Shetland turnout rugs

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pinkypug1

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I've just taken on a little shetland mare approx 8hh. She's a fatty with table top back & the rain is lying in a little puddle on it. I've had to put her in a small paddock with limited grass as she needs to lose weight but it has no shelter so need a turnout rug for her. I've tried 2 but they are either too tight on neck or too deep. Anyone advise which brand fits them best?? Thanks :)
 
I don't rug my shetlands, they have the thickest coats of all the natives, they just sweat in the lightest of turnouts even in very cold and wet weather.
 
if you're worried about rainscald where the water lies, pop a bit of baby oil/liquid parafin on her back when dry. Agreed, do not rug-she's a Shetland! I have 2 Exmoors on the side of a Scottish hill atm with little shelter (we've just moved) and they are fine, means I am not worrying about them putting on weight.
 
I agree with the others - don't bother rugging her, she won't thank you for it! I have a little Shetland mare who sweats in the stable without any rugs at all - unless it's minus degrees outside & she has the window open you can guarantee she'll be too warm! I'd leave her out if she'd stay on her own happily!
Plus if she's a bit of a fatty then using her own insulation to keep warm won't hurt her!
 
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pinkypug1 said:
I've just taken on a little shetland mare approx 8hh. She's a fatty with table top back & the rain is lying in a little puddle on it. I've had to put her in a small paddock with limited grass as she needs to lose weight but it has no shelter so need a turnout rug for her. I've tried 2 but they are either too tight on neck or too deep. Anyone advise which brand fits them best?? Thanks :)
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dinky rugs best for donkeys and shetlands. The fact it pools on her back I would worry about rain scalled.

It wont hurt to get a rain sheet for it. Some do need rugs my welsh A is not hardy like they should, I known shetlands who fared better with a rug. http://www.tackandturnout.co.uk/. Speicalist rugs for little equines.





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Thanks... No rugging will save me a few pounds! I will try the paraffin trick. I was feeling bad as her paddock is on a hill right by the sea with only post & rail no hedges trees etc. first time having a shetland & didnt want her to suffer & be miserable!!
 
I will keep an eye in how she's coping & will keep 'dinky rugs' in mind! once they other horses eat down the big field she can go out with them & then she will have more natural shelter.
 
PP I know you want to be kind and look after her, but the best thing you can do for this mare is put her out without a rug. If she gets cold (she won't - have you ever been to Shetland?), she'll lose that weight a little faster, which is all the better for her.

Why not spend the money you save on a cheap little harness, and long-rein the legs off her, so that she can pull a little cart for you, and work off the flab? Shetlands love to work.

I wouldn't worry about the puddling. She's not made of sugar.
 
Mmmm, if you are able to offer absolutely no shelter - then maybe you should consider a little rug. That's not a great way to expect the pony to winter. Does it come in at night?
 
They are soooooo hard to keep trim - I have my little mare muzzled permanently - she has the muzzle off to have 1 small cup of lami light in the evening & then it goes straight back on & when she's stabled I don't give her hay unless it's old stuff &/or soaked - she has a couple of scoops of healthy hooves molasses free instead so please be careful if you turn her out on more grazing. We are supplementing grazing for the horses but there is still enough for her without anything extra - they really do live on fresh air!
 
pennyturner said:
PP I know you want to be kind and look after her, but the best thing you can do for this mare is put her out without a rug. If she gets cold (she won't - have you ever been to Shetland?), she'll lose that weight a little faster, which is all the better for her.

Why not spend the money you save on a cheap little harness, and long-rein the legs off her, so that she can pull a little cart for you, and work off the flab? Shetlands love to work.

I wouldn't worry about the puddling. She's not made of sugar.
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Love this! Excellent advice :)
 
I know it's not ideal but its my only option, no they dont have stables to come into. My other 2 mares have just gone out into 3acres of super grazing & little one is already obese so want to get weight off & have field eaten down for a month or 2 before she joins them. There is a bungalow & wall that runs along one side of the field but other than that no other real shelter that's why I was considering a rug.
 
pinkypug1 said:
I know it's not ideal but its my only option, no they dont have stables to come into. My other 2 mares have just gone out into 3acres of super grazing & little one is already obese so want to get weight off & have field eaten down for a month or 2 before she joins them. There is a bungalow & wall that runs along one side of the field but other than that no other real shelter that's why I was considering a rug.
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Honestly I think she'll be fine :)
 
pinkypug1 said:
I know it's not ideal but its my only option, no they dont have stables to come into. My other 2 mares have just gone out into 3acres of super grazing & little one is already obese so want to get weight off & have field eaten down for a month or 2 before she joins them. There is a bungalow & wall that runs along one side of the field but other than that no other real shelter that's why I was considering a rug.
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I would pop a little rug on then.
 
I'd get a rainsheet even to have for an emergency.

During my first winter of shetlands I had one get rainscald on it's back, pony had got water logged and the thick coat kept the moisture against the skin making it worse. Had to clip along back so we could get at the scabs and then popped a rain sheet on.

My shetlands are out unrugged at the moment but I continually check to make sure skin is healthy and have rugs just in case so I can prevent rather than cure.

Rugs wise mine are standards so around 10hh, I find shires rug range fits quite well but for a miniature the previous suggestions are good.
 
We rug our Shetland - he's a bit old and creaky so he can't move around to keep warm like he used to!

He's out in the day in a small paddock - again no natural shelter and then in at night.

We use the Rhinegold Dottie rug, although it's quite deep it's the only one we've found that doesn't slip on him - because the vast majority of Shetlands are so round (even at a healthy weight!) their rugs don't seem to stay put!

All we did was change the back leg straps to a fillet string as they were to low and would have risked tripping him up with them.
 
I don't rug my shetland as a rule as mostly as my big horse thinks it's hilarious to use the rugs to grab hold of shetland and play with him like some sort of mini rag doll. Without the rug he can scarper and dive in and out and get away with murder. I do keep an emergency rug for those times when it's been wet all day and then freezes at night, as he can take 24 hours to dry out his coat is so thick. Then i bring him in, thatch him under the rug, he steams away like a little cooker for a few hours. Drys out and then fluffs up against the cold.
 
Thanks everyone... I will purchase rug to have incase he feels cold & looks miserable. The idea of panels are also a good idea as the fence is quite high so would provide some shelter for her :)
 
My Shetland is out 24/7 on rough water meadow. There is a shelter, but I've never seen him in it.

If he wants a rug he just coats himself in mud ;)
 
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