Should i take his fleece off?

I thought of putting a rug on mine tonight , he looked cold, and was shivering, I checked behind his ears and under his ' arm pits '. And he was toasty warm.

Go with your instincts OP, and sorry for the back lash you got :( I always say a stupid question is one that is never asked x
 
Kiristamm said:
I nosed through your pics, he is gorgeous!! Can I take him home? :D
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When i took him on i hadn't ridden or had anything to do with horses for many, many years, i actually took him off someone who couldnt care for him anymore. He hadnt been neglected but needed a bit of TLC.

We could say i was a novice again after not riding for so long, i did try him a few times first but it was only when i got him home that the real horse came out. For a little cob he has a permanent rocket up his backside, front legs like lightening and can spin on a six pence but, i had to learn sharpish if we were going to succeed and we did. I wouldnt change him for the world :D
 
I always ask lots of questions about every thing and i come on here to look things up. Not because I'm a crap horse owner but because I want to get every thing right.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
As I understood it OP was asking if others thought that her horse would be too hot in a fleece overnight when the temperature is forecast to be 8 degrees. She did not say that she had felt behind the horse's elbow (rather than under the rug) to test his temperature and found him too warm/cool.
I am glad that novice owners do ask questions on here but wish, like Joanne, that some of them would learn the basics of horse-care before actually buying the poor animal.
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'poor animal'? Are you referring to the same animal that has an owner who cares so much for its comfort that she is seeking the advice from a thousand other people about whether she has made him suitably comfortable this evening or not!? Poor animal indeed, how awful that she seems to care that she gets it just right for him and hopes that she hasn't made a decision that will have left him just a bit too cold or a bit too hot.

Poor animal.

Get over yourselves.
 
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This is silly, OP I am so unsure about rugging that sometimes I'm up the yard 3 times a day checking if the old man's too hot or cold. I don't think this makes me a bad owner.

I don't think it makes you a bad owner to ask; how does one learn if they can't ask questions? Asking what rug to choose does not constitute a bad owner. It shows concern for welfare.

What of the owners that choose not to ask and leave their horses in heavyweights until May or naked in the driving rain? Because they do not ask and get it wrong their horse suffers :/

Shake it off OP, horses are a constant learning curve xxx
 
OP, you ask away in future. People like Joeanne should wind their neck in. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion what so ever - makes you a caring owner in my opinion :-)
 
Op, I've owned horses for 20 yrs and am currently unsure everyday with regards to rugging my mare, she has no body fat or muscle so she needs wrapping up but then there are the days when it's so hot... It's all a flipping nightmare. As someone said there is another thread running on here with regards to rugging... Along with 2 totally different schools of thought, so no Joanne and mudslinger I don't think that ops question displays an inability to care for her horse, and just because op didn't post that she'd stuck her hand under to feel the temp of her horse doesn't mean she didn't, she asked a simple question, what do you want, age, breed, height, colour, thickness and brand of rug and a run down of feed and bedding to?! If op asked this question on the other thread some would have said whip the rug off and others would have said leave it on, does this make one of those groups incompetent fools who shouldn't own horses?!
Shame on you, it's a sad state of affairs when someone can't ask a basic question without being lynched! How many horse owners come on here and ask about different types of feed or grazing approaches or worming? This is all highly important stuff, but the fact that people do come on here and ask shows that they are being responsible... Do not knock it!
 
Queenbee said:
Op, I've owned horses for 20 yrs and am currently unsure everyday with regards to rugging my mare, she has no body fat or muscle so she needs wrapping up but then there are the days when it's so hot... It's all a flipping nightmare. As someone said there is another thread running on here with regards to rugging... Along with 2 totally different schools of thought, so no Joanne and mudslinger I don't think that ops question displays an inability to care for her horse, and just because op didn't post that she'd stuck her hand under to feel the temp of her horse doesn't mean she didn't, she asked a simple question, what do you want, age, breed, height, colour, thickness and brand of rug and a run down of feed and bedding to?! If op asked this question on the other thread some would have said whip the rug off and others would have said leave it on, does this make one of those groups incompetent fools who shouldn't own horses?!
Shame on you, it's a sad state of affairs when someone can't ask a basic question without being lynched! How many horse owners come on here and ask about different types of feed or grazing approaches or worming? This is all highly important stuff, but the fact that people do come on here and ask shows that they are being responsible... Do not knock it!
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^^this^^

Is it any wonder people are afraid to come on this forum to be ridiculed :(

This along with another couple of threads I've read recently prove why I mostly only lurk on here :( I don't think I've ever come across so many judgemental people in my life before seeing some of the replies to threads on here.
 
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Froddy said:
I don't think I've ever come across so many judgemental people in my life before seeing some of the replies to threads on here.
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I think that this is because everyone that comes on here is horse orientated, so that's an awful lot of opinions and experience (good, bad, or indifferent, depending on the moment in time) in one place. When push comes to shove though, when the chips are down and all that, we look after our own and that's been proven time after time.

