Over rugging?

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Apparently I over rug......:eek:
Before I tell you what my lot wear (in the deepest dark depths of winter!)

Wat would your stabled/ unstabled....clipped/un clipped horse or pony be wearing?

Appologies if this has been done!!
 
When?
My horse is TB, and is fully clipped but isn't a wimp. He normally has 2 heavyweight stables on in middle of winter, one of them full neck. My mum says i over rug, she left him with cooler rug on on frosty november night :o He was alive in the morning, but I was very pissed off!
At the mo he is out in the field with a lightweight T/O on.
BTW my stables aren't cosy warm ones. Hairy cob has med/light stable rug on in winter, med t/o. She isn't as hardy as you would think though.
 
Mine have been known to wear up to 7 rugs in the coldest part of winter :p very cold tbs and one idx tb who will wear up to 5...All unclipped but not wooly.....

**HIDES**
 
Right...

Roy - unclipped during the summer:
Lightweight on if raining
Medium weight on at night unless it's hot (he's wearing one tonight)
Medium weight to heavy weight on if it's chilly.

Roy - fully clipped out in winter:
When in...
Rambo Wug stable rug (heavyweight) and depending on how cold it is -
duvet or heavyweight under rug
fleece
snuggy jams if really chilly

When out...
heavyweight under rug
snuggy jams t/o hood
heavyweight t/o rug
he did have two heavyweight turn out rugs on last winter when it got to -20C here. I've given up on looking at the weather and worrying about what other people think - if he's cold he gets another rug on, end of. It's the best thing I've found to keep him looking good!

Everything else wears either a heavy or medium weight t/o rug in winter if they're out and unclipped, and varying degrees of stable rugs and turnouts if they're clipped.

The only one who is naked all year round is Blossom the cob, who has never ever worn a rug, came from the gypsies, and would boil alive if she was made to wear one!!
 
Winter: Trace clip - Medium weight turnout. Add neck rug if wet/windy. If very cold change to heavyweight turnout with neck. In stable, a medium weight quilt without neck. If very cold add fleece.

Summer: Lightweight unfilled turnout only if steady rain. In stable sometimes a thin fleece but generally unrugged
 
Well as we all know each horse requires different rugging according to their age, type and clip etc etc.

But truth is imho that alot of people over rug their horses. In the old days (I am talking 1990's and before) horses were simply not rugged.
A friend of mine used to over rug her horse to the point it was sweating, poor thing, I tried to tell her.
I am not ranting but it does really really get my goat that they are all to often wrapped up way too well, they are horses after all.

I know alot of people seem to go by touch, saying things like 'my horse felt nice and snug and warm under his/her rug'
Personally I do not think that they should feel 'lovely and warm' to the touch in the depths of winter, they should not feel cold conversely but I think some peoples ideas are rather skewed.
Not a popular answer but I really beleive there is so much over rugging out there :(

My horse is a warmer type, she does not cope well in cold sweeping rain though. She only has an apron clip nowadays as she gets very hot during exercise but I do not beleive in taking off more than she needs to be comfortable. Alot of the winter last winter for example she was in a lightweight turnout :D

Hope that helps, excuse the rant :D
 
I am going show my mum this post to prove I dont over rug!
I want snuggy jams- sound so cosy!
I'm not old I remember the days when hardly anthing was rugged, lol.
It was -20C at mine this winter which is a bit extreme for TBX. Don't really agree with rugging shetlands for the sake of it! I thought it was best to feel the horses ears for a gauge? You would be suprised how little the TB at the raceyard are rugged up. They are warm stables and we have more problems with them heating up than getting too cold.
 
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I dont like rugging my horses, theyre in at night in winter and I never know if they are warmer in because they are out of the wind or cold because they cant move around!
This year I am getting one of those thermometers that tell you the minimum temperature
and the maximum, ( think they are greenhouse thermos?) so I know exactly how cold its been. We are at the top of a hill and does get v cold at night.
 
From October to February, both wear rain sheets, the lightest you can get.
Our winter lows are only 20C (heaven after living in the UK!), but we get a lot of rain!
 
dominobrown said:
I am going show my mum this post to prove I dont over rug!
I want snuggy jams- sound so cosy!
I'm not old I remember the days when hardly anthing was rugged, lol.
It was -20C at mine this winter which is a bit extreme for TBX. Don't really agree with rugging shetlands for the sake of it! I thought it was best to feel the horses ears for a gauge? You would be suprised how little the TB at the raceyard are rugged up. They are warm stables and we have more problems with them heating up than getting too cold.
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My horse is very embarrassed by his snuggy jams but loves being warm!! He is a 17.2hh warmblood gelding with a very impressive competition record...and they are pink with flowers on them! But they were £90 cheaper in that colour so he has to suck it up!

