Rugging old horse

[Connemara24]

Its supposed to be - 3 tonight for the first time this winter! Not sure whether to rug the 25yo connemara. He has a very thick coat, hasn't worn a rug yet except when it was raining. Has adlib hay. Should I chuck a 50g on? I don't have one without a neck. Thanks

 

[Birker2020]

Its supposed to be - 3 tonight for the first time this winter! Not sure whether to rug the 25yo connemara. He has a very thick coat, hasn't worn a rug yet except when it was raining. Has adlib hay. Should I chuck a 50g on? I don't have one without a neck. Thanks

In view of his age (I assume he is out 24/7) it might not hurt to do so, it is very cold. The hay will help to him keep warm due to the fermentation in the gut, but older horses can struggle to keep warm so its hard to judge.

For comparison if that helps, my WB only in a 50g with a neck during the day out in the paddock and in a 50g at night in his stable but I'm trying to rough him off a little anyway.

 

[Connemara24]

In view of his age (I assume he is out 24/7) it might not hurt to do so, it is very cold.

For comparison if that helps, my WB only in a 50g with a neck during the day out in the paddock and in a 50g at night in his stable but I'm trying to rough him off a little anyway.

Thanks for reply, he is out 24/7 yep. A nice weight not to fat or thin can just about see ribs. Thanks again ?

 

[meleeka]

I personally wouldn’t put a 50g on, unless for rain. By rugging you are flattening the hair so it can’t do its normal job of insulating. A 50g won’t replace the thermal effect of the natural
coat.

Id just give extra hay so that they have something to munch all night.

 

[Connemara24]

I personally wouldn’t put a 50g on, unless for rain. By rugging you are flattening the hair so it can’t do its normal job of insulating. A 50g won’t replace the thermal effect of the natural
coat.

Id just give extra hay so that they have something to munch all night.

Thanks I could put a 100g on if you think that be better? They never run out off hay. Thanks ?

 

[rextherobber]

I've been rugging my 28 year old retired horse this week at night, and am increasing it to a combo neck rug as of tonight. It's cold, it keeps trying to rain/sleet,( although the forecast is dry) and the horse certainly hasn't been too hot. She will be in a 250g tonight. She's old, she's been a fantastic horse, she deserves a bit of comfort! The Polo ponies I drive by on the way to work looked thoroughly miserable and tucked up this morning...

 

[HollyWoozle]

How's his weight and is he stiff? If he is a good weight, has a good coat and you can pile him up with hay then I wouldn't rug. Our elderly loan pony (27 ish) will have 100g on tonight but he is stiff and I don't want him to drop any weight. His forage intake is also limited by his field buddy (who has EMS) so rugging is a could way not to waste calories in our case.

 

[Connemara24]

How's his weight and is he stiff? If he is a good weight, has a good coat and you can pile him up with hay then I wouldn't rug. Our elderly loan pony (27 ish) will have 100g on tonight but he is stiff and I don't want him to drop any weight. His forage intake is also limited by his field buddy (who has EMS) so rugging is a could way not to waste calories in our case.

His weight is just right for him as he has ems aswell, can just about see his ribs if your next to him. He does have arthritis, he doesn't seem to stiff at the moment maybe just a little, might chuck the 100g on and see if he gets hot. While I'm doing hay ect.

 

[meleeka]

His weight is just right for him as he has ems aswell, can just about see his ribs if your next to him. He does have arthritis, he doesn't seem to stiff at the moment maybe just a little, might chuck the 100g on and see if he gets hot. While I'm doing hay ect.

Good idea ??. I’m playing rugging bingo at the moment too. Old pony had two different ones on last night as I put her H/w on and then she was a bit too warm, so off it came and a m/w back on.

I have one young one naked, one oldie naked, one oldie in a 200g and one in a 300g at the moment, so they certainly are all different.

 

[Chianti]

My pony has a rug on tonight for the first time. It's a no neck and just has a fleece lining. This is only his second year unclipped and unrugged over winter. Last year we only managed about six weeks as he started itching again the end of january so went back into his SI rug. He's also lost a bit of weight from being ill and I don't want him losing any more.

 

[Palindrome]

Yes I would rug, out of my 2 at home, one has a good coat but she gets a 50g when it gets below freezing, the other who has a thin coat has a 150g.
If you are sure it is not going to rain, you can fold the neck back. They do get warmer with the full neck.
I know the theory about the coat flattening but when doing night time checks I find that they feel a bit warmer with a rug than without, even in a no fill.

 

[Arzada]

Our little herd, aged between 20 and 25, are rugless. One never wears a rug. Mine wears one in winter when it's wet and windy. In cold weather he fluffs up and looks like a large bumble bee (minus the yellow stripes ) Ours have plenty of choice for shelter.

 

[HashRouge]

My very nearly 30 year old is double rugged (2x 200g), but she does feel the cold. She's also a bit stiff and, while she's a good weight, can drop off quickly if she isn't kept warm enough (she lives out). My other one isn't rugged at all, but he's much younger, much fatter and much hairier.

 

[Connemara24]

Good idea ??. I’m playing rugging bingo at the moment too. Old pony had two different ones on last night as I put her H/w on and then she was a bit too warm, so off it came and a m/w back on.

I have one young one naked, one oldie naked, one oldie in a 200g and one in a 300g at the moment, so they certainly are all different.

Very good way of explaining it!! It is just like bingo ?. He was fine in the 100g so that he has that on tonight. The other pony who is a newforest but not your typical Hardy newforest, is hunter clipped and in a 400g + 200g on tonight with neck as was cold this morning in the 400g! Thanks for your help

 

[SpotsandBays]

I’m popping a 50g combo on my geriatric pony tonight! (She’s mid 30s)