Rugging dillemma for a hairy

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indiat

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Hi all,

We have an exmoor pony who lives out unrugged during the winter but this year I would like to clip her belly and chest (sort of a bib clip) as she gets very sweaty there after a hack. Obviously she will need rugging once this is done but the rest of her will be covered in her normal thick teddy bear pelt. So would I be better leaving a lightweight rug on her and giving the shaved bit extra protetction with a bib? I am worried a heavier weight rug will be overkill for the rest of her and its not really that cold at the mo. Thanks in advance!
 
At the moment I would clip and leave bare (no rug) and would not rug her until temp drops by about 5 degrees. Then I would put a 100g or similar rug on and leave it at that until zero then perhaps a 200g with a neck but no more really needed.
 
Why is it obvious she'll need protection there?

I would do it, see how cold she is and whack a lightweight on if she gets cold.
 
flamehead said:
Why is it obvious she'll need protection there?

I would do it, see how cold she is and whack a lightweight on if she gets cold.
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The problem I find is that its a nightmare getting that bit of her dry before I put her out and I don't like putting her out with part so her coat still damp at the skin. I just assumed if she was clipped it would need insulating but considering you loves going nekid and really, really hates rugs it would be a lot easier if it didn't! :D
 
I wouldnt have thought it did. Do it and whack her out and see if she gets cold! You'd be amazed how warm they can be. My little one was like a hot water bottle this morning when I went to see her, even though she was flat out on the soaking, muddy floor having a good old snore!
 
We used to have a hairy 11h3" who had a bib and a bit of his tummy clipped to help keep his weight down as laminitus prevention, did winters unrugged. I just kept an eye on his condition and gave more hay if he got a bit lean.All too often rugging a hairy will mean it comes into spring overweight then the trouble starts
 
flamehead said:
I wouldnt have thought it did. Do it and whack her out and see if she gets cold! You'd be amazed how warm they can be. My little one was like a hot water bottle this morning when I went to see her, even though she was flat out on the soaking, muddy floor having a good old snore!
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Bless! :D

Thanks for all the advice guys, its a relief I can still keep my little hairy as natural as possible. Especially if it means I don't have to persuade her to wear a rug all winter!
 
I would give her a small clip and see how she goes rugless. I would have thought as you want to clip her belly and a bit of her chest....having a rug on would offer no protection to those areas anyway? I think you're right...maybe put a lw on when the temperature drops...a hw may be overkill :)
 
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See, that's what I was thinking - the rug is going to heat all the bits of her that don't need heating! What I need is a waterproof, rip proof bib. Surely there's a gap int he market? :D
 
indiat said:
See, that's what I was thinking - the rug is going to heat all the bits of her that don't need heating! What I need is a waterproof, rip proof bib. Surely there's a gap int he market? :D
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What a genius! Im sure we could modify one of those anti-rub chest bib things!

My NF x pony may need a bib soon and I am hoping to just rug her on those wet and cold for hours on end type occasions, but leave her without otherwise.

Sometimes I think it would be easier to just shave her completly bald, then I would HAVE to rug her with none of this should i rug?, should i not rug? hoo hah!!!
 
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