should i rug

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madeleine1

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tonight it is 8 degrees and chilly but shes warm.

but tomorrow night its 7 degree and raining. shes a medium weight and 16 year old and not a bad doer or good doer. but i only have a medium turnout. im thinking no rug but not sure
 
Hi,



Is she looking miserable/tucked up?
Is she the sort to get cold when she's wet?
Is there a field shelter/shelter of sorts?
What sort of rain, a shower, small downpour, or torrential bucketing down and gale force winds sort?

I wouldn't personally, if she is warm, but you know her best. :)
In the grand scheme of things 8C isn't cold, but then again, I have had horses that would have been shivering wrecks if left uncovered on a rainy night in that sort of temperature.
 
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If it's below 10 at night then I will always put a rug on mine.

Between 8-10 degrees a light cooler or fleece, 5-8 degrees a quilted one, and any lower then definitely a nice heavy rug :)

Depends on the stabling conditions too though. If they are in an enclosed barn it will be warmer inside so less rugging, but if the stable is more exposed then they can have something warmer on.
 
I rugged mine up last night as he's out in the field which is right at the top of a massive hill so gets very cold up there! Plus he hates the rain and sometimes suffers with a bad back if he's been out in the cold!!!

Brrrrrr feels like winter :'(
 
No!8 isn't cold, winter coats are coming through and provided they have forage to eat they will convert that to energy to keep warm. We are no way near into winter yet so don't start too early and roast your poor horses!
 
well i think she is goingto have to be a big girl and live with it lol

she has a stable as a field shelter so very warm place to go and she has loads of grass. shes at home so ill check on her as late in the night and if she needs one ill put it on.

thanks
 
my (semi retired!) boy is 18, is a tbxarab and carrying plenty of weight and has grown himself a decent coat. He is currently out 24/7 and is not wearing a rug at the moment and looks in great condition and seems happy out and naked.


my other horse is an ISH and is fairly leanish (fit leanish for her, although she is a bit chunky!) and is competing be100 at the moment. she too is out 24/7 and simply wears a sheet with no fill to help keep her clean as shes a coloured with a lot of white. Id much rather this for her at the moment rather than copious bathing. Maybe by the end of the month she will get a full clip but then after that she'll be allowed to grow her winter woolies and have a bit of a holiday.

the way I see it is at them moment the vast majority of horses (unless ill or in very poor condition) dont need rugs for warmth at the moment. I would rather they feel the benfits when the weather does turn colder.

Theres horses out at our yard at the moment who are overweight and not clipped who are turned out in medium weight rugs?!?! the mind boggles.....
 
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My tb's are living out at the moment in lw turnouts although as its starting to get colder now I'm going to start putting mw on them overnight as they only have a small hedge for shelter. I want them out for as long as possible, until the yo says they have to come in at night.
 
TigerTail said:
No!8 isn't cold, winter coats are coming through and provided they have forage to eat they will convert that to energy to keep warm. We are no way near into winter yet so don't start too early and roast your poor horses!
Click to expand...

I am going with this one because I like it ;)

Mine has got to get used to being out 247 so I dont want to start too early + I want to keep his weight off....sounds mean when you say it doesnt it?!
 
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