Rugs - Too hot v Too cold

[cyearsley]

Dilemma - My neddy has grown back most of his hair (there wasn't that much there to start with) and will reclip shortly (trace) but at the moment where I am, the temperatures are extremely different most nights !! It has been as low as 2 degrees one night and then 10 degrees a couple of nights later - bizarre - guess it's the greenhouse effect!! Anyhow, tonight it is currently 7.5 degrees..... earlier, I brought him in at four and left him in fleece with neck and another fleece over the top with a view to swapping top rug with a thicker one this evening. Just checked him and he is fine, nice and warm......but....I know that overnight it will drop to about 5 or 6 and he may get a bit cold for a few hours. So..my question is this, do you go for just right but may end up a bit colder, or very warm ending up ok...... ? I know some people worry about weight and condition dropping but surely getting too hot is uncomfortable.....? Am I being a bad Mum by going for the cooler option? Apologies if this has been asked before or done to death !!

 

[chestnut cob]

I prefer my horses to be on the cooler side. They don't feel the cold like we do.

 

[gemma1992]

I'd rather a horse get cold (it can walk around to warm up) than be to hot and not be able to move.

 

[MadMacher]

I agree too cold is better than too hot.

 

[Weezy]

DEFFO better to be cold than hot - a horse cannot make itself cooler when wearing rugs, but it can make itself warmer.

 

[LauraBR]

Another vote for cooler. Horses are MUCH better at keeping themselves warm than people realise IMO.

 

[Donkeymad]

And another vote for cooler.

 

[shadowboy]

I vote for cooler too! And Essex is currently experiencing the same temp issues as Kent- so I have similar dilemmas!

 

[Holly27]

vote for cooler for sure

 

[ISHmad]

You can always put a set of Thermatex leg wraps on your horse, instead of an extra rug. It helps with warmth without overheating the horse. I definitely agree it is better the horse is cooler rather than too hot.

 

[Pedantic]

Cooler, I hate to see horses too hot, poor sod earlier in the year with it's new owner left a rug on, sun came out and poor thing was sweating, I mentioned it too YM who I think had a word.