Rugging after exercise in winter

[Tilly9]

Hi all, I have a 9yr old cob mare, living out all year. I have only had her for 4 months, hence pretty new horse owner. I'll ride her through the winter if the weather is OK. However I don't know which rug to use after exercise when I put her back in the field. I live in the Scottish Highlands and it can get really cold up here. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[FourLeafClover]

Will she be clipped? If so, I would just brush off and rug for the weather. You only need to worry about under rugs ie coolers/waffle/thermatex if the horse is hairy and sweaty. If you clip and rug management is much easier ?

 

[mini_b]

Mine was hairy and sweaty (unfit) last winter, he only needed an Irish clip. Id towel dry a bit, Chuck on a good cooler while I was doing jobs then towel dry a bit more before rug for whatever the weather was.

I bought a proper cooler rather than a regular fleece one - Im sure it did make a difference in drying speed.

A full clip does make exercise/drying/rugging easier but you do need to have more rugs (or rugs and liners)
A hairy native doesn’t - but you do need to make sure they are dry which obviously takes time

I lay awake at night wondering if I’ve put the right rug on ?

 

[Tilly9]

Hi mini Barnes, thanks for your advice and no, she won't be clipped. Just a bit concerned that she will be warm, won't ride her sweaty and then she goes back into the field when it's cold.

 

[be positive]

Hi mini Barnes, thanks for your advice and no, she won't be clipped. Just a bit concerned that she will be warm, won't ride her sweaty and then she goes back into the field when it's cold.

It is a good idea to consider at least a bib help keep her more comfortable while working, just having the underside of their neck and a bit taken from under the girth can make a big difference yet allow you to not have to pile rugs on, a 50gm should be adequate to keep her dry, warm enough without being too warm and light enough to pop on after work, they regulate their temperatures perfectly well if given plenty of fibre/ hay to eat if grass is low, she should not feel cold as long as you cool down properly after exercise.

She would probably be fine with no rugs getting a good coat, not too much grooming, a layer of mud and plenty of forage to keep her warm but it does mean harder work to get ready to ride.

 

[Buster2020]

It depends if you’re clipping or not . Personally if you horse sweats I would clip . You don’t have to do a full clip I do a Irish clip (goggle it) I find it keeps my horse from sweeting and you can just throw your normal rug on them after riding . The rug you’re thinking about it called a cooler but they take ages to work .

 

[Tilly9]

Thanks to all of you for these helpful posts ?. Makes me look forward to winter riding....

 

[Brownmare]

Thanks to all of you for these helpful posts ?. Makes me look forward to winter riding....

Say that again in February!! ??
I too would definitely recommend a small bib clip, especially if you have the type of claggy mud that will be hard to groom off the girth area.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would maybe clip a bit off under the neck if she gets really sweaty, a bit of sweat is not too bad modern rugs are breathable so they dry off underneath fairly quick.