to rug or not - heart over head

M

margaretb

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 October 2009
Messages
291
Visit site
Poppy is a welsh x traditional cob. Out 24/7 365. When I bought her I was told (by the dealer) she didn't/hadn't worn a rug. She had a fantastic thick coat last winter - I had her at the end of January.

The orchard is well sheltered. If it is cold and dry I will leave her, but wet - should I rug? Would it do any harm? I went to buy a rug at the royal welsh show this summer but the guy said if she were native then leave unrugged. I am happy to leave her unrugged but my heart says rug her when wet.

She is already developing a good winter coat so I am careful not to over groom her, just removing any heavy dirt.
 
Nothing to do with heart or head. If your horse is cold, rug. If she's not, don't.

No harm in getting a light rain sheet to throw over her when raining. However she sounds like the type that wil have no need for rugs. I would wait and see. If she shivers, throw a rug on.
 
I'm having exactly the same debate at the moment. This is my first winter with the cob...he was rugged just prior to buying him (the very cold part of last winter). He lives out all the time and is building up a nice thick coat already and there is plenty of shelter in his field. He seems completely fine...I do have a new rug for him but would intend to use it only when it starts getting icy, as out of the wind it's not actually cold yet (11/12 degrees in Norfolk even at night). So I would leave it off and save it for the really cold times, by which time your pony will have his own full protection and maximum benefit from a rug when really needed.
 
If she is a good weight, in good health and doesn't seem adversely affected by the weather conditions, then no need to rug. If you are riding regularly and finding removing the wet and mud a pain, then a no-fill rain-sheet will do no harm.:cool:
 
I know what you mean but would go with your head on this one. She will be fine if she has shelter which she does. Our shirex is going to have no rug on for as much of the winter as possible but if needed will only have a light rain sheet on. Partly cause I think he'll get too hot and itchy in a rug and also I want him to come out of winter having lost some weight! It was pouring with rain here this morning and he was out in middle of field and had steam coming off him so was obviously warm xx
 
Unfortunately rainsheets do harm, IMO because they flatten the hairs which should be standing upright to warm the horse, so they are worse than useless. Why do you think that Poppy needs a rug?
Unless the horse is shivering she will be fine. Horse prefer to be slightly cold rather than over-warm. If she is getting plenty of forage and has some shelter she will be fine without a rug except in exceptionally cold & wet weather.
 
flamehead said:
Nothing to do with heart or head. If your horse is cold, rug. If she's not, don't.

No harm in getting a light rain sheet to throw over her when raining. However she sounds like the type that wil have no need for rugs. I would wait and see. If she shivers, throw a rug on.
Click to expand...

Could not have put it better myself, What flamehead said /\/\/\
 
I've a welsh cob and a gypsey cob and in theory neither need a rug, neither would come to any harm if I chose not to rug all winter.

I'd not come to any harm either if I didn't put my GCH on, I'd survive also but just because I would, doesn't mean I want to!!

I put rain sheets on mine, simply because when they are soaked through from rain and its driving wind, I dont want them to have to cope, better them dry and cosy in the first place.
I check them daily, and monitor the weather because its far more risky for these breeds to overheat that to be a bit cold.

I also do it for my own needs, Billy is 90% white and I just hate cleaning mud off all the time in winter, he stays lovely and clean with his rain sheet on :)

What can I say, I'm a softie :)
 
Vets and equine charities are warning people not to overrug their native type ponies; they are designed to lose weight over the winter months and cope effectively when conditions are bad. It gives their metabolism a needed boost and helps to keep a check on their weight.

Us not having any heating on is no comparison in my opinion, native types with a good coat are normally quite comfortable without a rug. If a horse is in good condition and hasn't had his winter coat clipped off with plenty of shelter if needed He'll be fine without a rug. Here is an article on how horses cope with the cold:- http://www.saddleshop.com/sentinel/articles/coldhorses.htm
 
If it is being allowed to grow a normal winter coat don't rug. IMO the only conditions they really hate are cold rain. You will know if your horse is miserable and then maybe put a rug on then, but otherwise let it be a natural horse.
 
touchstone said:
Vets and equine charities are warning people not to overrug their native type ponies; they are designed to lose weight over the winter months and cope effectively when conditions are bad. It gives their metabolism a needed boost and helps to keep a check on their weight.

Us not having any heating on is no comparison in my opinion, native types with a good coat are normally quite comfortable without a rug. If a horse is in good condition and hasn't had his winter coat clipped off with plenty of shelter if needed He'll be fine without a rug. Here is an article on how horses cope with the cold:- http://www.saddleshop.com/sentinel/articles/coldhorses.htm
Click to expand...


