Rug change frequency

Fluffypiglet

Fluffypiglet

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Horse is very fluffy and in a no fill turnout for both overnight in very large stable and in the field. Lots to eat wherever he is. Tonight is going to near freezing but only for one night. Someone always told me not to keep chopping and changing rugs as the horses adjust. I really want to put him in something slightly warmer as I wear a warmer coat if it’s goes extra cold? But it’s only one night so I’m also thinking im being daft! 😁 What do you do?
 
I've had horses for over 40 years and I've never heard that advice. I always rug to the temperature, so if it's due to be cold I'd put a thicker rug on. If it then warms up the next night, I'd revert back to the thinner rug.

As an aside, I think a fluffy horse is better off naked, apart from when it rains, as they are then able to fluff their coats up to suit, which they can't do when rugged.
 
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meleeka said:
I've had horses for over 40 years and I've never heard that advice. I always rug to the temperature, so it's it's due to be cold I'd put a thicker rug on. If it then warms up the next night, I'd revert back to the thinner rug.

As an aside, I think a fluffy horse is better off naked, apart from when it rains, as they are then able to fluff their coats up to suit, which they can't do when rugged.
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Exactly, and the no-fill rugs tend to flatten down coats because there’s no ‘lift’ beneath.
And the actual weather conditions are at least as significant as basic degrees centigrade. What direction and force of the wind? Precipitation? Where’s your hedge, windbreak, which direction does the stable face, cross draughts? They can be far colder standing inside than moving around a decent sized field.
 
Fabulous! Thank you for reassuring me. He was warm under his no fill last night but I’ll be happier with him in something a bit warmer tonight. I spend ages on my 4 different weather apps looking at wind speed, direction, actual temperature, feels like etc. Nice that im not alone. 🤣
 
I always chop and change. Including the one that’s outside all the time has extra on over night as it’s always colder over night. (Or has it removed in the day)
I don’t think they need to get used to weather when we have already taken that ability away from them by rugging in the first place.
I think it’s then our responsibility to make sure they are happy and comfortable whatever the temperature is.
 
I've just checked our forecast and it's similar. My 2 are living out unrugged currently and the beauty of that is they can self regulate. If yours aren't clipped, I wouldn't worry. Keep as they are.
 
Fluffypiglet said:
@3OldPonies I think if it wasn’t such a big drop in temperature I’d leave him but it’s going proper chilly so was feeling mean leaving him to tough it out.
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Fair enough, I'd do the same I've it was going to be a big drop. I'd only leave the same if there were a couple of degrees difference, the forecasters can get it soooo wrong! TBH I usually take 2 degrees off whatever they say it will be.
 
No fills are the worst when it's cold. Both mine live out and are clipped out bar legs so have a 200gr with neck at the moment. Sh*tland just has her fluffy coat as she's always warm.
 
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Nicnac said:
No fills are the worst when it's cold. Both mine live out and are clipped out bar legs so have a 200gr with neck at the moment. Sh*tland just has her fluffy coat as she's always warm.
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Sorry, but I disagree. In your case with clipped out horses, yes they would be pretty useless; but for my two oldies who don't get clipped they're great for keeping wind and rain off when it's starting to get chilly. Of course I go for rugs with varying weights of filling when it turns properly cold. It's really a case of knowing what's right for individuals based on age, clips, workload and whatever the weather feels like chucking at us.
 
He’s in his 50g tonight and we’ll revisit if it goes milder again. He was looking very happy with it. He is actually quite warm under his no fill, his fluff is very thick so I don’t think it flattens significantly but glad I got the ok from you lot to give him the warmer option!
 
Yes I change according to the temperature but mine is stabled at night now. Mines fully clipped and in a 200g tonight, I tend to use this rug the most over winter and add a liner to make it up to 300g when it’s really cold (below zero) x
 
I’ve always changed according to temp (or at least post orange Welsh I have as he trained me to do so… he was NOT happy (& also dropped weight like a stone) if I didn’t put him a heavier rug on if it dropped cold, but was also not happy if I didn’t then swap back to something lighter if it came warm again as then he’d be too hot)
 
If the horse is fluffy and not underweight, I very rarely rug them for their sake. Mostly just out a rain rug (lightly padded or not at all, depending on the level of natural floof) to have dry horses to ride. Sensitive horses (such as back issues) might need something, but those are exceptions. My five fluffy ponies are all unrugged here, even when it's around 0 and rainy. It rarely gets windy here, though. Cold below -5 is not as cold either, they're completely fine in -20 too. If I were to put them in a stall, or rug them, most would get sweaty. Horses are generally significantly better at handling cold than humans are.
 
Fluffypiglet said:
@3OldPonies I think if it wasn’t such a big drop in temperature I’d leave him but it’s going proper chilly so was feeling mean leaving him to tough it out.
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Horses grow fluffy coats so that they can withstand/adapt to changing weather conditions.
Ours live out with a shelter, we only rug if prolonged heavy rain/snow is forecast from the east, which blows into our shelter.
 
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