Sudden chucking out

[poiuytrewq]

I am in the most incredibly lucky situation, after a year of heartbreak with a horse I’m really fond of. The insurance has run out and I can go no further. We have done everything and tried some things twice.
I always said I’d never loan anything, but equally I don’t have the ideal companion facilities or wallet.
A friend has a space coming up and we have agreed he will maybe fit her companion bill.
Chatted today, I’ll cover his shoes (needs fronts on even not in work) I’ll provide feed, rugs whatever he needs. She will provide grass and companionship for him to live out for time being (vet advice try bringing into work after 6 mth)
So, currently he’s in a 100g TO but in during the night.
I’m sorting through his stuff. At this time of year, getting milder what would you do rug wise?
More over night? Just ask for more if it’s horrible?
He’s a bit of a poppet and I can’t quite believe he’s landed on his feet like this (obviously the only other possibility was a safe one!)
He will be far better off and I can still see him daily if I want, I’m just a bit worried about the rug situ.
Would you up it overnight?

 

[L&M]

What fab luck!

Tbh, unless he really feels the cold, I would rough off and not even bother with rugs. Where we are the temps are up to around 13c next week. I there is a cold snap you could always pop a rug on then, but if he is out at grass 24/7 he will be moving about more so likely to stay warmer.

Hope it all works out.

 

[Winters100]

Great news - really pleased for you!

The rug question is always difficult, because it depends so much on the horse. At the moment I have 3 kept in same routine, one (good doer) in a 50g, one is 100g, and old lady pony who feels the cold in 200g.

Personally I would not worry too much, as being outside he can always move around a bit to warm up. For me a 100g would be fine for both day and night, but I would be aiming for no rugs within some weeks.

Good luck and I hope that he enjoys his holiday very tough new job being a field ornament and companion.

 

[Shooting Star]

I’d say 100g should be fine for both day & night now unless he’s particularly wimpy or freshly clipped. My ISH (chunky TB build) is currently out 24/7 in 50g - neck on in bad weather, off in good and as soon as we get a few good days I’ll get the rug off for a bit.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I don’t really have time to gradually rough off but have been lowering his rugging over the past few weeks anyway.
Ok, so he can go with a rug and not worry too much about day and night. (Unless it’s terrible ?)
Quite excited, very relieved and a little bit sad all at the same time!

 

[HashRouge]

I also don't think you need to worry too much. I actually think horses regulate their own body temperatures pretty well so I generally don't change rugs too much in the winter and especially not at this time of year (I go lighter rather than heavier!). My Welsh wears nothing at all and my 29 year old Arab has spent most of the year in what I think is either a 100 or 150g turnout (no neck). At the moment she has it taken off most days (unless wet) then back on overnight. She has worn a thicker rug with a neck cover in bad weather, but not much this year as it's been a fairly nice winter. She is a great weight coming out of winter. I personally would send him with his 100g rug and probably a no fill for the summer, and then not worry about any more rugs until the winter. But it sounds like you will still be able to see him quite a bit, so if he does need more rugs you'll be able to take them no problem

 

[pistolpete]

100gm rugs are really useful. Not horrendously warm if sun comes out but so much better than a sheet if very wet with wind chill. Even better is a 40 or 50gm. My old warmblood spent several winters out in his. Had the luxury of a liner system which I maybe used a handful of times but I too would be looking at less not more.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

IME horses don't move about more to keep warm, they stand around looking miserable. However it sounds as if he will have plenty of forage to eat and it is eating that keeps them warm.
You obviously trust your friend to care for him appropriately and he really won't be far away from you, so if he needs a heavier rug, you will be able to get one to him pretty quickly.
I would send his 100g rug with him and let friend know that if he needs more you have it but don't want to clutter up her tackroom unnecessarily

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think 100g will be OK for now mine are in 50g or 100g at the moment and sometimes just a sheet during the day,they were out naked on Thursday it was 14 degrees and lovely and sunny am hoping next week will be the same it's looking good at the moment ?

 

[pistolpete]

I’ve seen ours running to keep warm. Herd helps so more horses equals more movement usually too. When I just had two it wasn’t as good. Just my experience. They are very good at positioning themselves away from prevailing wind too. Once they realise they’re not being brought in. That’s what causes the standing by the gate in my experience.

 

[poiuytrewq]

True I can almost as easily pop to hers with an extra rug as walk across my field with one! I won’t send him with heaps of stuff, she’s a far less “ruggy“ person than me, that won’t hurt him.
I ride out with her most days, so will have constant updates even on the days I don’t physically see him myself. Its really not the luck I get, I’m to get back on him in 6 months, again I can do that from hers rather than cause even more disruption to him and the others. I * hope that if he doesn’t come right by that point he and her/s will all be so happy together we might be able to continue the arrangement as he can’t live out 24/7 with me. ??

 

[poiuytrewq]

IME horses don't move about more to keep warm, they stand around looking miserable. However it sounds as if he will have plenty of forage to eat and it is eating that keeps them warm.
You obviously trust your friend to care for him appropriately and he really won't be far away from you, so if he needs a heavier rug, you will be able to get one to him pretty quickly.
I would send his 100g rug with him and let friend know that if he needs more you have it but don't want to clutter up her tackroom unnecessarily

Agree, he is pretty chilled in the field and if he’s cold he will just huncker up and look miserable.
She rolls big bales out, something I can’t do as I have one with a bad dust allergy. She also has more grass than me by miles so he will be eating constantly.

 

[Tiddlypom]

A no fill for the warmer sunny days plus a 100g to pop on at night, if she doesn't mind doing that.

He won't cook in the no fill and it'll keep him clean for a quick rug change twice daily.

 

[chocolategirl]

I am in the most incredibly lucky situation, after a year of heartbreak with a horse I’m really fond of. The insurance has run out and I can go no further. We have done everything and tried some things twice.
I always said I’d never loan anything, but equally I don’t have the ideal companion facilities or wallet.
A friend has a space coming up and we have agreed he will maybe fit her companion bill.
Chatted today, I’ll cover his shoes (needs fronts on even not in work) I’ll provide feed, rugs whatever he needs. She will provide grass and companionship for him to live out for time being (vet advice try bringing into work after 6 mth)
So, currently he’s in a 100g TO but in during the night.
I’m sorting through his stuff. At this time of year, getting milder what would you do rug wise?
More over night? Just ask for more if it’s horrible?
He’s a bit of a poppet and I can’t quite believe he’s landed on his feet like this (obviously the only other possibility was a safe one!)
He will be far better off and I can still see him daily if I want, I’m just a bit worried about the rug situ.
Would you up it overnight?

If it were me, and I was worried about making a sudden change, I’d be putting 2 lightweights on to start with, one with a neck, one without, and as the weather warms up and rain less likely, drop down to one. Reasons for this, no fill, so will only keep the worst of the chill off, I don’t trust one lw rug to keep out a heavy bout of rain, whereas 2, will definitely keep even the heaviest of rain out. If he’s a good doer, you’ll need to be careful of over rigging him as if he can’t regulate his weight by keeping himself warm, he’ll be at risk of laminitis. This is what my vet warned me of with one that we’re having to give 12 months off in the field.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I had actually thought that a LW and the 100 to just Chuck over at night might be a plan.
Luckily for me laminitis isn’t going to be a huge worry, he is a good doer for a TB, currently a nice weight but my friend has a track aswell as some normal fields which she uses in summer if need be, she is pretty clued on laminitis and such like.

 

[spotty_pony]

Mine are out 24/7 in 100g rugs at the moment, and both are partly clipped although it’s growing out.