No more 'is this the right rug for my horse' questions!

[SadKen]

http://www.thelocal.no/20140204/researchers-ask-horses-how-they-prefer-to-stay-warm

Just train said horse to tell you which rug it wants, and that's the end of it!

Interesting idea imho.

 

[Bazzel]

very interesting!
My boy came in 2 days ago wearing his rug like a cape and ripped straight down the middle...I guessed he was telling me pink wasn't his colour?!

 

[Equi]

My old tb already did tell me. If i tried to take his heavy rug off he would grab it and hold on to it and never once ripped it, then if i was putting a rug on he didnt want he would rip it to shreds lol

 

[Red-1]

I have had 2 horses who rummage through the rug rack in their grooming parlour to tell me which rug they would like. One time in summer my horse's fly rugs were in the wash, but he wanted to go out, so he rummaged in earnest until he found the only item of outdoor apparel there, which was a fly fringe. He got that out from uner the summer sheets and threw that at me, so I guess he really wanted to be turned out.

My horse Jay does not like poor weather. He rummages too. Some days he choose an outdoor new Zealand, some days he chooses his horse back massager, but if the weather is foul he invariably chooses his stable rug for a day in bed!

I used to think I was imagining it, but used to stick with their choice (within reason). At first it WAS random, but then it did not seem so. The day of the fly fringe and Sherlock convinced me. He was VERY cross when he did not find outdoor fly rugs, and so relieved to find the fly mask.

 

[JustMeThen]

I have had 2 horses who rummage through the rug rack in their grooming parlour to tell me which rug they would like. One time in summer my horse's fly rugs were in the wash, but he wanted to go out, so he rummaged in earnest until he found the only item of outdoor apparel there, which was a fly fringe. He got that out from uner the summer sheets and threw that at me, so I guess he really wanted to be turned out.

My horse Jay does not like poor weather. He rummages too. Some days he choose an outdoor new Zealand, some days he chooses his horse back massager, but if the weather is foul he invariably chooses his stable rug for a day in bed!

I used to think I was imagining it, but used to stick with their choice (within reason). At first it WAS random, but then it did not seem so. The day of the fly fringe and Sherlock convinced me. He was VERY cross when he did not find outdoor fly rugs, and so relieved to find the fly mask.

Love this!

Don't think I'd trust my mare's choice; she always says she's desperate to go out in pouring rain, then shivering and asking to come in soon afterwards...

 

[mtj]

Really inspired by this research. Hope they share the training protocol as soon as possible.