Shivering help!

[heebiejeebies]

Looking for some outsider advice here...

My horse has always been a bit of a wuss when it comes to the rain, but since I got him a year ago I've been working hard to get him to 'man up' and he has been doing great, out naked 24/7 since the worst of the wet weather stopped.

It's currently around 8C at night and up to 12/13C during the day here, he is out naked and it's been raining. He's shivering like we are suffering from arctic conditions! I stuck some hay out which he is quite happy tucking into, but am I being mean?!

Surely although it's raining, this temperature should be warm enough for a horse? He is a lightweight thing, and since he is moulting I figured he is feeling the warmth?
I'm not one for wrapping horses up to their eyeballs, and the others are fine, so I'm wondering if I should just stick it out and let him get used to it or stick a rain sheet on him and have him be uncomfortable while moulting?

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Is he getting soaked to the skin? People in general seem to have forgotten that horses living out need grease in their coats to stay waterproof, so no bathing or body brushing, use curry combs or dandy brush to groom. If you've stripped all the grease out of his coat then you may need a rug. Though I think most horses would rather be too cold than uncomfortably warm, so if you can't rug at night and remove it for during the day I would let him shiver until his grease has built up again. Horses don't die of shivering. I would only worry if it rains all night and looks set to rain all day too, then I'd bring him in for a while with a haynet, to dry off and get warm.

 

[PollyP99]

I'm rugging for rain at the moment as the wind has been awful, for me wet plus wind is hard on any equine. Better weather coming though.

 

[Geminismum]

Is there any shelter in the field? I'm not one for rugging to the eye balls either but if there's not shelter and it's peeing down my girl will go out in her waterproof fly rug as there's no shelter in her field. If there were shelter she' be naked.

 

[dalesponydiva]

I'm rugging for rain at the moment as the wind has been awful, for me wet plus wind is hard on any equine. Better weather coming though.

Ditto xx

 

[heebiejeebies]

Is he getting soaked to the skin? People in general seem to have forgotten that horses living out need grease in their coats to stay waterproof, so no bathing or body brushing, use curry combs or dandy brush to groom. If you've stripped all the grease out of his coat then you may need a rug. Though I think most horses would rather be too cold than uncomfortably warm, so if you can't rug at night and remove it for during the day I would let him shiver until his grease has built up again. Horses don't die of shivering. I would only worry if it rains all night and looks set to rain all day too, then I'd bring him in for a while with a haynet, to dry off and get warm.

Don't worry, I'm not a complete imbecile... he's always been like this, even before I got him, hence my efforts at getting him to man up!

Is there any shelter in the field? I'm not one for rugging to the eye balls either but if there's not shelter and it's peeing down my girl will go out in her waterproof fly rug as there's no shelter in her field. If there were shelter she' be naked.

There is plenty of good natural shelter, they stand inside the bushes when it's awful weather, so it's not as if he is completely exposed to the harsh elements!

 

[Spottyappy]

Think the problem is, the horses have got or mostly got Summer costs, and the temperature is more like winter. Factor in rain, and they don't have the same protection as when it actually is winter.
I have natives, with a shelter, and have had to rug 3 of the 4 as those 3 have been cold.

 

[Elsbells]

We rugged one up this afternoon as she was shivering. It's been warm but now it's rain, cold wind then sun followed by more rain etc. My thinking is that they've got their new coats, they've gotten used to the warmth and all of a sudden it's chilly winds and constant wet! A light rain sheet offers some some comfort from the chill.

 

[Cocorules]

I have one that needs rugging unless it is 10 degrees plus or she shivers. She has access to field shelters so can get out of the wind and rain. The others can cope fine to much lower temperatures.

 

[Fides]

I'm one of those who doesn't generally rug. I will rug however if there has been 24 hours of solid rain as I do not feel it is fair to leave them soaked to the skin. I would always bring in, allow to dry off, and rug a shivering horse at this time of the year. The weather is unsettled, the temperatures up and down, and for a horse to be suddenly in their summer coat in dreadful conditions I think they derseve a bit of pampering.

