really enjoyed them. She seems to do a great job with her rescues, and it’s fascinating to see horses living in such a different environment to the one I’m used to. The DNA ones appeal to my geeky side too!

 

[Maxidoodle]

We’ve just returned to the UK after 3yrs+ in Scandinavia, our ponies have spent most of the time there unrugged (in of a night time, as we had wolves. The only pony who was rugged was our 33yr old but in a max of 50g only, in the UK I had him in a 250g rug most of winter. It is truly fascinating to see the differences in their coats and how they adapt their coats to the weather, where we were got to minus 14 and they were naked mostly, they all grew the thickest yak coats.

Since getting back to the UK, I’ve just had to do full clips on my two tiny tots, as they were sweating, even during the day, as they’d grown their “Scandinavia coats”, never clipped them in January ever. They’re now out in the day, fully clipped in just no fills and aren’t cold.

it’s been a revelation to me, as I have a huge collection of rugs for all of mine and the only ones that have been used since we moved there and got back, are the no fills.

It amazes me how many times I see sales ads/people in the UK searching for 400g rugs etc for their Shetlands for example, I think it highlights how many people over rug unnecessarily (Obviously, recognising there are always horses who do genuinely need thicker rugs).

 

[Landcruiser]

Also interesting how different horses grow different coats even in the same environment. My 24yr old criollo looks like a yak this year, as do the two Welsh Sec A rescues. My criollo x paint 4 yr old on the other hand has opted for blubber- she's sleek and shiny and could pass for summer, but she HAS chunked up. None of them are rugged, all out 24/7 with shelter and ad lib hay, Wiltshire.

 

[Mfh999]

There's someone on FB under Great All-Rounders who is a great Dales ambassador. She breaks them in superbly (remember Dixie, the coloured filly a few years back? her owner sent her there and did a fantastic job on her. She's well worth following. Zara was also instrumental in getting Rowan, the Dales I originally bought as a two year old, away from his breeder that could no longer cope and had literally left them where they stood with no care) Anyway, she's up by Malham in the Yorkshire Dales and her ponies are out 24/7 in all weathers without any rugs on top of the fells and they are as warm as toast. Just shows how well insulated they are.
It's only because they are rugged that horses loose the air pockets that their coat provides so loose their own insulation but I can understand rugging when the situation demands whether that be from restricted turnout, no shelter and so on; they need the help then.

 

[Orangehorse]

It is also very dry in Montana. They don't cover their stacks of hay because even if it gets snow on, when the snow melts it just drys. They make hay be irrigating from the streams and its really only possible to have a dwelling next to a stream.

I rode there on holiday and there was a horse with only half ears and they said he lost them to frostbite as a foal.

But, yes, I agree in general with the theme of rugs and horse's coats.

 

[AutumnDays]

I think our changeable climate here makes it hard for horses to know whether they are coming or going. Loved seeing horses without rugs in the snow and cold temps when out in Northern Sweden. Completely different here in West Wales on the coast. Yesterday there was snow and ice on the ground, no wind, and -2 all day, today it's wind and horizontal rain, and +7, tomorrow we have an amber warning for wind and rain! Madness! If we weren't so exposed and didn't have the wind and rain I think mine would manage fine without rugs. They only seem cold when the wind and driving rain gets into their coat.

 

[Burnerbee]

I’ve watched a few of The Clever Cowgirl’s videos and really enjoyed them. She seems to do a great job with her rescues, and it’s fascinating to see horses living in such a different environment to the one I’m used to. The DNA ones appeal to my geeky side too!

Oh absolutely - you don’t expect a warmblood in that neck of the woods (Skeletor, who she bought for like $35, in terrible condition but will make a lovely little horse)

 

[Burnerbee]

We’ve just returned to the UK after 3yrs+ in Scandinavia, our ponies have spent most of the time there unrugged (in of a night time, as we had wolves. The only pony who was rugged was our 33yr old but in a max of 50g only, in the UK I had him in a 250g rug most of winter. It is truly fascinating to see the differences in their coats and how they adapt their coats to the weather, where we were got to minus 14 and they were naked mostly, they all grew the thickest yak coats.

