Rugging up a foal

ashlingm

ashlingm

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My mare and foal will be living out for the majority of winter and I wanna buy the little guy a rainsheet (just to keep him dry and as a bit of a wind barrier....preferably with no fill!)

He was a late foal and I plan to wean him at 6 months (so its looking like new years day!), but I was wondering which rug to get him.

Should I get a proper foal rug or would a small pony rug of the same size be ok? Would a foal rug be too tight on his shoulders...hes an ID x but quite slender looking - but then again he is only 10 weeks old! I have none to try on or compare him too...so a bit stuck!
 
Can you get pony rug small enough? Our foal this year has gone from 3'6" at birth (sport horse), to 4'9" at 3 months. Think about how much you want to pay, as you're going to have to buy several. The weathabeeta foal rugs are nice, about £30.
 
I would be quite wary of using a no fill rug - they aren't always as waterproof as they should be and they flatten the coat meaning that foaly will actually be colder with a rug on than without... Also bare in mind that what every you do with a baby sets them up for life in terms of them tollerating the cold etc...

You may be better off keeping him somewhere where he has access to shelter in bad weather - maybe a large barn or field shelter. My boy was born in october and survived his first winter like this :)
 
I've used shetland rugs in the past, which were cheap and did the job. As said it is hard as no doubt you'll be going through several rugs over the coming months.

Equestrian Clearance had some nice foal rugs a short while back, which may work for now.
 
I hate rugs on foals and mares with foals at foot with rugs on.

I have seen a foal with a broken leg be shot , he broke his leg cos he climbed up on mum like foals do and as he came down his leg got caught in the fillet string mum panicked and kept running about foals leg snapped and eventually foal came free from the leg strap but damage was done.

I agree with above foal is better off with shelter than a rug, will also need lots of good quality hay and ideally a nice deep warm straw bed in a sheltered spot.

the TB stud near us do not rug any mares, foals, yearlings or 2yr olds that are living out 24/7. the 2yr old that are in work are in at night and unrugged during the day unless racing when they go on to the owners working yard
 
Never thought about him getting caught in the fillet string...good thinking!

There is a car boot sale coming up soon so was thinking of picking up a few rugs there...as well as hopefully getting a lend of a few. Otherwise it will be a very expensive winter...

I might just give in and take them in overnight for December and January when it's really cold - I was trying to avoid it cause I reckoned he'll be cooped up in a stable enough when hes older...but sure two months wont do him any harm. He's been stabled over night for shows already and he loves digging into the banks and having a roll....so he may appreciate a big cosy bed come winter! I know the mare definitely will - she used to go out to the field and roll..then stand for hours at the gate waiting to be brought in! Strangest ID ever!
 
The only experience I have of rigging a foal, was one that belonged to a neighbour which was very miserable in a rug as it was very itchy when wearing it. It would go for you when putting it on and I imagine it created issues later down the line. It may be a one off but it stuck with me, poor thing.
 
All of our foals every winter are rugged. I've found the best ones for weanlings are either the Weatherbeetas or Rhinos. My weanlings wear size 4'6 - 4'9 rugs and mine are warmblood foals.
 
I got this little Masta foal rug for my foal a few years ago, I tried a small pony rug first but it was too deep in the body and too big round the neck. I never had any problems with the mare or foal being rugged, he managed to feed fine under the rug etc.

IMG_2290.jpg
 
I left my foal on the mare over winter and rugged them both, even though they were in at night. She had a turnout rug with half strength baler twine as a fillet string, and the whole thing was snuggly fitted. He had a Robinsons pony rug, it was pink and purple and cheap! It did him fine and I think it is a good thing to get them used to having rugs on.
I wouldn't wean in January, myself, unless the mare is very pulled down, nicer for him to wait until March when there is more grass and everything is a bit more cheerful.
 
I was thinking about this also. Mine is 5 months and will be weaned come winter. He'll be living out with 2 or 3 others and although they have a shelter, i'm worried if he'll be pushed out. So i was considering rugging.

As for the fillet string - whats the difference whether its mum or someone else? My filly during her first winter was turned out with my gelding (he was rugged) and leapt on him. My current foal also lives with my other 2 right now and my gelding wears a fly rug all summer. They have worn rugs odd days and they will all be rugged come winter, even if the foal isnt. He jumps on them also. His mum wont be rugged before hes weaned though.
 
mel_s said:
I was thinking about this also. Mine is 5 months and will be weaned come winter. He'll be living out with 2 or 3 others and although they have a shelter, i'm worried if he'll be pushed out. So i was considering rugging.

As for the fillet string - whats the difference whether its mum or someone else? My filly during her first winter was turned out with my gelding (he was rugged) and leapt on him. My current foal also lives with my other 2 right now and my gelding wears a fly rug all summer. They have worn rugs odd days and they will all be rugged come winter, even if the foal isnt. He jumps on them also. His mum wont be rugged before hes weaned though.
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thats fair comment about the other horses and rugs-all the foals I have been involved with have been out with just mum till weaning (then another weaner) or in a brood mare and foal herd, personally I dont like rugs around youngsters, I have never seen a real need for them until the horse is under saddle and needs to be clean for work (convenience). I just feel that a shelter is a safer option after witnessing some of the things I have. I dont like headcollars left on either due to accidents and the risks.
 
Personally I wouldn't plan on rugging a foal - they do usually get a pretty thick and fluffy winter coat. Most of the foals I've met would be way too hot and sweating in any kind of rug.

Although I'm sure there are some that do need a little extra help but I would only buy a rug if I found my foal to be not coping.
 
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