Rugs Rugs Rugs!!!!!

ThePinkPony

ThePinkPony

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Okay so this is all getting very confusing.

Ive been told so many times totally different things with them, i suppose everyone has their own ideas and routines but for a first time owner it can be a bit overwhelming.

P is coming on sunday (ahhhh :D) and on more than one friends advice bought a masta Zing for rain like today, and am looking at full necked middle/heavy weights for winter.

So many people have given me such conflicting advice. Some say she doesnt need a rug, some say she should have one on.

My plan was, as shes a good doer, no rug now, unless it rains (got to do alot of work with her grooming wise so would prefer her dry!) and something at night MAYBE. (someone suggested that she would put her horse out in a stable rug instead of a turnout at night, just for a bit extra warmth... can you do that?)

ive been told thats wrong, that its not enough, that its too much.... ARGH

I had a plan, and now ive lost all confidence in it because of a couple of people!

What is everyone doing rug wise at the moment?
 
What breed is she?
I did put a rug on my arab today because he was shivering in the rain ( it is cold i had to light the fire:D) but on a normall day to day basis he onley gets ruged in the winter ( medium weight)
Non of the ponies are rugged, all out through the winter.
I would'nt rug at night through the summer, after all they are made to be outside, and it shouldnt be that cold normally.
If i were you i would play it by ear (or eye) and see how she is before spending a lot of money on rugs you may never need.
 
It depends on the horse. Some are out at mo with no rugs. I have however put my tb out tonight in his MW no neck as it has been horrible rain here and v cold all day! All 3 of mine came in today shivering even with LW's on, so they came in had fleeces on to dry off. The two oldies are in tonight.
You will know by the horse, but if you do clip defo rug
 
Mine has had a no fill rain coat on today. It's been lashing it down all day and a little chilly. Otherwise no rugs.

I've popped a fleece on tonight as it's quite windy and a chill in the air.

I've got a medium t/o for winter but it'll have to be very cold for her to have that on.

It all depends on breed, age, clipped or not.

Edited to add she's stabled at night.
 
Shes Appaloosa X.

Shes in a stable at night but its one of those temporary moveable ones so cant see how different it'll be for her living out really.

I'll rug her when it rains, just because i need her dry and it sucks to sit in the rain, shes got good cover in her paddock though.

This is why ive only bought the one.

I was going to get a fleece or stable rug as my friend seems to think it would be perfectly fine to have her out in one overnight. Its not a huge paddock so she wont be tearing about getting it caught on things?
 
ThePinkPony said:
Shes Appaloosa X.

Shes in a stable at night but its one of those temporary moveable ones so cant see how different it'll be for her living out really.

I'll rug her when it rains, just because i need her dry and it sucks to sit in the rain, shes got good cover in her paddock though.

This is why ive only bought the one.

I was going to get a fleece or stable rug as my friend seems to think it would be perfectly fine to have her out in one overnight. Its not a huge paddock so she wont be tearing about getting it caught on things?
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What if it rains though
 
Hi TTP

Go with what your horse tells you!

My TB is out at night and in during the day. He only wears a rug if it's lashing down (so tonight for example :D) otherwise he's naked all day.

Last winter he was unclipped and wearing a heavyweight rug out and in the stable.
 
My friend has a apaloosa X with tb thin hair.

Today he has a sheet on - Mainly to keep him clean!
Winter she does clip once about xmas time - he wears a midweight with a neck (Again - to keep the mud at bay!)

Depends on horse - Some just keep themselves hotter than others!
How exciting your 1st winter- 3 years down the line you will be an experrt! :D
 
i wouldn't put a fleece of stable rug on over night if living out simply cuz if it suddenly rains you're poor horsey will have a heavy, wet rug on and it'll be cold eeven colder then, unless you put a very thin water proof on. Mine is out in her fleece and LW tonight cuz she's done 2hours work in the rain so i wanted her to be nice and warm but usualy she just has a waterproof on or nothing. In winter she's fully clipped so fleece/thermalux and HW, then in at night and just swap the HW for thick stable rug with neck. IMO its better to have a few thin rugs than 1 thick rug as you can put on however many you want according to the weather. Thats what we do with mine and our old one. :)
 
Happy Hunter said:
My friend has a apaloosa X with tb thin hair.

Today he has a sheet on - Mainly to keep him clean!
Winter she does clip once about xmas time - he wears a midweight with a neck (Again - to keep the mud at bay!)

Depends on horse - Some just keep themselves hotter than others!
How exciting your 1st winter- 3 years down the line you will be an experrt! :D
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lol, thanks to everyone :) making me feel better.

I have a friend who ''knows everything about horses'' and shes really bothering me. She'll ask what im doing and then criticise and knowck my confidence with phrases like 'i thought you'd know that?'

