rugging wet horse

[NicandLiv]

my mare is out all day, and doesn't have a rug on. however she comes in at night. Is it okay to maybe towel dry her off a bit and put a stable rug on her for the night? I have a fleece rug and also a sweat rug not sure which type would be best for wet horses?

 

[Fransurrey]

Fleece isn't very absorbent, so I'd go with sweat if you want to put at night.

 

[NicandLiv]

I will try the sweat one. Only reason I rug her at night is because she can't move around to warm herself uo.

 

[dollyanna]

I used to use a fleece for drying my pony, found it far more effective than an absorbent rug because the moisture just got wicked to the outside where it could evaporate leaving a warm dry pony - often the rug was sodden on the outside but dry inside before she was fully dried. You might have to experiment!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would put the fleece on it will wick away wet as someone has already said.

 

[Darremi]

Best not to put a stable rug on a wet horse as they can get dermatophilosis on their skin.

Something breathable and warm like a fleece or thermatex ought to do it.

 

[Kat]

If you can’t afford a thermatex then try the old string vest style sweat rug under a fleece.

 

[Alec Swan]

How about "thatching" her?

Alec.

 

[NZJenny]

How about "thatching" her?

Alec.

Wow - do people still do that? I always thought it would be a bit scratchy though.

 

[Darremi]

If you can’t afford a thermatex then try the old string vest style sweat rug under a fleece.

Sorry I didn't mean specifically thermatex brand. I just meant those wicking style rugs with the squares. There are loads of cheaper alternatives nowadays.

 

[paulineh]

If you want to rug her at night and she is very wet from the day time I personally would have put a lightweight rain sheet on her during the day.

Constantly having a wet coat the a dry one then a wet one in this weather will not do her any good.

 

[Buddy'sMum]

How about "thatching" her?

Alec.

Showing your age, Alec!

OP - this is a good way of getting her fairly dry (and a tad cheaper than a thermatex), then I'd just pop a fleece on to wick away the rest.

 

[twiggy2]

if you rug at night when she is out of the wind and the wet then you need to rug during the day, if you feeding ad lib hay then that will keep her warm along with being out of any driving wind. She will already be warmer in the stable compared to outside.

I would only rug a wet horse if I got caught out by the weather, ie, horse living out gets wet and there is a significant fall in temperature, I would worry about bacterial skin infections and the fact that you are creating the perfect environment (warm and wet) for infections and bacteria to multiply. You also prevent the horse from puffing up it coat which allows warm air from the body to dry the coat and once dry the horse can use its coat as nature intended to keep itself at the right temperature.

 

[NicandLiv]

Thank you for all your replies. She is fed hay every night in her stable along with her dinner. I just assumed she'd get very cold in a stable so would need a rug on, she is a slightly overweight cob, I think I might try her unrugged in her stable tonight and see what her body temp is tomorrow and if she's cold I will shove a rain sheet on her outside.

 

[NicandLiv]

I tried her overnight in a stable but got a text from another livery saying she was shivering so she put a stable rug on her.

I was like erm... thanks I guess. I wouldn't have put one on her as she waa being turned out an hour later

 

[poiuytrewq]

If she's a slightly over weight cob I'd be inclined to leave her tbh. Maybe pop a rug on over night when the temp drops and she's coming in dry (frosty frozen kind of weather rather than mild and wet)

 

[kayt]

I thatch with fleece on top, does a very good job.