Sorry, a stupid question, wet pony!!!

[mulledwhine]

Sorry to bother you all with this, but this is the first time I have ever had to actully stable a pony.

Today started out dry, so I went out and did not rug him up, it was warm so did not think I neeed to.

When I got back it had thrown it down, he was wet through, and even though he is able to go back in his stable, he had chosen to stay out in it !!!!

I have wicked him off, and scraped him down, have just gone out and even though he had a deep warm bed he felt cool, so have put his stable rug on, have I done the right thing?

All my others have been out 24/7, and this has never been an issue, so apologies for my silly question, answers are gratefully recevied xx

 

[mulledwhine]

^^^^ Bump

 

[Django Pony]

Was he dry when you put his stable rug on? Or if not dry, how wet/damp was he? x

 

[Donkey66]

What sort of animal is it? Where in the country are you? Unless it is ill, clipped or extremely fine skinned it should survive getting wet in most of the UK.

 

[Quartz]

I would of waited for him to dry off before rugging him, but thats what I have always been told.

 

[rossiroo]

personally I would leave a wicking rug on untill he is dry, then put stable rug on, otherwise the old-fashioned way of putting straw under a rug to' thatch' drys a wet pony quite well.

 

[mulledwhine]

He was damp, but cool, he is a welsh section A, and very fat, have only just got him, which is why I am overly cautious.

Have had horses for a long time, but stabling is a new thing for me, and just want to get it right x

 

[TJP]

personally I would leave a wicking rug on untill he is dry, then put stable rug on, otherwise the old-fashioned way of putting straw under a rug to' thatch' drys a wet pony quite well.

This ^^^^^^. I also have heat lamps in the smallest stable which are a godsend at times.

 

[mulledwhine]

Thanks guys, did thatch him, but thought it was only me that still did that , so did not mention it

 

[bex1984]

he is a welsh section A, and very fat

...in that case, he probably doesn't need a rug full stop, and would be better off without one, in and out.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

They're a tad expensive, but once you've got it, you've got it; and thats a Thermotex rug (or something cheaper but similar).

They're absolutely brilliant for drying off a wet horse and wick the dampness away in no time; nothing better IME and well worth the money.

 

[monikirk]

He'll be fine! But worth getting hold of a waffle rug - I use a weatherbeta which is a wool blend similar to thermatex but half the price.

 

[nikkimariet]

Wouldn't leave a damp horse in the cold no matter how fat it was. You did the right thing. Would be worth looking into thermatex or alternative rug that will help wick away any moisture from his coat xoxo

 

[Tinypony]

Wouldn't leave a damp horse in the cold no matter how fat it was. You did the right thing. Would be worth looking into thermatex or alternative rug that will help wick away any moisture from his coat xoxo

What about those who have natives living out? If you rug them up in the "cold" you'll overheat them. Ponies and horses that have natural coats left on are supposed to get wet, their fur is designed to deal with it. Good grief, my little native mare has never worn a rug in her life, and she lives out 24/7.
Op, why are you stabling and rugging this one? Is this what it is used to, or is it clipped? With an unclipped Section A, unless there were particular reasons, I might bring it in but I wouldn't rug it. Let nature take it's course. If you burrow your fingers into the fur you shoudl find the skin is bone dry. Also, put your hand up in the pony's "armpit" and feel the warmth.

 

[bryngelenponies]

My section A is out 24/7 with access to shelter. It's been a bit wet today and yes she does look very wet. BUT burrow your fingers underneath all of that fur (a good few inches of it!) and it is bone dry and fluffy. If she was unhappy/uncomfortable she would certainly let me know but this has been the first winter she has been completely unrugged and she is the happiest/perkiest she has ever been.

 

[Sanolly]

Wouldn't leave a damp horse in the cold no matter how fat it was. You did the right thing. Would be worth looking into thermatex or alternative rug that will help wick away any moisture from his coat xoxo

As others have said there is a difference between most horses, and native ponies! Guaranteed I wouldn't leave a thin skinned TB type out wet but a little hairy sec A, in a heartbeat! Also as the OP said the pony chose not to go into it's shelter so it was obviously happy enough. Bear in mind where welsh mountain ponies originate from...