Rug or no rug - Rain

[Newforestloverxx]

Hello, I have a newforest rising 3 year old. I have never rugged him, but I'm being told I should to prevent rain scald.

What is peoples thoughts? He has a stable for if weather is very bad, their is trees for natural shelter. I have always wanted to keep him as natural as possible (he wears fly rugs in the summer tho obviously)

He has the best thickest natural coat, would like to hear people opinions. I've been reccomended a lightweight but am I right in thinking they're only shower proof anyway so he would be stood out cold and wet? Thankyou

 

[SpotsandBays]

Rain sheets aren’t super waterproof and also flatten the horses hair making them unable to puff their coat to warm up. If you do decide to rug, I would Chuck a 50g on rather than.m a rain sheet - but is the horse cold at all? I didn’t plan on rugging my 2yo but I did find him shivering one day when it was very wet so he now wears a lightweight 50g just to keep the rain off of his back and he’s much happier. (I whip it off on dry days). However, he is a skinny sporty type who’s not got a lot of meat!
Edited: I kind of rambled about the cold rather than the rain which isn’t helpful!! I would say that the shelter you have is plenty for the pony, and being a NF he is plenty hardy enough to continue without a rug, just keep an eye on the skin if you are worried!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

No no and no to ruggng now.
He shouldn't get rainscald unless out in wet for days.
He is highly likely to get rainscald under a rainsheet as he will sweat from his thick coat and the damp won't escape, trapping bacteria under the rug and on his skin.
Extra hay to warm up from inside if he gets really cold
Listen to yourself and not others x

 

[daydreamer]

If he has shelter I wouldn’t rug.

I did go out and put a rug on my riding 3 yr old for the first time this morning because we are forecast a full day and night of heavy rain and his field has no shelter at all, not even any real hedges or trees. Previous winters his fields had at least some shelter and he was fine out 24/7 naked in all weathers.