to rug, or not to rug......

[Fairynuff]

that is the question. Up until 2 days ago the mean temp was 20 degrees=sweaty horsies and flies. Two days later we are 1 degree with frost on the fields (7 am) which is quite a drop

. After many years of being sure of what I did, Im now finding myself uncertain. What would you do with a horse of 23 who had pneumonia last winter and is lucky to be alive-he has dropped a lot in the last year and has the use of threequarters of 1 lung. The other is a huge camel of a horse (1.89) and was seriously underweight when he arrived. He's fattened up but is still borderline thin. I need your opinions-to rug or not to rug (light weight). The temp is supposed to crash then go up again within the next few days

Thanks, M.

 

[picolenicole]

Our 21 year old has not got a rug on but in your case I would, but you know your horses better than anyone else.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

I would put a no fill rainsheet on the borderline thin one as it will take the edge out of the cold, without making them too hot if it suddenly perks up, and a lightweight on the one who had pneumonia.

 

[EmmaJaneWilliams]

I am a whimp and mine are in medium weights but they are fully clipped. I would use light weights just in case I would think that a warm horse would be better than a very cold one?

 

[mccarron6769]

I have a TB / Irish boy who doesn't struggle to keep the weight on but has gone fluffy so two nights ago I started putting his rug on at night, if nothing else than to delay the invevitable clip

 

[Enfys]

I'd rug, but you sound as if you are damned if you do and damned if you don't with your weather at the moment Mairi, I see your quandry.

Rug at night?

How is your little QH doing?

 

[beckieswann]

I'd rug at night, tonight is apparently going to be cold again - boo!!

 

[Fairynuff]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd rug at night, tonight is apparently going to be cold again - boo!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I live in Northern Italy and can see the Alps from the top of my fields and they are already covered in snow. Oh how I love the autumn and winter

 

[Fairynuff]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd rug, but you sound as if you are damned if you do and damned if you don't with your weather at the moment Mairi, I see your quandry.

Rug at night?

How is your little QH doing?

[/ QUOTE ]
Ive rugged up the two plus Sausage who is a bit on the ribby side too-long story regarding owner who thought she was getting a great deal cos she had moved him from me to somewhere else that cost very little. he came back to me looking like a hatrack and covered in a bacterial infection which has taken me 3 months to get rid of. Vets bill was enormous

My little Q is blooming although oh is concerned that she wont make 16 hands!!!

 

[Fairynuff]

Have taken on board all of your advice and..............Ive rugged up

Must be getting soft in my dotage

. Horses look chuffed and I can now sleep soundly...............under my duvet