Any forum is the same, horses, dogs, babies (now those are scarey places to be :eek:) Land Rovers, chocolate biscuit lovers, you name it, a lot of people with the same interest at heart, just different ways of reaching the final destination ... :)
 
All i'd say is at the end of the day he is a horse - none of which expect to be rugged and they would all be perfectly fine being naked 24/7. Yes they may shiver but no one has ever died from nattering teeth! :p
 
After dithering massively about rugs/not rugs for many years, I finally came to the conclusion that if I have to ask myself the question, then probably the horse is better off NOT having the rug, since horses cope a lot better acc to the vets with being a bit chilly than with being too hot.

This is even tho one of my horses is 20 and we live in the Cairngorms....

BUT I do think that it is totally down to the horse, my 20yo is as fat and sleek as anything, another might be a poor doer hatrack with medical issues. So Im not sure what peoples replies as to whether they would or wouldnt are going to be valuable to someone who was (unlike OP) looking for advice. For someone seeking that advice, the 'ruder' posters have actually provided the best advice about where to check on the horse to see if they need rugging.

For me, I just try to remember that altho I might feel 'better' putting the rug on just in case, the horse will probably feel better if I dont.

The only rug I would put on in June would be a thermatex if they were cold and wet until they were dry and then it would come off. Remember horses get 80% of their heat from food, rugs just make them sweat as the other 20% gets achieved very quickly.
 
Sure he was fine with his fleece on, my big lad has a 200g on just now and is happy wandering around stuffing his face.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
The only rug I would put on in June would be a thermatex if they were cold and wet until they were dry and then it would come off. Remember horses get 80% of their heat from food, rugs just make them sweat as the other 20% gets achieved very quickly.
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Just because it is June, doesnt mean it cant be cold/wet/windy. We have had quite a few summers lately that have been freezing with never ending rain.
I used to hate the whole," its May, chuck the horses out for the summer naked " livery yard attitude, thought we got past that now.
 
mulledwhine said:
I always say a stupid question is one that is never asked x
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Well said.....can't believe the few self righteous people who feel the need to jump on someone for asking a simple question!!! After 34 years experience, I still feel the need to double check seemingly stupid things..it's called human nature and is perfectly natural!! OP don't let the HHO 'perfect' few put you off asking in the future, just learn to ignore their comments!!!!
 
Of course June can be cold-ish, rain or be windy.

BUT in June it is rarely all three together
The cold is very rarely real cold (as in minus temperatures)
And it rarely lasts for weeks

Just because it is raining doesnt mean the horse needs a rug on, unless it is underweight, very old, or ill.

It is a vicious circle too, because people insist on rugging all autumn/winter/spring, the horse then isnt used to any kind of weather and neither is its coat.

And, because it gets 80% of warmth not from rug but from food, horses (except for the exceptions above) would mostly be better off with a good pasture unrugged than swaddled like the baby Jesus with nothing to eat.

Many people I have met have when being honest admitted their rugging is more so the horse stays clean....
 
You mustnt live here then as when the wind chill is factored in with the rain its bloody cold here, reason we dont have hose bans is it does rain for weeks here, even in the summer sometimes.

Having a native, no chance in hell will i put her out unrugged and on good grazing, she can stand in her bare section rugged up.
 
Is your horse ill or very underweight OP?

If not then he shouldn't need any rug at all. They are horses, they have waterproof coats (however thin the coat) and should be allowed to regulate their own body temp.

My old pony was 40 when he passed away and the most he used to have on in the previous ten years to this was a mediumweight in winter, and that was because he was clipped and in full work. My warmblood type mare has a very fine coat, yet she has been out 24/7 with just a tree and hedgerows for shelter, and I have yet to see her stood 'shivering' as many people say their horses do.

I have only ever seen very sick or underweight horses 'shiver' truly. I would suggest that if horses are 'shivering' then it is the owner's fault for consistently rugging/unrugging/rugging/unrugging. Poor horses don't learn to withstand the slightest elements. I mean, rugging in 8 degrees with a spot of rain is ridiculous. How do people think the Welsh Mountain ponies survive, foals and all?!!!!
 
Moomin1 said:
Is your horse ill or very underweight OP?

If not then he shouldn't need any rug at all. They are horses, they have waterproof coats (however thin the coat) and should be allowed to regulate their own body temp.
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With a thin 'summer' coat, and the weather more like autumn with the wind and the rain (the two elements combined a guarantee our horses will drop condition), why on earth would you not rug a cold horse?

All warm blooded animals can regulate their body temperatures. However, sometimes the elements get the better of us...........
 
OP if he's happy with his fleece on then leave it on him :)

Mine came in shivering and literally drenched so I put his fleece on him. Last thing I want is him getting a chill as he is already poorly.

No doubt once he's dried and more happier I'll take it off later but if he was a finer breed ie thoroughbred then I see no harm at all. It's June, they are soaked, it's windy and IMO quite nippy.

Don't hesitate to ask 'silly' questions that's what a forum is for and I'm sure your not the only one who was wondering with your question you just had the bottle to ask ;)
 
amymay said:
With a thin 'summer' coat, and the weather more like autumn with the wind and the rain (the two elements combined a guarantee our horses will drop condition), why on earth would you not rug a cold horse?

