Lightweight turnout with no fill or 50g?

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Pingu42

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My mare was given a trace clip on Thursday when it was lovely and warm. I did pop a rug on her on Friday night when it rained loads but she hasn't had a rug on since. I have never clipped her so early but she was so hairy and is in medium work with x country clinics, hunter trials, long fast hacks etc. I hate turn outs with no fill as feel that they flatten the coat, stopping the hair from naturally fluffing up to trap air and warmth. I have a 100g which I used on Friday night but she felt warm under it on Friday am. So I'm looking at getting a 50g rug and throwing her no fill away. She is a naturally warm horse and a good doer and still has hair on her back. I hate over rugging and can't believe how many horses were wearing light weight rugs last week when it was so warm in the day. Don't expect the owners were wearing anoraks! What do you guys think? Once she has hunter clip in November, she will go into a M/W combo for the winter so that is easier!
 
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touchstone

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I much prefer a rug with fill as I find no fills make a horse colder. I always check the base of the ears for temperature though, if the hair is clipped off then they have lost their insulation and should feel warmer to touch. It sounds like you know what your horse is comfy with, so I'd go with that.
 
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Northern Hare

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My TBxWB horse has Cushings and last year had skin problems - which were as a result of a lot of midge bites he had across his quarters in the summer, which then turned to rainscald/rug rot in the winter...

Anyway, on vets advice I had a big re-think on rugging and cut right back on his rugs to avoid him over-heating - and his 200g and 400g turnouts never came out of their bags last winter!

I found what worked best is for him to wear a no-fill rug with no-fill neck cover - but with a higher denier - ie. 1200 or 1600, and then put a thin (100g) rug liner underneath - which I wash regularly.

You could do that with your no-fill rug which would mean you didn't have to buy a new turnout - do you have a very lightweight stable rug you can put underneath or a clip-in rug liner like the Premier Equine or Amigo's?
 
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muddy_grey

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I am the same and don't use no fill rugs. My girl is unclipped, but a skinny/wimpy WB and is in a 50g amigo at night only. I find this a really useful rug and she is the perfect temp in it. Naked during the day though
 
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Pingu42

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naza said:
Amigo do a 50gram fill rug
Click to expand...

I'm currently trying to track down an Amigo 50g :) Haha - I gave my mare the choice of extra grass or a rug and funnily enough she chose the grass! I'm glad you guys agree with me about using a turnout with a little filling rather than a no fill. I'm definitely binning my no fill as haven't used it for a few years and it's only a 600d so I don't trust it to be waterproof anyway!
 
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impresario08

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Pingu42 said:
I'm currently trying to track down an Amigo 50g :) Haha - I gave my mare the choice of extra grass or a rug and funnily enough she chose the grass! I'm glad you guys agree with me about using a turnout with a little filling rather than a no fill. I'm definitely binning my no fill as haven't used it for a few years and it's only a 600d so I don't trust it to be waterproof anyway!
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I need this rug too!
 
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Lplates

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Hi Northern Hare, I have had a very similar experience with my cushings pony - hoping not to have a repeat this winter. To avoid hijacking this thread could I pm you?
 
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I've found no fills can make them colder & majority of them aren't really that waterproof. I'd go for a 50g rug - swish make a very good one :)
 
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Pingu42

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only_me said:
I've found no fills can make them colder & majority of them aren't really that waterproof. I'd go for a 50g rug - swish make a very good one :)
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What a coincidence! I have just ordered a swish 1200d 50g with next day delivery for £53 :) I'm feeling very happy now! She can have that on at night and I will take it off early in the am. Can't believe how stressed I have got over my rugging dilemma!
 
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supsup

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I disagree on the theory that no-fill rugs will make the horse colder. Colder than what? The only rug I've owned in past years has been a no-fill rain sheet. It goes on when it is very wet and/or windy. Both conditions reduce the coat's natural ability to trap air and keep the horse warm. A rain sheet may slightly flatten the coat, but compared to a soaked or completely wind-blown coat, it still allows more air to be trapped and keep the horse warm. IMO, when used as needed, a rain sheet will certainly offer protection and keep the horse warmer. There's no point in rugging with a rain sheet if it's not wet/windy, and there'd probably be little benefit in it (though I doubt it will leave the horse colder).
 
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I find a no fill works well at this time of year when their coats are quite short and it gets cold for a shortish portion of the night. I'm guessing the shortness of the coat allows it to loft under the rug. The two I see to every morning (mine and another) are both wearing no fills at night at the moment if it is wet and are both warm and comfortable in the morning. They are very different horses (chunky 12 yr old cob and finer 23 yr old ID) but it seems to be suiting them fine at present.

Last night was warm here so I left them both naked. Mine does not need a rug at all at the moment - he is unclipped (so far) and hardy, so using one is purely if I am feeling selfish enough to want to keep him cleanish and dry to ride. The older boy gets one so that he doesn't drop condition.

However, I agree in general with the thought that a little bit of fill is better than none and I would not be using a no fill for long periods when it is generally colder. Despite the fact that I am occasionally selfish enough to rug for my own benefit, I'm not a huge rugger and would always rather underrug a healthy horse.

ETA. I routinely check how they feel - ears and armpits as we always say - and if they are cold, they get a rug, particularly the old fella, but I can count the times that has happened on one finger.
 
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JLD

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I love my 50g swish. I just bought another as it was the most versatile and well used of my rugs last year for unclipped but wimpy Welsh x who hates heavy rain.
 
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Micky

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I use a amigo 50gm rug now after the no fill let rain in after, admittedly, a particularly heavy rainfall, but mine has cushings too and i clip him so I can control his body temperature ( with rugging), will never go back to a no fill now!
 
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impresario08

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Micky said:
I use a amigo 50gm rug now after the no fill let rain in after, admittedly, a particularly heavy rainfall, but mine has cushings too and i clip him so I can control his body temperature ( with rugging), will never go back to a no fill now!
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just ordered an amigo 50g myself :D
 
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impresario08

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Pingu42 said:
I wouldn't be worrying about rugs if I hadn't clipped her on Thurs! My own silly fault! My retired mare won't have a rug all winter but does come in at night from November onwards.
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ah, I have a 15 year old ex-racer who feels the cold so I'm already umm'ing and ahhin'g about rugs at least twice a day
 
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Iwantakitten

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I have had the amigo 50g rug for a couple weeks now, got it from Hope Valley Saddlery for £39.99 in the sale, love it just enough filling to keep Dizz warm and dry with the rain we've had recently
 
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