Rugs and arthritis

[Chestnut mare]

My 17year old pony has arthritis in her back legs only really came on in the last 2/3 months. Shes on devils claw and cortaflex and is ticking along nicely. She is living out 24/7 through the summer.
Shes also a little fatty so is wearing her grazing muzzle during the day and has it off at night.
Her field mate also has arthritis and her owner still has her ruged (her choice) as she said getting cold will not help her arthritis. She also said I should be keeping my horse warmer with her arthritis . Temperature is dropping to about 7/8 at night so not desperately cold and has been dry.
I feel that carrying a extra weight certainly is no good for arthritis and if she is getting a little cold will help loose weight so no harm done.
Obviously if it's cold and wet I will probably rug her as the damp will not help.
What do we think?

 

[Echo Bravo]

Must admit depends on the type of horse.

 

[Dizzydancer]

It depends my boy is a wuss, he has arthritis and is well managed living a well earned retirement. Him and his old field mate are both having an amigo lw on at night, mainly as if it gets cool or horrible they would wait by the gate. At this temp and with no dampness the arthritis is unlikely to be improved by having a rug on especially if it is in legs not back. In winter my boy has leg wraps as its his legs that are bad so need keeping warm.