Rugging Shetlands???

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Ilovefoals

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I have a shetland mare who currently resembles a small, black bear :) I'm in 2minds whether to rug her over winter. What do you reckon? Am I mean and heartless if I don't?
 
No no no, where they come from, the Shetland islands :), there are not even any trees to provide shelter, so they more than well equipt to deal with our weather.

Do however keep an eye on how cool she gets, but she should be fine :)

Having said that our sec A is always freezing, but he is 'special'

Good luck
 
Thanks. I'm feeling reassured! There seems to be a lot of Shetlands round here wearing tiny little rugs and I was beginning to feel guilty :)
 
My Arab cross, Connie and Welsh X TB are all wintering out naked. Your Shetland will be fine. ;) They're designed to survive the toughest winter weather the UK offers :)
 
I have got two mini shetlands and they are never rugged. I don't even own any rugs for them. I live in Scotland so it does get very cold but they are always fine.
 
No - don't rug a hairy shetland!

Our shetland wintered nude last year and there can't be many winters colder than that. She was so well insulated that snow did not melt when it fell on her, unlike the other rugged horses.

I think rainsheets can make a hairy horase colder as they can't fluff up their coats and trap a layer of air to help insulation.
 
I have a warmblood and an Appyx and niether are rugged and they live out high on Exmoor. IMO,a little winter hardship puts them in the right place to deal with our lush grazing. Too many ponies are developing EMS and laminitis,possibly because they are too cosseted.
 
piebaldsparkle said:
Unless she is cold which I very much doubt, then no don't rug.
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My thoughts exactly. Chances are your little bear of a shetland is not feeling the cold, they are built to cope with the harshest of weather conditions and sparse grazing. I expect your shetland has plenty of forage and maybe even some natural shelter? Hay acts as central heating too....
 
No need at all - shetlands have a different coat to 'normal' horses with a waterproof undercoat, then inches of fluff on top.

On of ours came with a rain sheet and we tried to put it on him in the snow - he promptly removed it with every strap still done up, the little houdini!
 
Ilovefoals said:
Why is there not a "like" button!!!
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Yes, I wish there was too

abitodd said:
IMO,a little winter hardship puts them in the right place to deal with our lush grazing. Too many ponies are developing EMS and laminitis,possibly because they are too cosseted.
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Here, here. our lot were never rugged, they all looked great and coped well in the worst of the welsh weather, rugs were rarely seen back then, and that was ony the 1990's!
 
Our mini Shetland is approx 25 - she is a walking furball and her coat is at least 2 inches deep - has never had a rug near her in her life!:eek::D

You tell how well insulated she is when it snows - last year she had icicles in her mane and a layer of snow on her back which took WEEKS to melt!:D she was as happy as ever - especially as there was endless hay to keep her and our Section A (also naked!) warm :D

They do have a field shelter but really only go in there to eat:D
 
Well... Preparing to be shot down :) .....
My Shetland has a whole wardrobe.
In my defence he's 25yrs old now, and is stabled at night all year round (on the same regime as the horses, plus helps manage his weight)
I truly believe this has softened him up some wears a rain sheet in the wind and rain, and a thick rug when its freezing or below.
He definitely feels the cold, and hates being out in the rain.
When he was a youngster he lived out all year round with afield mate and never wore a rug, but had access to a stable and adlib hay in the winter.
However one winter it was a blizzard and he was shivering under the wall... He was stabled that night but warmed ulmlretty quickly, so the key is decent shelter, and you may need Tom on a rug on or shut in if minus freezing, blizzards etc

And yes I'm soft :) but it's nice to know he's tucked up at night when the weathers atrocious
 
it would be cruel to rug a shetland ... it would be far far too hot. i have a shetland who i have hunter clipped 4x already as he is too hot and feels damp and clammy to the touch and gets that nasty sweaty gone off smell. he goes out for around 4 to 5 hours a day and has a nice big stable for the rest of the time and gets ridden on lead rein about twice a week. he is so much happier clipped off, doesnt smell or itch. and NO he doesnt wear a rug. his turnout is increased as winter comes on but we have a lot of grass at the moment. he is only 8 never had lami, and not going to get the chance to get it here! he is a round happy little chap!
 
My Shetland came to me with a rug but has never used it! He has a lovley thick coat now (I love when his winter coat comes in, hes got the most adorable feathers, my wee black furball :p). I agree with everyone else I dont think that Shetalnds need a rug. I dont think he would be very amused if I put him out with one on either lol. x
 
Shettie's come with their own built in rug... they can get rid when needed and put it on when needed haha!
Went to a veterinary talk on laminitus last year, they were saying how they actually came across a woman who had a shetland, who was kept in a wendy house (with curtains....) with a heater and a rug on!!! Althoguh slightly amused, they were horrified by it... shetty had no way of using its energy(keeping itself warm etc.) so spent all winter getting fat, then fatter again through summer!
Have to say, we have youngsters/broodmares all living out, all warmblood or tb types, who will live in their own fur and fluff until they really need their rugs... Think its healthier to let them live as horses... especially when they're young as when they come in to be broken and start their working lives, they're all clipped and rugged all year round.... think they like to be naked hile they can, its natural!!!! :)
SHetties live in VERY cold places originally too, their fluff is enough!!!
Saying this though, a friends mini gets cold in the rain, so keep an eye out.. im sure you'll notice if he starts shivering/not being himself!!!
 
Mine is 21, has a bib clip and sweats when it's above freezing. My vet told me to clip him, leave him naked and groom minimally to leave oils in his coat. Seeing him with a crust of snow on him makes me feel guilty but if he was losing heat it would melt...
 
Noooooooooooo don't rug a Shetland unless its elderly or sick!! If you rug it, you will flatten their hair and make their coats not so efficient!... As someone else said they are from the Shetlands brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
 
My shetland came with a ridiculous amount of rugs, more than my TBxwelsh has ever had in her life!

She is currently wearing a very fetching black fluffy rug....yes she is neckid!

Still have to put a rug on her if her old owner comes to visit tho as they get upset & think she will be cold without one!
 
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