Stupid question.....

LoopyLouise

LoopyLouise

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Hi girls and guys
this may sound like a really stupid question but advise needed. My two French Trotters where stabled last winter and I had real problems with rugging them both. Satine at the time was in foal unknown to myself and her winter coat was what I would call a summer coat but found with a MW rug on the coldest of nights she still sweated up so changed to a LW which again some nights she was ok and others she was sweaty. Samsam my other FT had the same problem he was very under weight last winter when I got him and his winter coat made him look like a fluffy teddy bear.
Well this year they will be living out 24/7 which is a first for me but not for them. In France they where both out 24/7 with no rugs. what weight rug do you think they will need at the moment they both have LW and MW each. The field they are in has natural shelter on two sides and they will be moving back to their old field before winter really sets in which offers them a large wooded area for shelter. My biggest worry is I don't want them to get to hot or cold and sounds horrid but I don't have the time to do rug changes for day and night as I have 8 horses and ponies in total and with feeding grooming pooh picking and riding/lunging 3 of them by myself I just don't have enough hours in the day :o
 
If they are both out 24/7 and have wintered out without rugs before I would leave them without rugs (also as they get too hot) if you're worried about them getting too wet or muddy or want to ride them then maybe just a rain sheet on both to keep them dry or clean. A horse is better off slightly too cold than too hot :)

Alex.
 
With good natural shelter and their natural coats, I wouldn't worry too much. You do need to check them when its freezing rain in a gale but many horses cope just fine in other 'winter weathers'. Certainly wait til November and see what its like from there. The worst weather is usually January and by that time they would have adapted their coats very well. If you rug them now, it will upset the 'fluffiness' for later.

You do sound like a very busy bee!!!
 
sydneysmum said:
flipping heck ur a busy girl
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Tell me about it most days I don't know if Im coming or going but hate just sitting around also have 1 son 2 dogs and 4 cats at home. At mo I have left them without rugs rest are rugged as are TB and BRP so are a bit soft.

Will get them some rain sheets and see how they go with them these two are not ridden at mo Satine has a lovely foal at foot and Samsam is having a year to grow (He was backed in france at 2 :mad:) plus he sees me as a play mate so trying to teach him that having 16h horse charging at me isn't fun for me :D
 
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