Rugging horses in summer?

[My_breadbagel]

I feel like a fool but I’m rugging my 12 year old heavy weight cob in august. He’s fit and in great condition atm but he’s an absolute wuss about the cold (in the dead of winter it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him wearing two medium weights). He’s just so sensitive- our other lightweight pony doesn’t need rugging at all and does just fine but when the big guy gets cold he turns into a cranky old man, hence why he’s wearing a no fill turnout presently. It’s chucking it down and his ears were pinned back so I put his rug on and he became all chirpy again. I’m not worried he’ll overheat as it’s about 15c out but I’ve never seen this in such a large horse before. He’d much rather be inside right now and doesn’t seem to understand he’s a hardy cob. I’m happy to rug him as it’s clearly what he wants, but is this unusual?

 

[Equi]

Do what you think is best. My mini is an absolute wuss with rain, he will come in shivering with the slightest drizzle and yelling save me but I’m not as forgiving as you ? I do let him come in to the stable tho to dry off. Last summer I did rug him however he had just been gelded so I felt extra soft.

 

[milliepops]

I've been rugging my older TB when it rains. he gets awfully miserable and is also then a tit to bring in. you have to do what's right for each horse. the temp can change quite quickly so you do just need to keep a close eye to make sure you're getting it right though.

 

[PoniesRock]

Problem is - it’s not really the typical August weather! I’m on the Devon/Somerset border and it’s torrential rain and pretty chilly here. So absolutely do what’s best for your horse rather than what the calendar says.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I slung on rain sheets on both mine 1st thing as it was vile, not just non stop heavy rain but around 11 degrees and felt colder.
I went back 3 hrs later and removed them again as tho we are still having heavy showers, in between the sun is now coming out and temps around 19/20.

Your horse, you know it, rug accordingly.

 

[Jenko109]

That sounds fine.

Some people are gross though. In the heat wave the other week, a friend saw two rugged up ponies. Owner said they were rugged as they were going to a show the next day and didn't want them to get dirty. Not fly rugs. Proper rugs with full necks. Disgusting. It was 30 degrees.

 

[NinjaPony]

Do what you need to do! I ended up buying a waterproof fly rug for my awkward pony who hates getting rained on. It’s been brilliant, has solved the problem of showery warm days and he comes in dry and cool.

 

[Griffin]

I've been rugging my older TB when it rains. he gets awfully miserable and is also then a tit to bring in. you have to do what's right for each horse. the temp can change quite quickly so you do just need to keep a close eye to make sure you're getting it right though.

I rug the elderly TB if it's wet too. He gets cold very easily but the plus side is he copes much better in hot weather than any other horse on the yard.

 

[My_breadbagel]

Do what you think is best. My mini is an absolute wuss with rain, he will come in shivering with the slightest drizzle and yelling save me but I’m not as forgiving as you ? I do let him come in to the stable tho to dry off. Last summer I did rug him however he had just been gelded so I felt extra soft.

I’d bring him into the house to enjoy central heating if he’d fit through the door ? they’re such drama queens

 

[My_breadbagel]

Do what you need to do! I ended up buying a waterproof fly rug for my awkward pony who hates getting rained on. It’s been brilliant, has solved the problem of showery warm days and he comes in dry and cool.

Might have to invest in one

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve been rugging, only sheets of course but I figure being wet through during the night no fun. I’d probably be less inclined if they were in over night and out in the day.

 

[Lady Jane]

Nothing wrong with a bit of light rugging when its this wet - and not that warm at the moment

 

[Caol Ila]

I had to keep my Shire-TBX in either a fly rug or a rain sheet. She did not like being wet. She did not like midges. She did not like flies. That meant there were about two weeks per year, if that, where she could be out naked. It's just how it was.

My PRE and Highland have never been rugged in their lives. The PRE has never even worn one.

 

[PSD]

Few of ours have rain sheets on just because they want them dry for riding which is understandable, plus the rain is so ruthless here at the minute and the temperature has really dropped. It’s not the same when they have a thick winter coat to keep them dry, like others say - do what you have to! It isn’t typical summer weather.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I have a 25 thin skinned wb and a thin skinned tb. I just pop a light weight rug on if the forecast is rain. Luckily they cope with heat ok and also cope if it doesn't rain and they are rugged!!

 

[mini_b]

I’ve had sheets on mine. He’s got quite a fine summer coat and looks thoroughly miserable when he’s wet through.
it’s not really been interspersed with warm periods which allow him to dry off a bit.
Oh yes we’ve had wind as well ?

 

[Caol Ila]

Tbh, Hermosa would have to suck it no matter what, because wearing a rug with foal at foot seems dodgy. He's in the kamikaze phase right now and would find a way to get tangled in it. Luckily, she can cope with rain/flies/midges.

 

[I'm Dun]

I rug my TB when its raining as he hates it! I have a 100gm, a no fill and a Rambo Summer Series. I use one depending on the outside temperature. I also rug him overnight if its windy and damp. The highland and the cob dont get rugged and the cob is clipped all year round. I rug as appropriate for my horses and dont worry about other people

 

[meleeka]

One of elderly mares is rugged if it’s raining. The oldest doesnt need one unless cold and raining, a couple of others if it’s snowing and the mini, never!

We don’t get summers anymore, not proper ones. I remember when rugs got put away in Spring and got out in Autumn and weren’t ever needed in between.

 

[vmac66]

My mare has gone out tonight with a, rain sheet on. Rained heavily Thursday night and she got soaked. Was very upset when I brought her in. Last two nights she's gone out rugged. Do what is best for your horse.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

We don’t get summers anymore, not proper ones. I remember when rugs got put away in Spring and got out in Autumn and weren’t ever needed in between.

To be fair, today was the 1st time I've dragged any rugs out here since before Easter.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

It's cold!! I've put an extra blanket back on my bed. It's absurd.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My old boy needed rugged in summer if it was heavy rain and a stiff breeze. Even when he was younger. I just do what my horse needs.

 

[L&M]

Rug to the conditions, not the seasons........my cob has had a rain sheet on the last 2 nights as was shivering.

 

[Laurac13]

My elderly mini is wearing a 100 g tonight he is old and shivers if it’s wet, my 10 year old ISH doesn’t need rugging but I’m riding in the morning and he is grey so is in a no fill sheet tonight, this isn’t a normal summer ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

As said previously, rug to the horse in front of you. We had everything from very heavy rain to bright sunshine here today. Mostly wet, though.

Think I got the rugging right - the PSSM mare was snug in her 100g with neck and the other two were in their waterproof fly rugs. Though the senior mare is seen here stomping towards the field shelter in a rain squall, probably wishing that she had a warmer rug on at that point .

 

[LadyGascoyne]

My two are looking hopeful that I’ll bring them in. The weather is weird at the moment.

 

[Willowbankstables]

I'm finding waterproof fly rugs a Godsend at the moment! My ID gets too warm in a no fill when it's above about 14 degrees, but he hates getting soaked through so they are working out really well for him We've had torrential rain all night and when I went to check this morning he was dry as a bone where the waterproof topline is ??I have Shires and Whitaker ones.

 

[Julie Ole Girl]

I was tempted to rug my girls with rain sheets yesterday too in heavy rain but it was also warm, but as they have a cosy shelter full of straw and shavings, they just stayed in there.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

One of my Arab's has had a sheet on last few nights as he hates the rain and he has no coat to speak of.