Rugging- When does it become silly!?

Equilibrium Ireland said:
When my horses are shaking in the rain I don't think I'm rugging for myself. I don't subscribe to the toughen up theory. It's been demonstrated over and over again to me that horses can and do get sick and they most certainly can get hypothermia.

Having said that, 500 grams of rugs are ridiculous. A woman here had her horse outside last week in a med turnout with a 300 gram liner underneath. He wore the same inside. Gee, wonder why he was sweaty. Unclipped are in mediums at night, lights by day unless it's going to bolt all day. When clipped they get a liner. They don't need much more. This constant wet beats a horse down. I don't have shelters. They come in at night out of all the wet. To be honest I am a minimal rugger because I have 5. Yup, they have to go around in their mud colored rug in the barn. What a sin. They get cleaned up though so not too worried.

Terri
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I agree that some horses do need rugs because mine shiver without but like you, it's the extreme amount of rugs that are put on. We used to have one person on our yard whose horses wore three thick rugs if the temperature went below 5 degrees then wondered why
she couldn't keep them warm when it went below -5!

I also let mine sleep in their turnout rugs as I don't see the point in taking off a rug which they've made warm and cosy to replace it with a chilly one which has been hanging over the stable door all day. It's also a good way to dry off rugs, plus mine tend to lay in their wee so a turnout keeps them dry.
 
I have two ponies who require totally different things in terms of rugs!
I have an unclipped welsh a with arthritus. He is in a medium weight during the day, and a fleece hood and 250g rug at night at the moment. Before I get shouted at for being a a soft, rug obsessed owner, this pony needs rugging. I have never known another welsh a like it. He is warm but not hot in this combination, and I upped his rugs as he was cold in a 100g. I rug according to him and what he is warm in, but he is an exception, most welsh a's are a lot tougher!
My unclipped connemara is in a 100g at night and a lightweight TO in the day. He is a pretty warm pony who unclipped wouldn't need more than 300g at the coldest. I am fully clipping him bar head and legs on friday, and then he will probably go up to a heavyweight and a 350 underrug at the very coldest- -6 ish. He is a lot warmer than my welsh so I rug less accordingly.
 
Urgh!!! I hate over rugging! No horse should need more than a 350 - 420 g rug with neck no matter how cold the weather. Even if they are hunter clipped. However, I think any horse that is turned out in winter should have their legs left on and not clipped. It is really bad to over rug and then take them all off and work the horse. The horse temperature control system will have been shut off due to the over rugging and then when you work them they get strains due to being too cold. :(
 
I occasionally layer a thin quilt under a h/w when it's properly cold (below -10) but draw the line at a duvet. Saying that, I'm having increasing problems trying to keep my oldie warm, I think because he's less he's struggling a bit. He's in a 300gm (lighter during the day if sunmy) and still cold. I think layering weighs so much that it'll prevent him rising from lying down. Can't win really.
 
Over rugging drives me nuts! I know all horses are different but some people just go mad. I know one girl who often has 3 or 4 rugs on her cob. She used to share our pony, his medium weight rug apparently wasnt warm enough, she went out and bought him a stable rug to go under it, even though it was mild weather, he is a native and wasnt clipped.
Our old horse used to have a heavy full neck rug because he needed it, the others get a medium weight if they need one at all.
 
I think a lot of the rugging obsession has to do with manufacturers pushing all the latest styles, and owners liking to do a "Barbie Doll" with their precious ponies.
 
Have been roundly told to mind your own business by next door neighbours livery - when I enquired yesterday as to 'was he unwell'?
He's in a 350 heavy weight full neck rug when out at day.

He was sweating profusely at 3pm in the sunshine - hence my asking the question over the fence to her........

This animal is a reasonable do-er, not fat or skinny, maybe a tad podgy on his unworked belly.

She likes to keep him 'warm' :rolleyes:
 
Well my arab gelding is happily naked still and he lives out 24/7. Lots of natural shelter and grass to keep him warm. This is him yesterday don't think he looks too hard done by does he :-)
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Bit pregnant maybe
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There are about 30 horses out there and maybe 2 rugged so far. The other yard i'm at is a different matter and everything is rugged apart from my mare and a couple of others. I will put a rainsheet on her if it's raining all day as they don't have a lot to eat out there now so more difficult to keep warm and I don't want her hooning around but on the whole she is naked as well. She is in at night with ad lib hay but I will probably end up rugging her before him but they will both only be in medium weights.
 
Fully clipped with medium turnout, yes my cob has a neck....... I change up and down as needed. When minus 20 then it's heavy weight with snuggy jams and loads of hay.

Two highlands one lame and one 21 , out with no rugs..... They don't need it

My pet hate, shove medium rug on horse in September, same rug on at minus 20 ....
 
I only start rugging when its below about 7 degrees at night, and thats only a light weight! our horses barely had their heavy weights on last winter and the main time they did was when it was really heavy rain because their mediums didn't keep totally dry!