I feel my lot for a guage - if the base of their ears and their armpits are cold, or they're shivering or tucked up, they get a rug on. I can't bear seeing horses over rugged and sweating, but I am guilty of running outside up to thirty times a day to check my Roy boy's temperature to see if he needs more or less on :D
 
Depths of winter
Ban (Fully clipped incl face and legs off) ISH
*Dress circle sherpa full face rug
* Weatherbeeta belmont combo
OR
* Falpro saracen
*(if bloody freezing and blowing a gale to -12 like last yr) saxon lw stable

OUTSIDE
*Dress circle faceless sherpa
*LW - MW stable rug
*HW FAL turnout

He feels the cold and I rug according to his temp at base of ears, armpit,under his tail and between his back legs.
 
*Gone Snuggy Jam shopping :) *
Mine is a 17hh TB xWB so the pink ones might be a bit much for him!
People have already taken the peee out of me for getting him the stripey Joules rug!
I have a rug fetish, mum says I have to get rid, :( :(
I have well over 20 and only 2 horses (to be fair for the last 4 horses I have had have all been the same size, and so it the one I am potentially getting), still I hav't got a fleece, a thermatex, and a ........ :)
 
Unclipped Winter and Summer she wears nothing at all.

I now do a blanket clip in Winter and she wears a lightweight full neck turnout most of the year but when it was super cold I put a mw turnout underneath it.
And she wore one mw stable rug except in the snow days wear she wore two.

I got told off for overugging when I put the two on!
She's a chunky D with enough mane to make another rug for her. I simply only rug to compensate for the fur she has lost and no more.
I don't want her to be reliant on rugs and want her to remain a hardy horse throughout her life as I believe it is healthier for them.
 
I know I was guilty of over rugging last year, she got hot and came up in bumps!
It was the 1st winter for a couple of years that I haven't clipped her, so I think I over-compensated because of that.

Anyway this year she will be clipped but I will start with the lightweight rugs I have before going up to the heavier ones if needs be then I will bring in the layering after that, but again if needed.
I plan to start with a little clip too, only taking more off if she needs it - but she is a hot horse and is much easier to manage in winter with a blanket or full clip.
 
WOW - most of you lot will think that Iam a bad mummy!
Juno is naked 24/7 living out whatever the weather (as are any other ponies we might have). I have never felt the need to rug her. She gets fed 1 handful of chaff and 1/4 scoop of pony nuts once a day and gets a section of hay in the worst of the winter weather!!
Meg, who is a known rug trasher, I have to tie her into her rug or she will rip it off which is VERY annoying. I try to limit the time she has to wear her rug. Usually put it on first week of Nov, only a M/W. I've got 4 rugs so can change them frequently but all M/W. I try to strip her naked again 1st week march usually taking rug off in day but on at night. She has not been stabled for about 7 years now. (own 1 stable rug!) She gets fed 1 scoop pony nuts and handful chaff - she won't eat any more than that! Also gets 2 sections hay. Juno will never be clipped again (bib clip at most) Meg might have a trace clip.
I sound really mean don't I?
 
Indalo said:
Wat would your stabled/ unstabled....clipped/un clipped horse or pony be wearing?
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Everything out 24/7.

Average daytime temp -10C to -15C (+ snow on ground, no grazing) Dec to March. Generally dry. No mud to speak of :D

Unclipped. Ages range from 6 months - 20+ years. Minis, arabians, QH's.

I blanket (MW) if a horse looks cold/miserable etc. Arabian usually has 2 x MW, some horses make it abundantly clear (like run away;)) that they don't want a blanket at all and then there are others that practically walk under their blankets and would do them up if they could. Fine by me.

My philosophy is that if a horse needs extra layers then it gets it, all this stuff and nonsense about them being designed for the cold and not needing blankets really hacks me off, sure, they are, but they are also individuals and if a horse is left cold and thin all for the want of a blanket because "it already has a fur coat" it is sheer negligence:mad:
 
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Indalo said:
Mine have been known to wear up to 7 rugs in the coldest part of winter :p very cold tbs and one idx tb who will wear up to 5...All unclipped but not wooly.....

**HIDES**
Click to expand...

I am cringing at that, not the rugs themselves - your horses, your business what you put on their backs, but merely at the sheer thought of putting on and taking off that number of rugs x 2! :eek: (I am not sure that I actually possess as many as seven rugs in total:o)

As a matter of interest, what type of rugs are they?
 
enfys said:
Everything out 24/7.

Average daytime temp -10C to -15C (+ snow on ground, no grazing) Dec to March. Generally dry. No mud to speak of :D

Unclipped. Ages range from 6 months - 20+ years. Minis, arabians, QH's.

I blanket (MW) if a horse looks cold/miserable etc. Arabian usually has 2 x MW, some horses make it abundantly clear (like run away;)) that they don't want a blanket at all and then there are others that practically walk under their blankets and would do them up if they could. Fine by me.

