Rugging dilemma

[bouncing_ball]

My horse is large and slightly lean. Was full clipped early January and has fine coat now. He’s out in field over night. Has shelter and hay (and grass is slow to grow) but doesn’t use either.

Today it’s 15 degrees in shade 4-5pm, more in sun, when he’s turned out for night. And dropping to 2 degrees over night.

He’s a reasonably warm horse to rug.

I’ve made my rugging decision. Interested what others would do?

Today, coming back later / getting someone to rug later isn’t an option, it often is possible.

 

[Afon_34]

Mine are out 24/7 so in day atm out in an Aussie alrounder rug as recently fully clipped and then PM after I’ve ridden, I will put either his 100g or 200g on depending what my weather app says weather is going to do just before I leave. I think it’d be impossible to rug for a 24 period atm if I’m honest...

 

[Surbie]

Personally I wouldn't rug at all if he's reasonably warm, not been clipped since January and it dips to 2C for only a few hours. I'd always rather too cold than too hot, unless there were other health reasons that would mean rugging would be helpful.

 

[Michen]

I don't think it's possible to "rug correctly" once for a 24 hour period (surely horses are checked twice a day anyway or is that not the norm for horses out at grass? I don't know, genuine question) when there is a 15 degree difference in temp. Unless you are happy to just whip rug off and them be a little cold, which I'd be happy with if the horse was of a good/overweight.

Horse needs rugging/unrugging either end of day as a basic requirement really. If this can't be done for whatever reason then I'd not have clipped.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My two were fully clipped October and then again in December and as of Saturday night they have been out naked. They were only in no fills before that and haven’t had any liners on for months. They have little grass but I do put hay out for them which is all gone in the morning. Both are a good weight without being fat and don’t looked tucked up or cold when I get them in. If it rains they will of course go back into rainsheets.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Mine are out 24/7 so in day atm out in an Aussie alrounder rug as recently fully clipped and then PM after I’ve ridden, I will put either his 100g or 200g on depending what my weather app says weather is going to do just before I leave. I think it’d be impossible to rug for a 24 period atm if I’m honest...

I’m NOT asking for a 24 hour period. He’s stabled daytimes (and rugged appropriately as yard staffed).

If I’m not up evening, he’s turned out by yard staff by 5pm.

He then comes in between 7-8am.

I asked what rug for 5pm to morning, NOT for a 24 hour period.

 

[ihatework]

I generally would work my day to rug the horse a bit later when it’s mild during day and cold at night. My young eventer is out over night and think it was around 7/7.30 when he got his middleweight on yesterday having been naked during the day.

If that was really out of the question, then either a warm or fat horse would get a sheet. A cooler horse would get something with filling. Neither would get a neck, that way they stand some chance of temp regulation

 

[Casey76]

I’m NOT asking for a 24 hour period. He’s stabled daytimes (and rugged appropriately as yard staffed).

If I’m not up evening, he’s turned out by yard staff by 5pm.

He then comes in between 7-8am.

I asked what rug for 5pm to morning, NOT for a 24 hour period.

Well, tbh, it’s not exactly clear in your original message that you’re asking about overnight rugging at all.

FWIW, for a regular horse with no metabolic issues, I’d probably leave naked

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I stop rugging altogether when the weather gets to this stage. A few chilly hours overnight will do no harm.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

Mine is fully clipped and out 24/7 with access to the stable. I put a 100g on overnight but i whip it off around 0600/0700 in the morning and its still frosty and cold cold cooooolllldddd but tough tough tough really! It's warming up quickly, he has grass and hay (and a stable)

For you I would have him turned out in a 0g or 50g overnight and nothing during the day at the moment.

 

[SEL]

My PSSM mare is naked during the day and then rugged over night. I held off putting her usual 200g on her last night because it was so warm and regretted it this morning. But unless I'm going back at midnight she'll either be too hot or too cold so I'll go with too cold because she doesn't sweat - either the 50g or 100g tonight depending on temperature when I do evening feeds.

The other 2 are naked and absolutely fine.

 

[Afon_34]

Today, coming back later / getting someone to rug later isn’t an option, it often is possible.

This comment is probably why we all thought you meant for a 24 hour period! Makes it sound as though you aren’t able to change rugs PM?

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm currently rugging two of mine at night only, but from 7pm onwards, not 5pm. One fully clipped, one unclipped but she has PSSM so needs to be kept warm. They are out 24/7.

It's still rather warm at 7pm, but it soon cools down - ideally I'd rug later as it gets dark. It's been frosty first thing for several days now, so there is maybe a 16° temp change in a few hours.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I don't think it's possible to "rug correctly" once for a 24 hour period (surely horses are checked twice a day anyway or is that not the norm for horses out at grass? I don't know, genuine question) when there is a 15 degree difference in temp. Unless you are happy to just whip rug off and them be a little cold, which I'd be happy with if the horse was of a good/overweight.

Horse needs rugging/unrugging either end of day as a basic requirement really. If this can't be done for whatever reason then I'd not have clipped.

Michen, he IS attended to morning and evening snd rugs changed. The problem occasionally occurs if I’m not down that evening (as I’ve been up morning) and yard services finish at 5pm. Mostly I can get there but not always as I’m not local.

 

[bouncing_ball]

This comment is probably why we all thought you meant for a 24 hour period! Makes it sound as though you aren’t able to change rugs PM?

Ah I meant coming back after yard staff finish at 5pm.

 

[Griffin]

If it's just overnight and he has a light coat, I would probably pop a 50g on.

My mare has a blanket clip but she is a bit chunky, so I am leaving her naked at the moment unless it is below freezing or raining.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I generally would work my day to rug the horse a bit later when it’s mild during day and cold at night. My young eventer is out over night and think it was around 7/7.30 when he got his middleweight on yesterday having been naked during the day.

If that was really out of the question, then either a warm or fat horse would get a sheet. A cooler horse would get something with filling. Neither would get a neck, that way they stand some chance of temp regulation

Yes until now I’ve managed to work my day around or come back later on days there’s a big temperature swing. But a bit stuck today and tomorrow.

It’s part of the price for having horse out at night and on well draining ground, with good facilities, he’s not close to home to pop back. I’ve already been at yard 7am to 10am this morning. He’s also not really easy for other liveries to rug in field to call in a favour.

I’ve gone for no fill turnout with 50gm rambo airmax liner, to go one at 5pm ?

He’s not been out at night naked yet this year.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Michen, he IS attended to morning and evening snd rugs changed. The problem occasionally occurs if I’m not down that evening (as I’ve been up morning) and yard services finish at 5pm. Mostly I can get there but not always as I’m not local.

The irony is that I’ve put stabled horses’ rugs on after it’s cooled down for other people every night this last week. But my horse is out at night a ten minute walk from yard, him and his field mate are boisterous / playful and he’s 17hh and dont think I can ask other liveries to put their rugs on in field.

 

[meleeka]

If he’s used to wearing a rug overnight I’d do what you’ve done and put a light rug on if it’s only for a couple of days. If it was all the time, I’d be leaving naked now.

 

[Merrymoles]

I'm firmly in the better too cold than too warm camp and you have said he has hay overnight.

Mine is now rugless 24/7 but he is well covered. However, his field mate is almost 29 so he is rugged at night. It was thick fog here this morning and when I turned out this morning, I took the decision to take the old boy's rug off, even though it was chilly, because I knew it would not be for that long until the fog burnt off.

I think this time of year is easier for rugging decisions as, although it might be frosty first thing, it is not that deep, penetrating cold that lasts for hours and generally they are all fine if they have plenty to eat.