Since getting back to the UK, I’ve just had to do full clips on my two tiny tots, as they were sweating, even during the day, as they’d grown their “Scandinavia coats”, never clipped them in January ever. They’re now out in the day, fully clipped in just no fills and aren’t cold.

it’s been a revelation to me, as I have a huge collection of rugs for all of mine and the only ones that have been used since we moved there and got back, are the no fills.

It amazes me how many times I see sales ads/people in the UK searching for 400g rugs etc for their Shetlands for example, I think it highlights how many people over rug unnecessarily (Obviously, recognising there are always horses who do genuinely need thicker rugs).

Welcome back! They‘d definitely need every millimetre they can get if they were back in Scandi, what with the weather they’re having this winter

 

[GypsGal1718]

I do love her stuff!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think our changeable climate here makes it hard for horses to know whether they are coming or going. Loved seeing horses without rugs in the snow and cold temps when out in Northern Sweden. Completely different here in West Wales on the coast. Yesterday there was snow and ice on the ground, no wind, and -2 all day, today it's wind and horizontal rain, and +7, tomorrow we have an amber warning for wind and rain! Madness! If we weren't so exposed and didn't have the wind and rain I think mine would manage fine without rugs. They only seem cold when the wind and driving rain gets into their coat.

Changeable climate holds quite true in many parts of the US.

"If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change" is a motto in the Midwest and other parts of the US. Plus we just get extremes between day and night sometimes.

I think many horses would fare fine without rugs, but the people on the other hand..

 

[Landcruiser]

It is also very dry in Montana. They don't cover their stacks of hay because even if it gets snow on, when the snow melts it just drys. They make hay be irrigating from the streams and its really only possible to have a dwelling next to a stream.

I rode there on holiday and there was a horse with only half ears and they said he lost them to frostbite as a foal.

But, yes, I agree in general with the theme of rugs and horse's coats.

My youngster's (Paint) dam was imported from Montana, I wonder if that's why she doesn't feel the cold!

 

[AutumnDays]

Changeable climate holds quite true in many parts of the US.

"If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change" is a motto in the Midwest and other parts of the US. Plus we just get extremes between day and night sometimes.

I think many horses would fare fine without rugs, but the people on the other hand..

I admit to not being very clued up on the climate of the USA, sounds a bit like Wales! We can have all for seasons in one day, and that usually is varying strengths of wind and rain. The only time I've seen my two shiver is during one of the many storms we have had lately. I try to keep them rugless as much as possible, but this winter has been abysmal. Back on topic though, a very interesting channel, thank you for the thread OP, I wouldn't have come across her othewise

 

[Goldenstar]

I love the clever cowgirl
You tube is another vice of mine

 

[ecb89]

I think our changeable climate here makes it hard for horses to know whether they are coming or going. Loved seeing horses without rugs in the snow and cold temps when out in Northern Sweden. Completely different here in West Wales on the coast. Yesterday there was snow and ice on the ground, no wind, and -2 all day, today it's wind and horizontal rain, and +7, tomorrow we have an amber warning for wind and rain! Madness! If we weren't so exposed and didn't have the wind and rain I think mine would manage fine without rugs. They only seem cold when the wind and driving rain gets into their coat.

We’re due to get 13c tomorrow. It was -5c on Thursday. I’m in Essex.

 

[meleeka]

I have two shetlands. One was born here in the South, one came from Shetland a few months ago. Their coats look about the same, but the one that’s always lived here just doesn’t cope as well with rain or cold. The newest one had frost on his back the other day, so obviously better insulated.

 

[Maxidoodle]

Welcome back! They‘d definitely need every millimetre they can get if they were back in Scandi, what with the weather they’re having this winter

The forecasts are actually better this winter than the last few previous winters, it’s a Totally different winter to what we experience in the UK, its a very dry cold and minus 14 is fine to be out in, as you wrap up well and the horses cope well, I even continued to soak hay there. we don’t get the horrible soggy weather like in the UK and absolutely zero mud too, I could spend every winter there in short boots, apart from when the snow obviously got too deep.