My philosophy is that if a horse needs extra layers then it gets it, all this stuff and nonsense about them being designed for the cold and not needing blankets really hacks me off, sure, they are, but they are also individuals and if a horse is left cold and thin all for the want of a blanket because "it already has a fur coat" it is sheer negligence:mad:
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I can top those temps! (as well you know)

Unclipped unrugged out 24/7 snow on ground Nov - to sometimes May!! Has been known to drop down to windchills of -50 usual winter -30's

Only time I've rugged was my Standardbred and Arab in Spring after they had lost some of winter coat and it was that damp slushy snow or it rained.

Access to hay 24/7 in big round bales, shelter water that is heated to stop it freezing and everything is fed grain. If it's extra cold then I will feed alfalfa in round bales.

Most are probably a little over weight coming out of winter but I would prefer that than the other way round.

When I come back to the UK I will rug again probably because it is so damp over there and it gets into your bones.
 
livingsky said:
I can top those temps! (as well you know) :p:D;)

Unclipped unrugged out 24/7 snow on ground Nov - to sometimes May!! Has been known to drop down to windchills of -50 usual winter -30's ...and you're REALLY going to miss it eh? (Not!) You'll be able to say "Oh For God's Sake, it's only a 'bit' of snow!" and "When I was in Canada......." ;)

When I come back to the UK I will rug again probably because it is so damp over there and it gets into your bones. My arab was rugged most of the time in Wales because it was so wet and bloody miserable. Soooooo right about it getting to your bones, I am almost completely 'creak' free with this climate now, not sure how I'd fare in SK though, you get the lot - with bells on!
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...any news on the house front? I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Have you advertised internationally? I was talking to someone recently, she has had a 14 acre property, 4200' sq (:eek:) house for sale at only $399,000 for 14 months, advertised with an ex-pat forum and has just had an unseen (full price) offer from people emigrating from (haha!) Glos!
 
OMG are they mad! :eek:

My friend has just built a 7500 sq ft house I still ask her why, Gawd I wouldn't want to clean it or heat it!

Was that British Expats I'm on there perhaps I should give it a go (anyone want to buy an 8 acre property with 5 stalled barn, 4 separate paddocks, shelter and 2000sqft 5 bed home for £100,000 by the way, snow is free) Watch me get banned now for 'advertising' :)

HAHA I think I'm going to get on everyone's nerves when I'm back sounding like that girl out of American Pie you know 'When I was at band camp' It was discussed tonight maybe kids and I should return in couple of months and leave hubby until we have sold. Tried not to sound to enthusiastic :D
 
One 12.3hh NF 17 years old; never rugged, he's a little porky thing, but loses it in winter :)

14.1hh Welshie 20 years old mw rug on when it gets really cold, or rain sheet if its really rainy , nothing all summer; both out 24/7, neither clipped
 
enfys said:
I am cringing at that, not the rugs themselves - your horses, your business what you put on their backs, but merely at the sheer thought of putting on and taking off that number of rugs x 2! :eek: (I am not sure that I actually possess as many as seven rugs in total:o)

As a matter of interest, what type of rugs are they?
Click to expand...



Normally will wear a dress circle full body, then under blanket, fleece, l/w stable, m/w stable with neck, m/w stable then a heavy combo on top..

I have to add that my horses did not sweat ONCE last winter and never felt boiling hot either always just toasty if you get me?!

The stables i keep them at did drop too minus 20 last year and even the donkey was wearing a combo!!!

Also like to add that its not just Im stupid and have a fetish for rugs, they are genuinely cold horses..My last tb used to wear 1 rug only and was always toasty!
 
In the depths of winter my Welshie un-clipped wears a very old medium weight with no neck and it is a rug that is certainly not medium weight as it has been washed every year for 7 years and is a bit flat...but he is plenty warm in it. Even in the depths of weeks of snow this was enough for him.
 
I rug according to the horse's own temperature and what the temperature is. My big girl loathes being too hot, Flynn likes his rug, little TB mare needs her rug and my little old Welsh, who is happiest outside, won't be caught until it's below freezing during the day when he will come over and wait for his rug to be put on and then then stand there looking totally blissed out, having refused to come anywhere near when I've been trying to be kind to an elderly chap and start him off with a lightweight when it begins to get chilly.

I have to say that before putting 7 rugs on a stabled horse I'd be looking at insulating the stable and/or keeping on some form of deep litter, which will raise the temperature inside the stable several degrees if carefully managed.
 
My TB is now in her Weatherbeeta med turnout, in the depths of winter we do get up to -25, she will then be in her heavyweight Weatherbeeta combo, she is unclipped & is out 24/7 with access to a field shelter.

My WelshxTB also unclipped will be in her Masta Zing Heavyweight Combo again out 24/7 with access to the field shelter.
They both cope fine BUT if they need an extra layer i will put an under rug on them both.

XxX
 
:eek::eek: 7 rugs each on an unclipped horse :eek::eek:

I am amazed. Surely no unclipped horse requires 7 rugs?

I can only think they can't be very comfortable ...... maybe try lying under 7 blankets and see how restricted your movements are.
 
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