All warm blooded animals can regulate their body temperatures. However, sometimes the elements get the better of us...........
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Because it's the persistent rugging and unrugging that causes the horse to not be able to control it's temperature. At the end of the day it's better to allow horses to be as close to nature as we can possibly allow, and people that over rug or rug for no real reason other than 'they feel the horse may be cold' are not doing the horse any favours if it were ever passed on or sold to someone who has a different idea about the whole thing.

I wholeheartedly agree that with older horses (depending on the horse), ill horses and underweight horses, it may be necessary to rug. The depths of winter when there is poor forage and horses are clipped also, and when temps reach minus numbers. Or a no fill if you want to keep them clean.

What is wrong with leaving horses to be horses?

I am still yet to see a healthy horse shiver. I must be looking at some very unique horses! ;)
 
amymay said:
With a thin 'summer' coat, and the weather more like autumn with the wind and the rain (the two elements combined a guarantee our horses will drop condition), why on earth would you not rug a cold horse?

All warm blooded animals can regulate their body temperatures. However, sometimes the elements get the better of us...........
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My horse hasn't dropped any condition...though I wish she would! And she has been stood out in howling wind and rain for days. She has a tree for shelter. She's also on restricted grazing. People automatically assume horses will drop condition in this weather. We are not in the antarctic.

There are a herd of Arabs and Tb's in the field opposite which have never seen a rug in their lives, and were out in all of the freezing temps the other winter (-13), yet they barely dropped a kilo. They are still out in all of this weather, and haven't dropped a inch.
 
I am still yet to see a healthy horse shiver. I must be looking at some very unique horses!

;) I think shivering is a healthy response to being cold??;)
Mine will demonstrate it for you if you want!!;)
 
Believe me my cob is the picture of health, out naked and with a two week old full clip the weather turned and I found her hunched up across her back, contracted and shivering. Moomin, Are you suggesting she wasn't cold?
 
Moomin1 said:
Because it's the persistent rugging and unrugging that causes the horse to not be able to control it's temperature.
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I don't disagree per se. However the shift in weather patterns can play havoc - and I've seen perfectly healthy horses shivering with cold out in this sort of weather (my own included;)). So my opinion is why leave them cold, when I can do something to either prevent them from getting cold in the first place, or assist them to warm up if they have got cold.

In fact their more likely to feel the cold at this time of year - than in the autumn and certainly winter when they have winter coats coming through, or indeed through. And of course shivering is a biological reaction to being cold, that happens to all warm blooded animals, and is not 'unhealthy'.

What is wrong with leaving horses to be horses?
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Nothing, I'm all for it.

I am still yet to see a healthy horse shiver. I must be looking at some very unique horses! ;)
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You may just be..........:)
 
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In my opinion, horsey people tend to over rug. Not referring to OP, just in general.
same old thing, just because you are cold, doesn't mean your horse is.
I went out in the driving rain to three of my horses last night. Checked they were warm and they were toasty, happily grazing and getting a bit of shelter from the trees. the pony was fully clipped in winter so not fuzzy coat, yet still warm

if a horse is fit and healthy they can cope with most weather.
Ill , old, infirm - different management obviously.
 
Billie1007 said:
Believe me my cob is the picture of health, out naked and with a two week old full clip the weather turned and I found her hunched up across her back, contracted and shivering. Moomin, Are you suggesting she wasn't cold?
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Ha ha, errrrrr, no - she was fully clipped two weeks ago. There lies your answer!! ;)
 
Moomin1 said:
People automatically assume horses will drop condition in this weather. We are not in the antarctic.
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Some will, many will not. Obviously we're not in the antarctic. But it is the wet and driving wind that affects horses the most. Not dry cold conditions - in which they actually will thrive, given the right forrage.

There are a herd of Arabs and Tb's in the field opposite which have never seen a rug in their lives, and were out in all of the freezing temps the other winter (-13), yet they barely dropped a kilo. They are still out in all of this weather, and haven't dropped a inch.
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Which is great. Their management is obviously very good.
 
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My TB will drop condition at the drop of a hat if he gets cold. Currently the perfect weight and maintaining this on good grass and relevant hard feed but will always be rugged in this current sort of weather. Someone needs to remind him that horses really shouldnt shrink in the rain but he didnt get that memo. Rug a horse which needs a rug and dont if they dont, being slightly cold is not a problem for a lot of horses if they dont drop condition when they are so.
 
amymay said:
A lot will, many will not. Obviously we're not in the antarctic. But it is the wet and driving wind that affects horses the most. Not dry cold conditions - in which they actually will thrive, given the right forrage.



Which is great. Their management is obviously very good.
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I wouldn't say their management is good at all actually - the guy is a dealer and they live off the bare minimum. But have to say - there is bugger all ever wrong with them! He just doesn't mollicoddle them.

It makes me cringe the amount of fields I have driven past in the past couple of weeks, when there is a slight drizzle and a cloud and all horses have full neck turnouts on.
 
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