Putting rugs on a wet/muddy horse

T

tye_bo

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 April 2007
Messages
742
Visit site
My dad's nagging me that I should be rugging the girl up at night time. Problem is how can I put a rug on at night when she's been out all day/rolled in mud etc??? I'm just wondering if she'd be better with a lightweight 'mac' on all the time?
 
The lightweight rug is a good idea but if you would rather she was naked, why not bring her in for an hour, give her some hay and throw a thermatex on her. Then all you have to do is brush her off and rug up. I think you can put most modern rugs onto a wet horse but I think it just feels nicer to know they are all cosy and dry
grin.gif
I'm such a sap
grin.gif
 
i feel awful for not putting a rug on henry at night at the moment, but like yours he comes in covered in wet and dry mud. he prefers not having a rug on as it goes and hes already looking like a bear so it makes me feel happier about not putting one on, but then when im driving home at 10 at night and im cold i feel really sorry for him and feel like he should have one on lol!!! decisions decisions lol!
 
An unclipped horse is better left with no rug at all - rugs just hinder the natural fluffing up process that traps air close to the body to keep the horse warm.

Mine only has a lightweight sheet on if there is going to be prolonged heavy rain, or rain combined with a cold snap or heavy wind. In that instance I usually bring her in and leave her in the stable for an hour with a big haynet and a fleece rug on, then I can brush her off later to put the rug on and bung her out.

Best way to keep a horse warm in the field without using a rug is to give them plenty of small feeds and put hay out if there's no grass. Horses eat themselves warm.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
An unclipped horse is better left with no rug at all - rugs just hinder the natural fluffing up process that traps air close to the body to keep the horse warm.


[/ QUOTE ]

My unclipped horse was very grateful to have his rug on last night - as was I as I lay awake listening the howling wind and lashing rain.......
wink.gif
 
Gosh, it wasn't like that here - we only had a brief shower! I'm the first person to put a rug on on a cold and wet night, if only so I sleep well without worrying about her, but last night was very mild here.

Going by tonight's forecast she will have her lightweight on tonight.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
An unclipped horse is better left with no rug at all - rugs just hinder the natural fluffing up process that traps air close to the body to keep the horse warm.

Mine only has a lightweight sheet on if there is going to be prolonged heavy rain, or rain combined with a cold snap or heavy wind. no grass. Horses eat themselves warm.
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

So why have you got a picture of your horse on a nice sunny day wearing a rug Blackcob?

I think a lightweight rug is better than no rug at all. It will keep the worst of the weather off your horse and make life a bit easier for you. It's your horse so do what you feel is best.
 
It was hideous her in South Wales last night. The lad was out - and I spent a really sleepless night.

Of course he was absolutely fine - happily munching grass this morning......
 
[ QUOTE ]

So why have you got a picture of your horse on a nice sunny day wearing a rug Blackcob?


[/ QUOTE ]

Didn't realise I was under scrutiny here for an idle comment?
crazy.gif
The rug in the picture had arrived in the post that morning, I was trying it on and taking some pictures to send to my mum at work. I got some nice posy shots of her in her new bright red rug that we'd been eagerly awaiting since we'd seen the Amigo adverts in magazines. It was removed soon after before the bugger could roll in it!

2zxyws4.jpg
 
My unclipped warmblood (share) has been rugged at night for a while now, and trust me he wouldnt be happy without it, but then he doesnt bother to grow a winter coat..... lazy boy!
 
Yes stick a her a mac on, like the red Amigo that is sported by the cob a couple of posts up.

Great rug, very light but waterproof, at least it will keep her dry ...and clean and she wont turn into a complete softy neither so will coat up due to the cold etc, I've had my boy in his Amigo practically all summer (well obviously not a warm days) but we've had that much rain, because I brush him a lot, it wouldn't be fair to have him getting wet all the time, but then again he's a big softy as he loves nothing more than coming in, getting pampered and eating!...he never wants to go back out with his friends!
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
An unclipped horse is better left with no rug at all - rugs just hinder the natural fluffing up process that traps air close to the body to keep the horse warm.

Mine only has a lightweight sheet on if there is going to be prolonged heavy rain, or rain combined with a cold snap or heavy wind. In that instance I usually bring her in and leave her in the stable for an hour with a big haynet and a fleece rug on, then I can brush her off later to put the rug on and bung her out.

Best way to keep a horse warm in the field without using a rug is to give them plenty of small feeds and put hay out if there's no grass. Horses eat themselves warm.
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

This is absolutley spot on. good quality forage is teh best way to keep a horse warm - think of it like feeding a boiler as the horse generates heat during digestion.

As for the rugs - totally agree if unclipped and the weather is DRY then rugs are a bit pointless (unless really cold). However, a wet horse is not a warm horse so I tend to rug if it is raining and cold, regardless of whether the horse is clipped.
 
Hey, Blackcob, you're obviously not in N Shrops. Lashing it down here for part of last night, and blowing a gale.
frown.gif
Still very windy today but sunny too. With regard the rug question, our wimpy girl had a lightweight on last night, but I am lucky that I can stand her in too dry off if need be.
 
I think we will be getting it tonight looking at the forecast, although it is bright and sunny at the moment if a tad breezy. I'm in the south so think we just missed out on it last night!
tongue.gif


Mine will have her red rug on tonight I think if it's coming this way. I don't mind her being out in the cold weather, and I don't mind her being out in the wet weather, but the combination of the two is nasty.
 
It totally depends on the horse, there's no one set of rules for rugging, you know your horse best. My New Forest sweats buckets if I even stick a LW on him, he grows a massive coat which keeps him perfectly warm and dry! I'd much rather him warm himself up than overheating which is far more dangerous or being stuck miserable with a soaking wet LW stuck to him.
 
Thanks all, its just not really stopped here (Derbyshire) so I'm going to stick the mac on her. I wouldn't worry at all if there was any natural shelter but as I say the field she is in is rubbish and there is no shelter at all. Oh the joys of being at a livery yard.....!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top