Like the fact that im putting two haynets (or whatever she eats) in the paddock with her every day just for something else to nibble... apparently you cant do that because the horse will get its foot caught (they'll be strung up on the fence?) and that its better to chuck it on the floor as its more natural... i thought you would have known that..(stuff natural i know how much wastage occurs from that!)
 
even short coated tbs get furry in winter!! so u may need to clip.. as for the summer like above I would just throw a rain sheet on her if it rains.. Ours have been all out without rugs since the start of april (Ish's and Holstein) and all are fine we just throw a lightweight on the tb in bad weather! :)

As for the winter..my fav rug is a Horsewear supreme..got mine in the bargain bin for peanuts when i got him 7 yrs ago and its still going strong i just get it washed and repaired every summer! :) they really are an investment and last for as long as you need them :)
 
I would'nt put a fleece on outside!
Even those of us who know what the weather will be can be caught out!
And i know it is a bit cold when it rains, but fgs it is june, she is'nt going to suffer if it's a bit chilly at night!
 
ThePinkPony said:
If its due to rain that night, living with a gamekeeper i ALWAYS know the weather, then id put the rug over the fleece.

I know what you mean though, that was what i asked her!
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Cool, very handy OH to have :D But even the best get it wrong occasionally ;)

I personally would probably go with a no fill t/o if you want to rug at this time of year, then it covers all eventualities.
 
LOL, so all this time ive been thinking that my no fill rug for when it rains was actually the wrong idea when really it was right all along! FFS!

THIS is why i love this forum! :)
 
ThePinkPony said:
Its so easy to do though isnt it?

OH has told me under no uncertain terms that thats not happening!
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Good luck....
g100.gif
 
ThePinkPony said:
LOL, so all this time ive been thinking that my no fill rug for when it rains was actually the wrong idea when really it was right all along! FFS!

THIS is why i love this forum! :)
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They always come in handy. Mine had hers on today as it has been very windy, cold and lashing it down. Take the wind and cold away, she would have been naked.

What breed is the horse?
 
:D Mrs Mozart

My hubby hates it when I go to the saddlery or even worse, browse Equestrian Clearance.

Have done really well though, only 2 fleeces (one in the wash other to wear :D ), no fill t/o, mw t/o, 1 stable rug and 1 under rug :rolleyes:
 
ThePinkPony said:
LOL, so all this time ive been thinking that my no fill rug for when it rains was actually the wrong idea when really it was right all along! FFS!

THIS is why i love this forum! :)
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yes you were right all along

All horses are different and he/she will grow a winter coat. having said that some don't grow much of a coat so need warmer rugs.

If a horses coat looks like it is standing up a bit it is cold. Also if they lose weight they are usually cold.

Will be easier if you have plenty of shelter from rain and wind though.

If they stand around the gate looking miserable they are either cold hungry or both

as for hay nets in the field, if you can't put them high enough that the horse can't get a leg caught (ie your shoulder height) then its best on the floor. Also it is best on the floor for their muscles and especially in a stable their b
breathing
 
Well done m'duck :D

I think we have, for each horse, though some of them must have copies as I've only bought two or three rugs for GM so far:

Turnout:
Rainsheet - with a neck
Rainsheet - without a neck
Lightweight - with a neck
Lightweight - without a neck
Mediumweight - with a neck
Mediumweight - without a neck
Heavyweight - with a neck
Heavyweight - without a neck

Stable Rugs:
Lightweight
Mediumweight
Heavyweight
But, only one with a neck, or might be two with a neck...

Plus fleeces and flysheets and exercise sheets, oh, and a towel rug :D :D :D
 
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her feet wont get caught in the net dont you worry, its high enough to be safe.

i guess its last minute nerves on my part, i was out yesterday sawing off any pointy bits from the trees and any twigs on the grass with oh reminding me it is just a horse.

Its not just a horse! its MY horse!
 
ours (both good doers) are generally naked between April and June, then fly rugs june to end of august. Then naked again until 1st week of November, when I clip Ron out fully and Tom gets a bib clip (he's not really worked but gets scabby elbows as he's a mucky pup). from that point on, Tom is in a HW full neck turnout, and Ron is in either a MW or a HW full neck turnout depending on the weather. Often March and April they are only in rain sheets.

We have MW stable rugs and Under rugs, but TBH rarely use them unless the boys have to be in for a few days due to snow or very very wet weather.

We also have a fleece and a cotton sheet each which are used for travelling and for cooling off after hard work or hunting.

Simples! :D
 
I also panicked when I got my boy - it was his first proper winter and first time wearing a rug, having spend most of his life in a desert.

I think I went a bit OTT buying rugs - any excuse to shop :D - and ended up with about 12 :rolleyes:
 
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