 

[teabiscuit]

I don't leave them to shiver, as it looks very uncomfortable for them and I'm just not that mean.
Wind and rain are killers, they've lost most of their winter coats. Have some mercy.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sorry but you just cant expect a horse to man up! If he feels the cold when wet and shivers just leaving him hoping he willl get used to it in my opinion just wont work, one of mine just does not cope without a rug in the rain if its cold his got a very fine coat and very thin skin, on the other hand my other horse can stand out in the rain when its cold and will be fine. I am afraid you just have to manage them as individuals which they are, you cant just have one rule for them all.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Horses are much more likely to shiver in wet and windy weather, when they have got their summer coats than in winter. They need to be able to eat a large amount of fibre and have access to shelter to keep warm enough to not shiver. I'm not one for rugging, in fact none of ours has worn a rug this winter, but I would rug yours in these circumstances.

 

[AmyMay]

If he's showing signs of being cold - put a rug on him. Simples.

 

[heebiejeebies]

I wouldn't deliberately leave a horse cold, but since the weather is rainy, between 8C - 13C with no wind this is what is making me question rugging him!

The grass is through plus I gave him hay. I don't want to be running to save him by wrapping him in rugs every time the rain clouds loom overhead!

 

[AmyMay]

I don't want to be running to save him by wrapping him in rugs every time the rain clouds loom overhead!

With some you have to. And certainly at the moment the weather is so changeable it can be a matter of rugs on / rugs off.

Is this the same horse that has a persistent cough?

 

[Pigeon]

The ISHs are out naked, the tb is an utter wuss and is in a lw with a neck. I know it's usually an awful way to judge it, but if I'm cold, he tends to be cold. He's a delicate soul. I was out last night and it was blimmin freezing. The other two are like hippos and enjoy wallowing in the mud but he will stand by the gate wanting to come in.

 

[heebiejeebies]

With some you have to. And certainly at the moment the weather is so changeable it can be a matter of rugs on / rugs off.

Is this the same horse that has a persistent cough?

He doesn't cough, no.

Will stick his rain sheet on for the rain then, thanks for all the help!

 

[montanna]

Why are you allowing a horse to shiver? He is telling you he is cold. Just because one horse is OK without a rug, doesn't mean others will be. I had two very similarly bred WB x TB's last year. One would be in a HW whilst one was in a LW/naked. My mare was a super cold horse, and the gelding a very hot horse. I had them a long time, I catered for each of their needs and didn't expect to train them into it!

Put it this way.. how would you like it? I sit in an office opposite a girl who is constantly boiling and has the window open even in the depths of winter! I am sat here freezing my ass off!! Yet she is warm.

People, like horses, are very different and you should be listening to your horse. If he is shivering, he is cold, put a rug on him!!

 

[heebiejeebies]

Why are you allowing a horse to shiver? He is telling you he is cold. Just because one horse is OK without a rug, doesn't mean others will be. I had two very similarly bred WB x TB's last year. One would be in a HW whilst one was in a LW/naked. My mare was a super cold horse, and the gelding a very hot horse. I had them a long time, I catered for each of their needs and didn't expect to train them into it!

Put it this way.. how would you like it? I sit in an office opposite a girl who is constantly boiling and has the window open even in the depths of winter! I am sat here freezing my ass off!! Yet she is warm.

People, like horses, are very different and you should be listening to your horse. If he is shivering, he is cold, put a rug on him!!

Any need for the attitude? Just because you're hidden behind a username doesn't give you the right to be cheeky.

He shivers naked and swelters with a rain sheet on, hence the reason I asked the question.

You've no idea on here who you are speaking to or what they are going through in their own lives. We are all real people affected by various things, it doesn't matter how stupid you might think a question on here is, to someone else it could be a very genuine cause of concern.

Think before you speak. And that goes for the many of you on here who think it makes you look clever to belittle others.

 

[monsterwillow]

Its totally natural for horses to shiver to produce warmth. Horses are waterproof, he wont melt in the rain. I would leave him naked unless constant rain for days x

 

[montanna]

Any need for the attitude? Just because you're hidden behind a username doesn't give you the right to be cheeky.

He shivers naked and swelters with a rain sheet on, hence the reason I asked the question.

You've no idea on here who you are speaking to or what they are going through in their own lives. We are all real people affected by various things, it doesn't matter how stupid you might think a question on here is, to someone else it could be a very genuine cause of concern.

Think before you speak. And that goes for the many of you on here who think it makes you look clever to belittle others.

Any need for the attitude? Just because you're hidden behind a username doesn't give you the right to be cheeky.

He shivers naked and swelters with a rain sheet on, hence the reason I asked the question.

You've no idea on here who you are speaking to or what they are going through in their own lives. We are all real people affected by various things, it doesn't matter how stupid you might think a question on here is, to someone else it could be a very genuine cause of concern.

