Rugging wet horses

I thatch with straw them pop a rug on top. They dry out, and the straw lets air circulate. I thatched and rugged the wee guy today. He stayed in to dry off so popped a fleece on but in the past I have thatched popped a rug on and put back out.
 
My horse once developed like rain scald on his back. Basically a bacterial infection caused by sponging off the saddle area and then putting a turn out rug on.
It took about 8 weeks to grow the hair back under the saddle.
 
Sossigpoker said:
My horse once developed like rain scald on his back. Basically a bacterial infection caused by sponging off the saddle area and then putting a turn out rug on.
It took about 8 weeks to grow the hair back under the saddle.
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that’s what I’m worried about

however on this occasion horse survived
 
Oh dear thats awful Sossigpoker... do you think there was nasties on the sponge? I never use sponges.. horrible things even in the house.

I've always rugged wet horses since the invention of modern rugs. Never had a problem.
 
Sossigpoker said:
My horse once developed like rain scald on his back. Basically a bacterial infection caused by sponging off the saddle area and then putting a turn out rug on.
It took about 8 weeks to grow the hair back under the saddle.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've seen a horrid case of rain scald under a rug, but I think you have to adapt to whatever the conditions are.
If the horse is cold and wet, then they probably do need drying out and a rug on, but as a one-off I think.
 
If I want to rug a wet horse I put a fleece/ cooler underneath the rug and then remove it when the horse is dry and keep the outer rug on. I don't know if it's necessary but that's what I do.

I do know a couple of people who won't ride their horses when its been raining because their backs will be wet. I don't know why their backs being wet is such a bad thing, horse's backs get wet all the time if they sweat when being ridden. Surely a towel would sort it out anyway.
 
mule said:
If I want to rug a wet horse I put a fleece/ cooler underneath the rug and then remove it when the horse is dry and keep the outer rug on. I don't know if it's necessary but that's what I do.

I do know a couple of people who won't ride their horses when its been raining because their backs will be wet. I don't know why their backs being wet is such a bad thing, horse's backs get wet all the time if they sweat when being ridden. Surely a towel would sort it out anyway.
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I won’t put a saddle on a wet back... I have no idea why I came to this conclusion but it’s just something I don’t like doing. It was probably in some ancient horse book that I read as a kid and it’s cemented into my brain.
 
Orangehorse said:
Yes, I've seen a horrid case of rain scald under a rug, but I think you have to adapt to whatever the conditions are.
If the horse is cold and wet, then they probably do need drying out and a rug on, but as a one-off I think.
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Rain scald isn't very nice is it. Some people say better to clip and manage it, keep it as dry as possible under a rug but not always possible if they are having a hooley and getting sweaty!
 
Bucas Smartex rugs! I have a MW one which I popped on Alf on Saturday during the deluge. He was sodden when I put it on, but the stay dry lining dried him in about 20 mins - and even when the sun came out with a vengeance this morning and all the others were sweating buckets in standard 100g turnouts - he was still cool underneath the Bucas. I was very sceptical about the claims that it's good for temps between -10 and 12 degrees - but I may have to eat my hat. I paid £50 for it second hand, and I think it could be the most useful rug I ever bought!
 
I will ride my horse if he wet. He dries while we're riding, and is nice and dry by the time we're done. I only do this occasionally, and he seems fine. I know some people will not ride a wet horse, but I'm not sure why. A once in awhile thing seems fine and he gets plenty wet in the warmer weather as he is a sweater.

I will blanket him if he's a bit wet too. Sometimes after riding he is cooled down but a tad wet on his girth area sides or neck. I've just thrown the blanket on and he's been fine. I do put him in the solarium, but it doesn't completely dry him.

Thought about trying straw under my wool cooler ?
 
I don't like doing it but will tack up a wet horse and never had a problem! Try to avoid it though. But a quick rub with a clean towel and a clean numnah and I will if necessary.
 
PapaverFollis said:
I don't like doing it but will tack up a wet horse and never had a problem! Try to avoid it though. But a quick rub with a clean towel and a clean numnah and I will if necessary.
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yeah I never understood the wet horse thing unless the horse is also dirty. they get wet from sweat after a bit under the saddle anyway. my saddle pads have waffle or wicking lining so i don't really see what difference it makes to start wet vs get wet half way through :p but then even the sensitive one isn't *that* sensitive so I can understand if you have something really prone to skin issues.
 
It's definitely lodged in my brain as a "shouldn't do" or "questionable thing to do" from somewhere... but given that they get wet with sweat and that's all the way to the skin and wet from rain is usually just sitting on the surface I'm not sure quite why.
 
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