Rugging a wet horse?

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Archie07

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May seem a silly question...Little yearling is out 24/7 naked - native btw with a huge thick coat! I've just read the weather forcast apparently rain due tonight, most of tomorrow through until friday so I'm expecting him to be wet in the morning. It's also quite chilly at the moment too, although he's pretty hardy to the cold!

Now, some people say you can rug a wet horse some say you can't? What do you think
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?! Do I leave him naked to get wet and dry off naturally or do I stick a rug on him wet tomorrow morning?!

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p.s - he's not worn rugs before!
 
I'd leave him to dry naturally, especially as he's got a thick coat, I have to be honest here and say that my late(born in august)foal is wearing a middle weight rug, cos she's been out 24/7 in the middle of Dartmoor and I didn't want rain scald as I'll be showing her soon. I also have to confess that she's a Highland, but the rain fall has been very high on the moor.
 
Why do you want to rug him?
I would leave him naked if that's what he's used to and he has a hairy coat.
I don't generally rug a wet horse, I'd let him dry out for a while inside before rugging him.
 
How will he dry if you put a rug on him when he is soaking wet and presumably has a thick coat?! If he has never had a rug on before it is not a good idea to just put one on him and leave him, particularly when it would be very uncomfortable. If he has never been clipped his coat will protect him quite well and he would be better left to dry off naturally in my opinion!
 
If ive been for a ride and Zak is hot i will wash him down, let him dry a bit and then stick a rug on him while he is still wet, but he has a hunter clip and i use a breathable rug so he has a chance to dry underneath-it has never done him any harm, he always comes in fine and he is almost pure tb!Dont know if that helps at all
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I don't really want to rug him tbh, but I don't want to be seen as 'cruel' at my yard (you know how it is sometimes!) as he's the only one without a rug, but then again he's the only native with a huge coat. I think naked is the way forward...I just wondered what people's opinions were on this as I've been told different things.
 
IMO it is more cruel to over - rug a horse. A horse/pony is better at regulating its temperature up (ie warmer) than cooling itself. An unclipped native pony shouldn't need a rug unless it is ill or underweight. Dartmoor, Exmoor and Welsh ponies live out wild on the moors in the most extreme of temperatures yet they still manage!
There tell that to anyone who thinks you are cruel!
 
My boy is naked (warmblood rising 2). Though he was rugged most of the winter he was getting too hot and has a thick coat (we put the rug on late november) and he is so very happy rugless so I reckon since the new field has a lote of shelter he'll be fine and he went all last winter rugless. I can't see how your boy would be worse off than mine.

Just to mention, in November we introduced Rocky to a turnout rug on the day he was cold, wet and miserable and he was very happy to have it on (it is breathable though), he dried out nicely and hasn't been a problem to rug up ever since (you don't even have to tie him up to blanket him he just stands there) so maybe introducing one when he's already cold might not be a bad idea but only if you are certain that he isn't going to get overheated. Also I wouldn't try leg straps as they can flip over those. Ignore any other liveries and just ask them if they would be warm enough in his coat in this weather (it works for me).

Good luck
 
If he's native an has access to shelter if needs be then i wouldn't worry about rugging him - theior coats are made to protect them and if his condition isn't suffering then it's not a problem.

As for putting rugs on wet horses well i have to admit if my two oldies have got wet during the day ( I am rugging them at night mainly cos I'm soft and don't want them losing too much weight!) I will just put their rugs on and it doesn't seem to be a problem at all, their body heat dries them out under the rugs and the rugs are breatheable. Never had any problems with their coats and they don't appear at all bothered!
 
If he is used to not wearing a rug i think it would be stupid to start rugging now, forget the others.
 
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