One heavy rug or two lighter rugs?

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Lucky788

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My friends mare was a little cold today, the weather is horrendous! She was warm yesterday eve but the rain just hasn't stopped and being older she seems to feel the cold more. She was shivering a little this morning when I brought her in to feed. As the only rug other rug she had at the yard was a 100g turnout I put that under the 200g she was wearing. Walked her around and she warmed up nicely. My friend said she will be up later as has a heavy weight rug 300g to put on but decided against changing as mare was now warm and she didn't want to put a cold rug on as mare was happy. Got us both thinking I've never really double rugged but with this horrid rain will two rugs help more than one of the equivalent weight?
Would a stable/under rug be better to add rather than another turnout?
Tea & biscuits if you've got this far :)
 
Dont think its a problem double rugging. Personally I would rather put a liner under a rug as there are no extra belly straps to contend with and they do trap the air and keep them toasty. Rambo liners are made for the job be it under stable or turnout rugs. Easy to wash and keep clean too.
 
It's more the weight of the thing over all that makes the difference. In your situation I would have done the same. Ideally a liner could provide the same warmth without the additional weight. Or just a heavy weight rug instead of two.

The rain has been horrific. My horses live out (natives) and they have stood hunched up and hardly eating for a week during this rain. They aren't old or ill or anything it's just the constant deluge seems to wear them down. My Welsh is clipped (it's not a new clip) and well rugged but she has been cold regularly and I'm sure it's from standing around and not eating as much hay. She looks tucked up when I bring her in to ride then much cheerier after she's had to move around more.

The livestock are the same in this weather, it's really hard on them, even though it's mild, much worse than very cold but dry weather.
 
My horse was struggling with a med weight and a stable rug, put a heaver rug on and hes doing much better. Too hot in fact. Hes been down graded again.
 
cinnamontoast said:
Layers are better, surely? Traps warm air between layers etc.
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Not necessarily. A stable rug or light rug will push the hair down leaving a layer between that can be filled with cool air and the body wont heat it as effectively as it has no direct contact. I feel cold in a shirt and padded coat, but warm in a tank top and padded coat.
 
The extra weight if two rugs are used makes the horse feel more secure, like a firm hug, rather like the weighted blankets for children/people with special needs.
 
I like double rugging for practicality. My horses live out, and are more warmly rugged at night when required, so its great to be able to take the top rug off in the morning, and put it back on in the evening on top of a warm rug.
 
TBH I'd always prefer to use the rug that's right for the job rather than layer. If a rug fits nicely on it's own, does it fit as well with another underneath or does it make it a bit tight? Does the extra weight make it more uncomfortable and less effective at trapping warm air? Is there more potential for the under rug to slip back a bit? I'll layer if I have to as a temporary measure and I've used a roomy 50g over another less waterproof rug when I'm struggling to find a warm enough rug that's still dry but given the choice I prefer not to layer and go for dry over warm in this horrid weather. Hope that makes sense!
 
Thank you for all the replies.
I did the horses this morning and she was nice and toasty with the two rugs on but I put the heavy weight rug on and will see how warm she is later. As I was concerned two turnouts is quite restricting I can see how an under rug would be more suitable and they are so much lighter and not as bulky.

The rain is just relentless at the moment they just look so fed up :(
 
Two rugs can make it easier. A 300/400g will be very heavy to lift on and off the horse whereas a 200g would be lighter. The bottom rug would also keep most of the heat so changing to top rug wont make you feel as guilty as she'll have a warm one next to her skin already.
 
Sometimes I layer, sometimes I don't, but haven't found it seems to make much difference in terms of warmth if the overall weight is the same. However, if I do layer I only use liner or under rugs underneath, as I think these are more comfortable for the horse, as they are cut to sit snugly under another rug and don't have bulky fittings.

I like to have no fill, 200g and 400g turnout rugs, and 100g under-rugs, so I then have a lot of flexibility as to overall weight.
 
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