Over rugging?

My two cobs had trace clip last year, both were turned out as much as possible. When it snowed and was -12 here they were turned out 24/7 (as we couldn't lead them in and out on the ice) in 100g fill rugs and were fine. Everyone commented on how well they looked coming out of winter!
 
Sketch can't wear more than one rug at a time because he itches to the point of making himself bleed as he is allergic to even the mildest washing power and detergent so you can imagine how awful it must be for him to have too many rugs on bless him! He finds a saddle cloth bad enough! He only ever has a blanket clip and copes fine wearing a medium weight turnout rug throughout most of Winter. The only time he wore heavyweight turnout or stable rugs last year was when there was snow on the ground and about -12 degrees Celsius!

Although he has Arab in him, he is hardy and never seems to drop weight or condition in the Winter. He is stabled at night all year round though so I believe this may have something to do with it lol! A lady at my old yard used to have a Warmblood who she never used to do anything with apart from belt round the school once a week and she had a full clip and wore about 6 rugs last Winter. The poor mare ended up with sores on her withers that where about 4 inches long and oozing and weeping constantly and she was unable to be ridden from early December until early March and was slightly psychotic when being brought back into work. The worst part of this was that her owner wondered why she had the sores in the first place. :rolleyes: Needless to say, I don't rug unless I have to.
 
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