I see people around my way rugging during the day when its 15 degrees and sometimes warmer, it makes me so sad! the poor horses!

my mare is 27 and clipped and she's only had a rug on for the last 3 nights! shes as hard as a nut!
 
When people say duvet under or between rugs, do they mean an actual duvet?! I have often wondered!

Seems pretty crazy to put anything more than a HW on to me but each to their own I guess, as long as the horses aren't suffering and sweating profusely :-\
 
My fully clipped cob had a no neck rain sheet on today. No rain today and it was 12 degrees - he came in lovely and warm but he is a hot beggar.

Tonight he is in his comfort zone fleece without a neck. He gets too hot with his neck on until it gets proper cold.

He has a 300 gm turnout for the very coldest days but hardly ever needs more than his 200 gm turnout.
 
I think it all depends on the individual horse. I was very anti-rugging before I bought my horse as I grew up around very hardy riding school ponies who lived out 24/7 and rarely needed rugs.

However, my boy is really quite a cold horse. He is unclipped and has been in a lightweight turnout but when I brought him in this evening his ears and face were freezing cold to the touch. I'll therefore put him in a medium weight tomorrow, despite being made to feel like this is ridiculous for an unclipped horse.

It also depends greatly on where in the country you are. I am rural north west and it is already getting very cold here.

I don't agree with over-rugging but I do think everyone (hopefully) knows their own horse and should be allowed to rug as they choose without feeling guilty!
 
My fully clipped mare is currently wearing a 100g no neck rug day and night. She is kept clipped out all winter and the most she will ever wear is a 350g with a neck, and only when it's minus figures. She spends most of the winter in a 250 with neck. People like telling me that their horses are 'toasty warm' in my experience that normally means boiling!! Why they think that is right, when they wouldn't want to spend their days like that I don't know
 
AngieandBen said:
How do you know they are happy?

I'm pretty sure your yearling wasn't born with a rug on

I'm not saying no one should rug, I'm just saying people are becoming too damn soft! and obsessed with overugging
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I cant speak for anyone else but I know when both of mine are happy/content.

No but she was also born in essex then moved to scotland where there is a significant weather difference and I personally think she doesn't fair too well with the cold but she will be with me for life so good thing i know this!

Pearlsasinger;Yes I agree although I'm hoping that this winter she will be a little 'tougher' than last year!
 
I was the last on my yard to rug up... He is now in a 250g fill on nights where it is getting close to 0. He usually wears a LW rainsheet at the moment as the rain has been so heavy, but when I brought him on Saturday morning (4 degrees) he was shivering. I felt like a very, very bad person :(
However, tonight it is 12 degrees but very wet so he's back in the rainsheet.
 
Unfortunately I am old enough to remember canvas New Zealand rugs with a blanket lining ....

I do feel that there are a lot of horses probably wearing heavier rugs than they actually need and think in a lot of cases it is to make the owner feel better. People seem to like the thought that their horse is cosily tucked up in its pyjamas but I doubt many horses have that view!

None of mine have been clipped yet (I have that joy next weekend) and those that are stabled at night are not in rugs yet whilst those that are out at night have rain sheets on to keep them dry. Once clipped they will go into rugs but it will depend on the weather as to what weight they will have each day. The stabled horses are checked at 10pm and given their late night hay - so far none of them has needed rugging which has surprised me as it feels chilly to me when I walk out of my house.
 
Im a rug addict....but NOT an 'over-rugger' :p

My fully clipped NF is out in a 100g turn out during the day with no fill hood (purely because he has severe sweet itch and I dont want him rubbing himself stupid) and is in at night with a 200g stable rug with 150g neck :) He's just right under his rugs, just about warm to the touch however I'd much prefer he was not quite warm enough rather than too hot, purely because yard owner has taken him out of the starvation paddock and put him in a huge field with knee deep grass :eek: NOT HAPPY!!

Just to add- its around 6-12 degrees during the day and 1-5 degrees at night :p
 
Do people mean an actual duvet :confused: I have never thought to do that before.

One thing I have noticed recently is that horses never seem to be out of rugs they move seamlessly from whole body fly rugs (whether they need them or not, has been a pretty good summer for flies here) into full necked turnouts. When did full necks get invented? I am pretty sure no I knew growing up had one. It can't be good for horses to spend 365 days a year covered up. I have been to countries with way more mean mean flies and no horses there were seen with fly rugs (masks if they needed them) and none were remotely bothered.

I also don't quite see the logic in rugging an unclipped horse unless it has a feeble winter coat as surely you are not allowing the hairs to piloerect and keep the horse warm naturally.
 
I understand that in some cases i.e. elderly horses, then rugs can be beneficial but horses have survived for millions of years and their genetic makeup hasn't changed at all. Therefore they have the same amazing thermoregulatory system that their ancestors had. If we allow them to use their amazing heating/cooling system by not clipping and not rugging then they will survive and thrive. Once you start rugging/clipping then their heating system is compromised and they will struggle.
I know their are many factors involved in horse care and I am not saying rugs should not be used but maybe more people should consider that they are horses and not humans - just cos we're cold it doesn't mean to say that another animal that has adapted to survive in virtually every area of this planet will feel cold too!

