Rug or no rug?

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Cai Boy

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Hi guys,

Everyone is always kind and helpful on this forum so thought I would ask you for your opinion on putting rugs on horses.
I have a cob who was never rugged before he came to me. Since he has been with me I have been putting a waterproof rug on him in really bad weather as there is not much shelter in the field where he grazes but its not filled just stops him getting wet. On really nice sunny days, I don't rug him and let him enjoy the sun on his bum!
I had him clipped over the weekend (he had a trace clip so only the underneath has been done), but now I'm not sure about when to rug him. Obviously when the weather is bad I will put one on him. He is stabled at night and unless the temperature is really low I leave him without a rug. He's always warm when see I see him first thing in the morning so figure he's ok without. However, my YO passed comment that he should be rugged and now I'm conscious I not managing it properly. All the other horses on the yard have rugs on 24/7 (which I'm not sure is healthy either). I have read many stories about horses getting sores and rugs rubbing, and unless essential I don't see the need to rug him. I don't want him to get cold, but I don't want him too hot either nor do I want his rug to rub him (it does fit him properly though so the fit itself shouldn't cause rubbing). I had a chat with my vet who said not to rug him and let the natural oils in the skin do their job (but that was before he was clipped). Should I consider getting a light-weight rug for him? or carry on as I am?

As always, grateful for your thoughts.
 
Cai Boy said:
Hi guys,

Everyone is always kind and helpful on this forum so thought I would ask you for your opinion on putting rugs on horses.
I have a cob who was never rugged before he came to me. Since he has been with me I have been putting a waterproof rug on him in really bad weather as there is not much shelter in the field where he grazes but its not filled just stops him getting wet. On really nice sunny days, I don't rug him and let him enjoy the sun on his bum!
I had him clipped over the weekend (he had a trace clip so only the underneath has been done), but now I'm not sure about when to rug him. Obviously when the weather is bad I will put one on him. He is stabled at night and unless the temperature is really low I leave him without a rug. He's always warm when see I see him first thing in the morning so figure he's ok without. However, my YO passed comment that he should be rugged and now I'm conscious I not managing it properly. All the other horses on the yard have rugs on 24/7 (which I'm not sure is healthy either). I have read many stories about horses getting sores and rugs rubbing, and unless essential I don't see the need to rug him. I don't want him to get cold, but I don't want him too hot either nor do I want his rug to rub him (it does fit him properly though so the fit itself shouldn't cause rubbing). I had a chat with my vet who said not to rug him and let the natural oils in the skin do their job (but that was before he was clipped). Should I consider getting a light-weight rug for him? or carry on as I am?

As always, grateful for your thoughts.
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As you have clipped some of him I would you a 150-200g rug .
 
If its only a trace i would not worry too much, my little shetland is trace and not rugged. If his weight is good (or a little too good) then it won't harm him too much, a rug won't cover his belly anyway so unless you want a onsie...
 
It is wet and cold that drags horses' condition down - they can cope fine with dry cold.
Your vet has seen your horse and knows your set-up better than any of us on the other end of a computer so take heed of their advice.
For an example: I have native ponies - they are rugged with rain-sheets when it's wet and miserable out in the field (like most of this current winter!!), the ridden one has a rug with a 180 filling too that she wears if the weather is particularly bad as I don't think it's fair to expect her to work hard with cold muscles. My ponies are in at night in sheltered stables with thick bedding and lots of forage - they don't normally wear rugs in the stable (if they do come in soaked and cold we use a cooler/fleece for an hour or two to dry them off quickly).
 
Maybe just a medium weight rug when its really cold, its not really been freezing though so dont worry too much, one of mine was full clipped end october its mainly grown back now, she is on box rest and she hasnt had a rug on for weeks now she is not cold.
 
I always think that being too hot is far worse then being too cold, and would only use rugs as necessary rather than 'just in case'. If the horse is warm in the mornings and not losing condition, carry on not rugging. They often get really itchy if rugged too much - it's pretty miserable being hot and itchy and not being able to scratch!
 
If he is a good weight, has plenty of forage and seems warm and happy to you then I would stick with what you're doing. The weather is pretty mild at the minute and horses are pretty good at keeping themselves warm as long as they stay dry. If all you have at the moment is a no-fill rug I would think about investing in a heavier one though in case the weather does get colder - a no-fill will just flatten down the hair he does have so while it's great for keeping the wet off it's not going to help him stay warm! I would think 100g would be a good weight if he's just out during the day (and you could happily leave it on overnight if it was very cold too) but it does depend on the horse.

I have a thoroughbred who is out in the day and in overnight at the minute - he isn't clipped but doesn't have much of a winter coat and is currently naked at night and wearing a 40g during the day. I know several people who would have him in a much heavier rug when out and rugged overnight as well but I know that he's a warm horse and would get very uncomfortable is anything more. So don't change your routine just because other other people are making comments! :)
 
Hey, you alone really know your pony! I don't think a trace clip makes so much a difference. As others said, the rug won't cover the belly anyhow. People nowadays just seem to rug everything out of principle without looking at the real need of each individual horse or pony. If your cob is doing fine as is, then I won't change a thing. If there are signs that he is no longer coping then get a rug with a filling or so for the really cold days. A horse that has a proper winter coat doesn't necessarily need a rug (unless they are like my sensitive TB who I have to keep REALLY warm) - by the way, a rain sheet with no fill may be worse than leaving naked in the rain. I have heard that yes they stay dry but they can't put their hair up underneath like they would normally to keep warm, so you ! So maybe consider a lightweight filled turnout rug instead :-) My view.
 
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