Thats your opinion, but there are a lot who dont agree with you I'm afraid, and it doesn't take into account particular needs of a horse.
There are 45 horses at my yard, about 20 of them are native types, every single one of them is rugged in the winter.
I dont care how often someone tells me my lad can cope in minus 16 degrees, driving sleet and wind, I dont see why he should have to. In the height of winter, he is cold to the touch, is cold at the base of his ears and with a lightweight on is warm and cosy but not overheated, and he's definitely a happier lad for it.......its all about knowing your own horse.

As for a comparison to GSH being no comparisson, of course its a comparrison, 50 years ago it didn't exist and the human race survived!! But yet we all have it now.....why, cause life's that bit nicer with it, and horses are that bit cosier and happier with a rug in winter!

I do agree however with the weight issue, leaving unrugged is a great way to burn the fat, but my horses aren't fat, they are spot on and I dont particuarly want them losing weight over winter, or have to pay twice the price on feed to give them the fuel to keep themselves warm :)

I have no problem with those that like to leave their natives to rough it for the winter, of course they will survive x
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Unfortunately rainsheets do harm, IMO because they flatten the hairs which should be standing upright to warm the horse, so they are worse than useless. Why do you think that Poppy needs a rug?
Unless the horse is shivering she will be fine. Horse prefer to be slightly cold rather than over-warm. If she is getting plenty of forage and has some shelter she will be fine without a rug except in exceptionally cold & wet weather.
Click to expand...


I don't believe she does need a rug. Last winter, cold and dry, she was warm throughout. She is in good condition, could afford to lose a little weight. Cold and wet are the conditions I will look to possibly rug her should she need it.

Thank you everyone.
 
missyme10 said:
Thats your opinion, but there are a lot who dont agree with you I'm afraid, and it doesn't take into account particular needs of a horse.
There are 45 horses at my yard, about 20 of them are native types, every single one of them is rugged in the winter.
I dont care how often someone tells me my lad can cope in minus 16 degrees, driving sleet and wind, I dont see why he should have to. In the height of winter, he is cold to the touch, is cold at the base of his ears and with a lightweight on is warm and cosy but not overheated, and he's definitely a happier lad for it.......its all about knowing your own horse.

As for a comparison to GSH being no comparisson, of course its a comparrison, 50 years ago it didn't exist and the human race survived!! But yet we all have it now.....why, cause life's that bit nicer with it, and horses are that bit cosier and happier with a rug in winter!

I do agree however with the weight issue, leaving unrugged is a great way to burn the fat, but my horses aren't fat, they are spot on and I dont particuarly want them losing weight over winter, or have to pay twice the price on feed to give them the fuel to keep themselves warm :)

I have no problem with those that like to leave their natives to rough it for the winter, of course they will survive x
Click to expand...

It isn't just my opinion, it is as I said the opinion of plenty of vets and welfare organisations. I agree 100% that you have judge the individual horse, but most natives already have their own insulation and protection (fat and winter coat!) Most vets are now saying that is is healthier for the horse to actually lose a bit of weight over the winter months and to come into Spring slightly under which allows them to gain a bit of weight in the summer months without harm. Many natives don't simply survive over winter unrugged, they thrive.

My native may be unrugged, but she certainly isn't "roughing it"!

Margaretb - a good decision ;)
 
touchstone said:
It isn't just my opinion, it is as I said the opinion of plenty of vets and welfare organisations. I agree 100% that you have judge the individual horse, but most natives already have their own insulation and protection (fat and winter coat!) Most vets are now saying that is is healthier for the horse to actually lose a bit of weight over the winter months and to come into Spring slightly under which allows them to gain a bit of weight in the summer months without harm. Many natives don't simply survive over winter unrugged, they thrive.

My native may be unrugged, but she certainly isn't "roughing it"!

Margaretb - a good decision ;)
Click to expand...

Your talking about fat little ponies and natives, not horses spot on weight wise and in regular work. Mine certainly dont thrive in the winter conditions we suffer here (Scotland), and last winter when we had snow and ice on the ground for a month solid, with temps dropping to minus 20 at night, and sub zero during the day, I didn't see one horse at all the yards in my area unrugged. They were rugged because it was blooming freezing and the cost of feeding was ridicoulous, twice as much haylage as a minimum, never mind hard feed.

I know my own horses and sorry, but to leave them unrugged in the winters we suffer would be leaving them to "rough it". If a horse feels cold - rug it, if it feels warm - dont rug it!

There is a big divide on this issue I know, but I feel to many dont actually bother to see if their horse is actually cold, they just think oh cob, or native they dont need rugging.
Horses are not all the same of a particular breed, I have a dutch warmblood who is far warmer than my gypsey cob. I think the general consensus would be to rug her, but if I was to stick a winter rug on her now like others, she'd overheat for sure, so she to only has a rain sheet unless it turns really cold x
 
The most important thing Margaretb is that your mare has access to plenty of fibre to keep her warm through winter. A lot of people forget that that is how a horse generates heat, from inside. We rug when there is constant rain and bitterly cold winds.
 