Grabs tin hat and awaits torrent of 'why horses need rugs' LOL
 
Why bother rugging? They are just a temptation for the thieves! There have been tonnes of rugs stolen off horses backs here lately.

My arab is out tonight in the wind and rain without a rug. Im sat here worrying that she will be half the size she was earlier today when I saw her but as always she will be fine. She has a few pounds to loose anyway. I try not to over rug her but if it rains alot then I will give her one day on one day off or there abouts.

Yes I do think its got a bit silly. I find a lot of people just judge it on how they are feeling so if they are cold then they think there horse will be. I guess everyone just wants to do what is right for their horse:)
 
I think rugging becomes silly when you have unclipped horses in 10 - 15 degree temperatures wearing a full neck HW stable rug and a full neck HW turnout rug at the same time. Madness IMO.

My gelding is unclipped (but not very fluffy) and is in a full neck MW turnout during the day and the same at night. He is never too hot or sweaty in this though, and there is very little grass in their turnout so he doesn't get to munch all day to keep warm.
 
xspiralx said:
I think rugging becomes silly when you have unclipped horses in 10 - 15 degree temperatures wearing a full neck HW stable rug and a full neck HW turnout rug at the same time. Madness IMO.

My gelding is unclipped (but not very fluffy) and is in a full neck MW turnout during the day and the same at night. He is never too hot or sweaty in this though, and there is very little grass in their turnout so he doesn't get to munch all day to keep warm.
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Are you able to check him throughout the day?? a full neck medium weight when the temp in the day is 15deg.......:eek:

A friend of mine has a LY - she obv has to do what the owners require, they are saying its cold in the morning so want full neck mw/hw rugs on. They are not there at 10 when the sun has come out and is microwaving the poor beggars!
 
I clipped one horse today, she is in with a cotton sheet and thin top rug - plenty warm enough.
Other horses which were out with rain sheets on, were wet when they came in so they stayed in their wet rugs so they (the rugs) will be dry in the morning.

I will admit that I do have a lightweight outdoor rug on a yearling - this is only because he has a horrific injury to his side and lost a lot of weight to the point of being poor in condition. I do not want him shivering what weight he has gained off in the rain.

Brood mares and youngsters go out regardless of weather naked. All are TBs.

The most the clipped horses wear, if it is cold enough to freeze the water buckets inside, is a cotton sheet, a duvet and a normal middleweight top rug. Anything more and they are not happy.
One that does feel the cold gets two duvets if he needs it.

When they get turned out they have a middleweight NZ on.
 
My girl is unclipped and I'll only rug her if it gets wet, windy AND cold. It was minus 2 the night before last but she was still toasty in her stable. She's only out a few hours during the day - on limited grazing as at risk of laminitis - and will only be rugged if we get really awful weather. She's ridden about 4 times a week - only hacking so she doesn't need clipping.

On the other hand, daughter's horse has to be clipped as she's worked hard and she's in a MW in the day and at night (stable is in a cold barn) and will get layered up if necessary - but she is a soft warmblood whilst my old girl is a native!
 
i am a minimalist rugger, have a blanket clipped pony in a rainsheet combo- she is a bit cold at night but just right in the day, would cook in a mw.

Fully clipped ISH in MW 24/7 . probably a tad warm in the day but perfect at night
 
casinosolo said:
I think it all depends on the individual horse.
It also depends greatly on where in the country you are. I am rural north west and it is already getting very cold here.

I don't agree with over-rugging but I do think everyone (hopefully) knows their own horse and should be allowed to rug as they choose without feeling guilty!
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Compeltely agree - our tb is rugged more heavily than the cobs because he drops weight easily - there's no point in loading him up with cereals to try and keep hi weight up when I can simply put a rug on him, to keep him warm and this helps prevent the weight lose.

Also I find that rugging, within reason, early on in the autumn/winter actually prevents my mare growing as much winter coat so I have to clip less because she's not sweating up when being worked.

Our unclipped cobs are out in medium weights at the moment but in any less than that when they come in they're cold (feeling between hind legs) but they're on a pretty exposed hill field in the North - completely different from the rugs I'd use if we were further south in a sheltered field.
 
My fully clipped tb is in a meduim or lightweight no fill during the day depending on money. And at the minute a meduim with neck & a little fleece underneath, but it is 2degrees here at the minute. Hopefully warmer this week so they fleece can go!
 
Ponies aren't rugged. I have a rain sheet for the 13.2 for keeping her dry to ride purposes. Depending on how much she does this winter I might have to do a bib clip. New horse was wearing a heavyweight neck rug during the day and thin stable rug at night living 5 hours south of here :rolleyes: I actually found the first night she was here and inside she was very cold with just the stable rug on and ended up putting the heavyweight turnout on. I think combo of hot horse lorry, draughty sheep shed and stress. I have her out 24/7 with a lightweight no neck rug now. Still time for her to grow a bit more coat but she is quite fine coated just now.
 
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