Think before you speak. And that goes for the many of you on here who think it makes you look clever to belittle others.

So use a breathable rain sheet. It's common sense is it not?! Horse is shivering = it's cold = it needs rugging. I don't buy the whole 'horses need to be naked' argument. Horses are individuals. Just because it is an answer you don't want to hear, no need to get your back up. This is a message board, you are going to hear opinions you may not necessarily agree like. That is the beauty of this place, everyone has an opinion.

Doesn't have anything to do with what anyone is going through in their lives, does it? No need to be dramatic, I am just answering the question in hand. Lordy.

 

[heebiejeebies]

Its totally natural for horses to shiver to produce warmth. Horses are waterproof, he wont melt in the rain. I would leave him naked unless constant rain for days x

Thanks for such a sensible reply!

 

[monsterwillow]

The horse doesn't necessarily need rugged if shivering though. My old Arab mare doesn't like the rain and shivers but feel the base of ears and she's perfectly warm. I wouldn't rug if its on and off rain as here earlier it was tipping down now its sunny and she would be sweating

 

[Spring Feather]

It is perfectly natural for horses to shiver when it's a little chilly. However. I don't like it and I rug appropriately for the temperatures. So if it's mild but wet and windy then if I were you, yes I'd pop on a rain sheet.

 

[amandap]

We've had rain and wind here for a week with low temps, Autumn is here! No shivvering noted but they have barn and shelter access and none are rugged or clipped. I do think horses used to rugs are more likely to feel the cold/wet espeially if there's little shelter from prevailing winds. I feed free choice hay as well, so lots of long fibre to digest to help keep warm.
A friends horses kept the same but in an exposed site have been shivvering. Go figure.

 

[heebiejeebies]

The horse doesn't necessarily need rugged if shivering though. My old Arab mare doesn't like the rain and shivers but feel the base of ears and she's perfectly warm. I wouldn't rug if its on and off rain as here earlier it was tipping down now its sunny and she would be sweating

It is perfectly natural for horses to shiver when it's a little chilly. However. I don't like it and I rug appropriately for the temperatures. So if it's mild but wet and windy then if I were you, yes I'd pop on a rain sheet.

It's not windy, just wet and muggy so he is still too hot in his breathable rain sheet. I'd rather he was a bit too cold than too hot. The weather is changing every couple of hours, from rain to bright sky splitting sunshine!

This is why I posted the thread, because he's not cold, just shivering, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Really appreciate the helpful comments!

 

[horsefeed]

I have a little TB mare who has access to a shelter with hay in it but refuses to use it! Donkeys will quite happily stand in there when raining so nothing wrong with shelter! She shivers the minute it rains but minute sun comes out she swelters and sweats in even the lightest of rugs! I have even tried sweat sheet under rug to keep it lift off her and air circulating! I can sometimes only get down once a day due to work and it being 20 mile round trip to get to yard. So I now leave her naked. I would rather she was cold for couple of hours then sweltering all the time. She has shelter if she wants to stay dry so being cold is completely her fault in my opinion. If your boy is good weight, has hay and shelter I would leave him to it I am afraid.

 

[meesha]

I have 2 horses and the only time I have ever known them to shiver is when they have started to get their summer coats and then the weather changes to wind/rain.

One of mine is currently in a lightweight no-fill rug if we get persistent rain - he is not "waterproof" and any wet goes straight to his skin (he is not overly groomed or washed) he is more the fluffy type that can withstand cold but not wet. The other older one has a lovely shiny greasy coat which copes well so isn't rugged this time of year unless we get extreme weather. However, I have a 18x12 field shelter which they have access to - if out in a fairly open field even with hedges I would rug as soon as I saw shivering but re-assess twice a day.

edited to say I agree that slightly too cold is better than over-heating (horses can eat and run around for warmth but cant take a rug off!!) but if its windy and wet with sunny spells and horse shivering I wouldn't worry about a horse overheating in lightweight no-fill, also I am assuming you have shade in your field which horse could use if bit hot (massive bug-bear of mine, I see so many standing in fields with no shade in mid summer 80 degrees !!)

 

[Spring Feather]

It's not windy, just wet and muggy so he is still too hot in his breathable rain sheet. I'd rather he was a bit too cold than too hot. The weather is changing every couple of hours, from rain to bright sky splitting sunshine!

Ah okay, well then I'd leave him unrugged if he's warm.