Rugging foals in winter

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StaceyTanglewood

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Ok need your help

im weaning my mare and foal in 2 weeks and mum will go off to be bought back into work

now they have stayed out all day and in at night for the last 5 months as mum jumps out occassionally !!

should i now keep the foal in at night or would it be ok to have them out for a while and if i do have her out should i put a rug on her ??

I dont like rugging foals but its really cold and she isnt used to it !!
 
I dont think they should be rugged either, Bloss's foal certainly wont be.

She'l get used to it
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No rugs for foals, they have such dense coats anyway even if you do leave it out at night as long as it has good shelter and is fed properly.
If it gets wet I would have it in (once weaned, mine are in at night anyway!) as nothing thrives and grows in the wet except weeds!
 
Foals and rugs are an accident waiting to happen IMO.

Get her out ASAP and let her learn to be a horse with her friends.

Im sure you will feel it far more than she will.
 
I'm going to disagree - and say rug it if it needs it. Whilst foals are not routinely rugged at my yard, they will be if they look as if the weather is getting to them.

Nothing like awful wet and windy weather to bring anything down, let alone a youngster.
 
I usually do rug my foals but that's only because I use it as an excuse to get them well handled and to accept things like that at a young age. Depends on the foal, if you have a breed that feels the cold or like my last one is prone to rainscald then I would rug. If it is a tougher breed then I would probably not rug in your situation.
 
oh she is a warmblood by the way !!! i would of loved to leave her out with mum to get her used to it and as you say let her be a horse and grow up but have had to bring her in as mum jumps out all the time !!

All the rest of mine that live out are rugged now and i worry about her !!

maybe ill just bring her in at night xx
 
Yes all of my foals will be rugged. I've already started buying the rugs as one of mine has a bit of rainscald which is now clearing up and I don't want it starting again.

I personally don't like foals being brought into stables for long periods of time therefore I'd rather pay out for rugs instead. I've never had a foal have an accident in a rug yet.
 
Troy is rugged now as he is living out and was feeling the weather... He is in a light weight one at the moment, but also has a MW on standby for when it gets colder
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Prince was rugged after Christmas last year & I shall see how this years fairs. If he needs rugging, then he will be rugged. If the rug fits properly I dont see why there should be an issue?
 
I've got to say, im usually a "Leave em to it sort of gal" but i did rug my foal last year, although I didnt plan on it. His mum doesnt weather very well so i was very aware that he may have aquired this trate but if i remember correctly last winter was very cold and damp and he used to come in with freezing cold ears and shivering. You may be best to see what the weather does. If we have a mild winter you may get away without one, which is preferable although It did give me me loads of oppourtunities to handle my colt which is a good thing. I dont honestly believe in rugging up youngsters for general apearance as foal fluff is pretty funky looking at the best of times.
 
We started rugging some of our foals as they live out 24/7, but last year one filly grew such a thick coat it would have been silly to do so, she would have melted!
I would never use leg straps but a fillet string and X surcingles, and you need to keep a close eye on the fit, they have growing spurts and the rug will need constant adjusting.
Two of ours will be inside this winter, William won't be allowed to get cold or very wet, and he can have his friend share his box, but both will go out every day and all day if poss. I think a lot depends on your circumstances, a TB type foal will benefit from a rug, a native probably won't need one unless in a windy poorly sheltered field.
 
thanks everyone !!! i think im just going to play it by ear and see how she goes !!

was up grooming them ready for tomorrow and her coat is really thick !!!
 
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