Missymee10 - you seem to be taking my posts as a personal attack on rugging - they aren't - they are an opinion on rugging the op's welsh x traditional, so yes I am talking about native types.

For what it's worth I also rug when needed, so I don't look at a cob or native and assume it doesn't need a rug (although I find the majority don't unless there is something else going on!) I already stated that you've got to judge the individual and act on that. As the OP's horse has already wintered out unrugged quite happily I'm taking that as a good indicator!

I've also wintered some tb's out without rugs and they were perfectly happy and content. (I'm in the North too.)

I am sorry if my posts are interpreted as an attack on rugging on the whole, they are simply my opinion on the OP's horse.
 
touchstone said:
Missymee10 - you seem to be taking my posts as a personal attack on rugging - they aren't - they are an opinion on rugging the op's welsh x traditional, so yes I am talking about native types.

For what it's worth I also rug when needed, so I don't look at a cob or native and assume it doesn't need a rug (although I find the majority don't unless there is something else going on!) I already stated that you've got to judge the individual and act on that. As the OP's horse has already wintered out unrugged quite happily I'm taking that as a good indicator!

I've also wintered some tb's out without rugs and they were perfectly happy and content. (I'm in the North too.)

I am sorry if my posts are interpreted as an attack on rugging on the whole, they are simply my opinion on the OP's horse.
Click to expand...

Not all all, I've not taken your posts as a personal attack on rugging, or on me :)
Just a difference of opinion, so when you quote vets, welfare charities etc, I've just tried to state well its not as simple as that, mine dont fit with that theory and others dont also.
I think as we have both said, its really about knowing your horse :)

If you're north as well, I'm sure you know what I mean about last winter - it wasn't normal lol x
 
I don't condone over rugging - I made a mistake with a Fell pony of mine once by leaving her in a turnout rug. Early morning was cold and I thought she needed it. I went to work. Sun came out.......by the time I got home in the evening she had sweated up and dehydrated - ended up with colic.

Her breeder used to tell me that she looked out at her ponies in the winter feeling sorry for them and wondering whether they ought to come in as they had a few inches of snow on their backs. Her husband pointed out how good the insulation must be if the snow hadn't melted.

I don't rug unless I clip. So that means I don't rug until November as I never clip until end of October. However, it's a pain to have a wet horse to tack up, so if it is wet I turn out in a rainsheet to keep them dry. I no longer have Fell ponies either - daughter has taken over and we have eventers. I have turned them away with shoes off, no hard feed or hay, and unclipped November & December and they've all managed unrugged and thrived despite warnings from fellow liveries that I am being cruel.

They are horses, and if we let them be horses they seem to be OK. In fact the ones that are given this break seem to come back to work all the better for it. The ones kept in work through the winter to improve dressage/SJ don't seem quite so chilled or up for it as the ones that have been on holiday.
 
Bedlam said:
I don't rug unless I clip. So that means I don't rug until November as I never clip until end of October. However, it's a pain to have a wet horse to tack up, so if it is wet I turn out in a rainsheet to keep them dry. I no longer have Fell ponies either - daughter has taken over and we have eventers. I have turned them away with shoes off, no hard feed or hay, and unclipped November & December and they've all managed unrugged and thrived despite warnings from fellow liveries that I am being cruel.

exactly the same. i dont rug unless its raining and i want to ride later or i have clipped my pony then i replace what i have clipped off!. but otherwise she'll stay naked even tho im the only one at the yard with no rug on which hasnt gone unnoticed by others and already being gossiped about!! typical
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Unfortunately rainsheets do harm, IMO because they flatten the hairs which should be standing upright to warm the horse, so they are worse than useless.
Click to expand...

Now you see I've heard this theory before, but I must say I've never found it to be a problem in practice! I have had horses for more years than I care to remember and have often used a rainsheet on hairy ponies and have never found they seemed colder than their unrugged hairy fieldmates.
 
It seems you are happy leaving her unrugged but are worried about her getting cold in really manky wet weather.

Does she have shelter? Then she can choose not to get wet. But most horses don't seem to mind that much. When they have a thick waterproof coat (don't body brush in winter, leave the grease in, that's what it's for) rain doesn't get through to the skin. Next time it pours with rain push your fingers into her coat along her ribs against the direction of the hair growth to get rigfht into the roots. Feel her skin. Warm? Dry? No problem. If her coat is too thin or not waterproof then her skin will feel cold and damp and you might want a rug in future.

It isn't called the horse's coat for nothing. Getting wet is no different to us wearing a coat that gets wet on the outside in rain, we are dry underneath it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top