Rugging Shetlands - Am I the only one who doesn't!

Perissa

Perissa

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2003
Messages
1,976
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I've just been looking at someone's pics on another forum and their shetlands are rugged, someone else posted a picture of their shetland which was also rugged. It seems the norm to rug shetlands nowadays.

My 28 year old - yes thats right, 28 year old shetland is out all day (in at night) and is NOT RUGGED, neither is my 20 year old shetland. I bought the 28 year old a turnout two years ago (or was it 3) and when I put it on her she nipped me. She is very sweet and kind and I believe she was simply telling me that she didn't want it so I've never put it on her.

I'm sure someone will accuse me of being cruel but I'm not rugging my shetlands!!
 
nope no rugs for my shettie either

76714_2642619143838_1206377093_101070263_5245203_n.jpg

he has two in the barn but only if he was going to be ridden and as he is not ridden by my neice in winter he goes naked now!
 
I have 20+ shetlands at the moment, ranging from six months up to sixteen years, all living out 24/7, and not a single one is rugged.

A healthy shetland should not need rugging except in exceptional weather circumstances. Rugs can in fact often be detrimental, causing them to overheat.

Some aged or ill ponies may require rugs, or those clipped and/or in work.

We own rugs for ours, but just never need them. They cope with the cold & snow brilliantly - it's what they're designed for, after all!
 
We never rugged the Shetland at our old yard no matter how bad the weather was. He was out during the day and in at night. We use to also have Shetland sheep half the size of an average size sheep but twice as hardy.
Shetland ponies are designed for the cold weather.
 
My two minis aren't rugged................yet !!

They are in at night, but when they are wet they often come in shivering, so a couple of minimum fill foal rugs are the answer !
 
Two Shetlands unrugged and one elderly Shetland who has only just started being rugged, this is her second Winter of having a rug on. I am a firm believer that Shetlands do not need rugging but if age or a medical condition require it then so be it :)
 
I got a mini shetland and no I dont rug her and she is out 24/7 is getting handful of cool mix and hay at night in field.
If she needed rugging it would mean she was either ill or id forgotten which horse I was meant to clip?:eek:;)
 
My 5 year old gelding Shetland is rugged, although I think my mum feels sorry for him as my 21 year old welsh sec c has two rugs and so does my TB x Appaloosa :)
 
mine has a hunter clip cos he gets way too hot. and never wears a rug, out in day, and in at night. he is all warm and has half inch of regrowth on the clipped part. his legs have fur of 4 inches!!!! he had his 3rd clip about 3 weeks ago. he free roams and if he gets wet he puts himself to bed, or if he is full he pops in for a sleep! he would be useless at the top end of scotland. he likes his home comforts! and is an excellent feed bowl washer .... spotless after a few mins!!
 
Mini shetland of 25 and a 18 year old Section A both live out 24/7 naked and both as warm as toast under their 4 inches or so of fluffy coat:). They have access to shelter and have ad lib hay but are most likely to be found in the middle of the field rummaging for grass:rolleyes:

At the moment they both have a light coating of snow and frost on them as well as icicles on their manes and whiskers - just shows how good their insulation is:)
 
Shetie at our yard doesnt have rug and def doesnt need it! I put my hand under her (very thick) fur the other day coz felt sorry for her and she was nice and toasty - def no rug needed! They are from the shetland islands remember lol!
 
I cannot imagine why you would rug a Shetland. If you have been to the Shetland isles, you would realise the worst of our weather is but a balmy spring day to them :D

My shetland has a field shelter, but hardly uses it. He can be out in the worst weather, with a soaking coat or layer of snow on him :eek: but lift up his filthy, wet top coat and underneath his hair is fluffy and white. Their coats are fantastically well designed to withstand the weather - no rug manufacturer can replicate or better it.
 
I have put a rug on ours (he's 36 possibly older) for the first time ever but it's because the wind chill is really affecting him. He has never bothered before but I decided he needed something to keep it out. I don't think he's as warm as without the rug perhaps but he seems happier now. (he's out 24/7)
We are very exposed here on Dartmoor's slopes in some fields and I know he loathes rain as he legs it under the nearest wall/tree whenever it rains, but the temp here hasn't risen above 0 all day .
I am also feeding him ad lib last year's hay which was left out for a month, it has little nutritional value but smells fine and it means he can have plenty.
I think it depends on the weather, the shelter available, the wind and how they appear whether any horse needs rugging regardless of age or breed.
 
I haven't rugged mine but very tempted and have been fended off by the YO, both mum and baby have coats like yaks. They are always keen to come in at nights though!
 
Mine aren't either - I foolishly bought a rain sheet for the original one 6 yrs ago, which he promptly managed to remove in disgust!

I love putting my hands into their coats on snowy days as the warmth is lovely.....
 
Stig is now rugged, but more to stop rain scauld that to keep him warm.
I bought rugs for Tink last year and gave up. She wont wear one for love nor money, so pointless trying!
 
Mine have lightweight rugs when they are out because one had the worst rainscald I have ever seen when I got her and the other one just stands and sulks in heavy rain/snow :( If you put a rug on her she toddles off with the others. In fact today, because the elec fence is buried so deep in the snow it won't work, she has nipped under and gone to steal the big ponies hay :D even the it came from the same bale as the little ponies hay :rolleyes:
 
Arabelle said:
I cannot imagine why you would rug a Shetland. If you have been to the Shetland isles, you would realise the worst of our weather is but a balmy spring day to them :D

My shetland has a field shelter, but hardly uses it. He can be out in the worst weather, with a soaking coat or layer of snow on him :eek: but lift up his filthy, wet top coat and underneath his hair is fluffy and white. Their coats are fantastically well designed to withstand the weather - no rug manufacturer can replicate or better it.
Click to expand...

Ditto this!! I can't believe people rug shetlands!? Fair enough if they are old and struggling to cope, but they are Shetlands, from the Shetland Isles! They can withstand horrendously cold conditions! My 2 are out in about 2 feet of snow, no rugs but they have a field shelter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top