More rug questions..help please RE weights

Cash

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 November 2008
Messages
1,977
Visit site
Ok, I am currently buying rugs for winter (I know a bit premature, just trying to get them cheaper!!) and confused a bit about weights and which rugs I'll need.
My last horse (on loan from the competition yard where he lived, therefore they made quite a few rugging decisions for me) was a little TB who was fully clipped and felt the cold. He wore several rugs at a time including a 370g full neck Rambo.
The horse I had before that was an ISH with a trace clip- the heaviest he wore was a 200g, sometimes with a fleece.

I now have a TB who I got in April. What with the rugs he came with and one I've bought, he has
a LW stable rug
a 150g Amigo Insulator stable rug w/neck
a LW turnout w/neck
a 200g turnout w/neck
and a full neck fleece.

I was going to buy two 300g-ish ones- stable rug and TO rug- and thought that would be enough, and that he could wear a LW rug underneath when it's really cold. But now I've seen all these ones which are 400g and 500g..do I need one of those? :confused: And might he need a middle weight (maybe 200-250g) as the 150g Amigo might not be warm enough as a MW?
He will be blanket clipped, or possibly full clipped (not quite sure yet if he'll be competing and working enough to warrant a full clip) and from what I saw when I first went to see him in the cold snap at the end of March, he is quite tricky to keep weight on and was well rugged up at that point (but still quite skinny).

How much are yours rugged up (particularly TBs which are fully or blanket clipped) in winter? Don't want to start a controversial post for people to slate each other's equine wardrobe choices please :rolleyes: :D just want to know which rugs I should be buying. I am very keen not to over rug, but equally want to be prepared for how much rugging he'll need!! :o

Sorry for so many questions, I am getting confused! :o
 
No, I certainly wouldn't be getting 400/500g rugs, my TBxWB is a very poor doer and his weight has been terrible, he was fully clipped out in November and survived :eek: all that snow in a 360g Weatherbeeta 150g Amgio stable and a fleece at the most, even then I think I over rugged him as he survived the winter with one clip :eek: He is my first horse though and I'm a wimp :p I really don't think a HW stable rug is necessary, leave his TO rug on as his body heat will dry it out and save you lots of effort :)
If you only blanket clip him I certainly wouldn't be getting a v.heavy rug, especially if you can make do :)
I think it's really a matter of getting to know YOUR horse, I don't know him, I'm just someone on the internet, but, my thoughts, before anyone jumps on me :p
 
I wouldn't go as high as 400/500g rugs, if it is especially cold you can always layer up - mine ended up with a 200g and a 350g rug on top last year (it was bitterly cold in Scotland, 19yo fully clipped horse!).
 
No, I certainly wouldn't be getting 400/500g rugs, my TBxWB is a very poor doer and his weight has been terrible, he was fully clipped out in November and survived :eek: all that snow in a 360g Weatherbeeta 150g Amgio stable and a fleece at the most, even then I think I over rugged him as he survived the winter with one clip :eek: He is my first horse though and I'm a wimp :p I really don't think a HW stable rug is necessary, leave his TO rug on as his body heat will dry it out and save you lots of effort :)
If you only blanket clip him I certainly wouldn't be getting a v.heavy rug, especially if you can make do :)
I think it's really a matter of getting to know YOUR horse, I don't know him, I'm just someone on the internet, but, my thoughts, before anyone jumps on me :p
Thanks for your reply, like I said I am keen not to over rug (and was certain I'd be ok with 300g max until I saw those heavier ones! :o ).
Think I would like a stable rug anyway (after all, I doubt that the vast majority of his stuff is 'necessary'- I'm sure he couldn't care less :p ) just in case TO gets wrecked or something..unlikely I know but still! :o
Yes, totally get point about not rugging too much for a blanket clip, not much will have been taken off anyway.
I will obviously play it by ear- start off with the minimum I think he needs and work up from there if necessary :) Thanks v much.
 
I wouldn't go as high as 400/500g rugs, if it is especially cold you can always layer up - mine ended up with a 200g and a 350g rug on top last year (it was bitterly cold in Scotland, 19yo fully clipped horse!).

Great, thanks. Starting to have what I initially thought confirmed TBH, think I will be sticking to a 300g :)
 
Top