Rugless???

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Louby

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Feel really bad, my horse is the only rugless horse on the yard tonight. Ive ummmed and aaaaghed and finally left him without although he's had his LW turnout on today as its been so wet. Hes inside and has PLENTY of fat so why do I feel so bad. Has everyone else started to rug up yet?
 
he'll be ok. i'm only rugging because my mare has been fully clipped.
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Hello. Its very difficult isn't it deciding whether your horse needs a rug or not. I would't be swayed by what other people are doing though, as i feel that many horses are rugged far to much now a days and it is more for the owners benefit than the horses. You know your horse best and it certainly isn't very cold yet. I started with lightweight turnouts last night, just of a night for now and my husband did them this morning and said they were too warm. Guess sometimes we are just going to get it wrong with rugs.
 
Thank you I feel much better now. Its an awful time of year isnt it. Its warm one minute and cold the next. Some horses seem to be able to cope with rugs on however warm it is but my boy roasts and hes 5/8ths TB.
 
Have rugged most of mine, as they are all out. It is supposed to be blooming cold now, but if 'they' have got it wrong again, the rugs will be off.
Just lightweight ones for now, the heavier ones come out when Winter sets in.
2 ponies don't have rugs, thick coated welshies. I only rugged them because the neighbours complain!
Have two horses in at night, as I don't overcrowd the paddocks, like to keep them to 2 in each. They are out in the day though. One is rugged as she is old and retired and needs extra.
As Frankie say, don't be swayed by what others do, you know your horse, so stuff the others!
 
My horse who is mostly TB is out tonight in basically a waterproof coat. He'll be fine- easier to run about and keep warm outside than in.

WE humanise too much with rugs. Horses are much better at coping with cold than we are. Overugging is worse than underrugging in my book... or so my uncle has taught me (equine vet at other side of country).
 
I've put a lightweight stable rug on tonight. It was on for an hour before i left for the evening and she didn't feel too hot so hope i'm doing the right thing! I've also left her turnout out for tomorrow.
It seems to have suddenly got colder up here the last couple of days (although that might just be me coming down with something!)
 
Reallly wouldnt worry about it. My boy is rugged up to the eyeballs cos hes clipped and living out, but you know your horse best, and most unvlipped horses will be happy as larry in the current temps.
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Im not worrying.......honest LOL (not very convincing am I) but I would have felt better if I'd put his LW on. Worry, worry, worry.
 
ARGH rugs! HUGE bugbear of mine! Every horse on my yard is rugged with something of a decent weight and NONE are clipped - what on EARTH will they do when it hits 0 degrees - have 12 duvets on?

Have to admit to going up at 7 last night and slinging a stable sheet on but ONLY becase I dont own him and dont want him feeling cold!! As it was clear this evening I did put a sheet on again as I knew it would be cold and I am glad I did as it is freeeeezing here!

He doesnt have anything on when out tho - is a bit of a rug phobic!
 
2 of ours are out without rugs on - they are not going to be clipped, so I want to encourage the hair to grow to give them good winter coats.

The competition horses are rugged up but only because:
1. Trying to keep hair growth down
2. Most importantly, they are disgusting and it takes hours to get the mud off them!
 
Spring has had her LW turnout during the day purely in case it rains so I can still ride in the evenings (owner convenience LOL!), and she has a thin fleece on tonight as when I left at 8.30pm it was getting quite bitter. I am also keen for her not to grow to thick a winter coat if I can help it as only want to clip her once or twice this winter so want to leave it as long as possible.
 
Mine has no rugs on and wont for a while yet, she wont be clipped so I wnt her winter coat to come through, being cold for a bit will help her shiver some of the fat off too!
 
my horse lives out so she's had her lightweight on for the last couple of days as the temperature has dropped slightly.
But i wouldn't put anything heavier than that on yet, or he will be cold when the weather gets worse.
 
Both of mine are still out 24/7, Blue has a l/w rug on as i don't want him to grow a thick furry coat (well not so much) and he has a small bib clip at the moment. But Holly is still out 24/7 no rug or anything (she is welsh sec d). Both will be clipped and come in overnight when the clocks change probably.
 
My horse is a HanxTB and she only had a fleece on at night and nothing during the day. I want to leave her as long as poss so she will feel the benefit of her rugs when it is -5!!! She still has a fine coat and does not feel cold went i check her so i doubt i will rug properly her until she is clipped in a few weeks.

The native ponies up our yard though who are used to living out have been brought in and all have stable rugs even though they have a massive wooley coat
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God knows what they will put on them when its -degrees
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