To rug or not to rug..

Damnation

Damnation

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.. that is the question :D
I am in North Cumbria, mare is a WB, good doer and out at night, she isn't exactily fading away weight wise.. However the rain we are getting in at the moment is just disgusting, wind, rain, sopping wet fields.
Should I be nice and shove a rainsheet on her?
 
Am normally very brisk about people over-rugging horses, who have perfectly designed overcoats of their own!

But driving rain is an exception. I'd be guided by how you already know your mare copes/doesn't cope with it. If she's tucked up under a hedge, shivering, not grazing, dull-eyed, shove a rainsheet (NOTHING more) over her to turn the wet.

If, like two of ours, she's out in the middle of the field, back to the wind and rain, stuffing her face, let her be. She's coping! And nothing is set in stone. If the weather changes you can take the rug off (or get someone else to).

NB We were expecting this rain, but it hasn't materialised. How can you be so selfish, keeping it all up there.....?
 
My IDxWB is naked and will be until the winter. He has got the hardyness of the ID in him though and is fat!! Although he has the coat of a WB!! He will be naked no matter what the weather until it gets really cold. My TB on the otherhand is in a fly rug in the day and a LW at night if it drops below 13 degrees! He's still in it now, despite it being warmish as it's due to rain. They've got natural shelter out there too. Just depends on each horse really. You know yours and whatever you do they'll be okay!
 
RoseFolly - I don't think she has ever shivered. She has been naked since the end of March :rolleyes: If her rainsheet was thrown on now, she wouldn't be in anything heavier then that rainsheet until I clip her mid-October, then she can go in a MW ;)

Bumblelion - She does have a very fine coat but she is fat! Might just leave her naked then :D
 
my wb hates the rain and will stand in the shelter when it does whereas my hairly cob doesnt care. normally i wont sheet for a little bit of rain but with the horrid weather were having means shes not out and about grazing like she should so if its wet, windy and looks like its set for the day i will sheet her.
 
If you are going to rug, put something more substantial on than a rain sheet - which could actually prevent her from staying warm. You will need something with a little bit of fill.

In your shoes - given the weather conditions, yes, I'd probably rug.
 
I hate to rug in summer, I like to keep my horses tough. But my turnout with no fill has been on and off my warmblood all summer, because he has dropped a little weight and has been shivering. Now, the question is currently no fill or 200g turnout. Its been cold all summer, but a cold breeze isn't that bad. For the past few days though, its been torrential freezing rain and driving cold winds.
 
Thanks guys :D

YO has just rang me to say they are moving fields, and the field she is moving to has access to the massive lean to for shelter, so I will leave her naked and she can huddle in there if she gets fed up. It has some hay in it too so the fatty won't starve!!

If he hadn't of rang me I would have rugged her!
 
Mithras said:
For the past few days though, its been torrential freezing rain and driving cold winds.
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And a no fill rain sheet will simply not be up to the job of preventing the horse from getting cold and loosing more condition. So I'd definately be inclined to go with a fill.
 
Damnation said:
.. that is the question :D
I am in North Cumbria, mare is a WB, good doer and out at night, she isn't exactily fading away weight wise.. However the rain we are getting in at the moment is just disgusting, wind, rain, sopping wet fields.
Should I be nice and shove a rainsheet on her?
Click to expand...

Yes, I would. Main reason being that horses tend to run about if they are cold, and the rain makes the ground slippery. Therefore you risk injuries. Mine are all rugged today due to the wind and rain. They may even come in tonight if the ground gets too bad.
 
amymay why do you say a no fill will make them colder. my oldie and TB are both in no fills now. It stops the cold wind getting to them and stops the rain. Aslong as its a rug that wont leak then there shouldnt be an issue with the horse getting cold.
Evergreen you are not wrong, my TB got left out on sunday and we had a torrential storm with thunder needless to say he has slipped in field and is now lame :( he is now going to be in a rug unless its glorious!! I will not risk injury again for the sake of him getting cold
 
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I believe that the theory with a no fill rain sheet is that it flattens the horse's coat so he can't raise his hairs to trap air and then keep warm.
Similar to you if you put on a thin waterproof over bare skin, you still feel the cold through it even though you will still be dry.

If it is warm and wet and you want to keep your horse dry them it should be fine though, but better going for some lightweight fill if it is chilly.
 
dizzydancer said:
amymay why do you say a no fill will make them colder. my oldie and TB are both in no fills now. It stops the cold wind getting to them and stops the rain. Aslong as its a rug that wont leak then there shouldnt be an issue with the horse getting cold.
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Because it's only offering protection from getting wet - not keeping warm.

A horse's coat naturally fluffs up to trap air underneath it when it is cold. If you put a rain sheet on only during particulary nasty weather you are not adding warmth, and preventing the coat from acting in a natural way. Therefore the horse is liable to become cold - despite your best efforts. It's a bit like you having a thin T shirt on - then putting a mack on top. If it's cold as well as wet - you will remain cold, and probably get colder because the clothing is not adding warmth. The fabric will become cold and you colder with it.

If you put a rug on that is designed to keep a horse both warm and dry the negative effect on the coat is counterered.


EDT: Snap Touchstone!
 
amymay said:
Because it's only offering protection from getting wet - not keeping warm.

A horse's coat naturally fluffs up to trap air underneath it when it is cold. If you put a rain sheet on only during particulary nasty weather you are not adding warmth, and preventing the coat from acting in a natural way. Therefore the horse is liable to become cold - despite your best efforts. It's a bit like you having a thin T shirt on - then putting a mack on top. If it's cold as well as wet - you will remain cold, and probably get colder because the clothing is not adding warmth. The fabric will become cold and you colder with it.

If you put a rug on that is designed to keep a horse both warm and dry the negative effect on the coat is counterered.


EDT: Snap Touchstone!
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I've heard this often, but a no fill Rhino Wug definately keeps my TB warmer than no rug at all.
 
Damnation - if it's any consolation it's driving rain here in South Cumbria too. We've all brought our horses in today for the first time since April! However both mine will be going out again tonight, but they will be wearing lightweight no fill rugs.
 
I have to agree with nocturnal, my boys would be shivering if left out in the wet and wind with no rug, when i pop my hand under there no fills they feel lovely (not hot but not cold). Obvoiusly in winter i wouldnt do it but at moment its bordering 16-20 degrees during the day and they are in at night (1 lame so in more than out at mo.)
 
My wimp (tb) is currently slumming it with the ponies out 24/7, i have her in a rain sheet and her fly mask if theres any threat of rain, otherwise its a fly rug and mask :)
Will rug her when it gets cooler though, infact its starting to drop a bit at night so was considering her LW turn out at night which has a bit of fill :rolleyes:
 
Rose Folly said:
Am normally very brisk about people over-rugging horses, who have perfectly designed overcoats of their own!

But driving rain is an exception. I'd be guided by how you already know your mare copes/doesn't cope with it. If she's tucked up under a hedge, shivering, not grazing, dull-eyed, shove a rainsheet (NOTHING more) over her to turn the wet.

If, like two of ours, she's out in the middle of the field, back to the wind and rain, stuffing her face, let her be. She's coping! And nothing is set in stone. If the weather changes you can take the rug off (or get someone else to).

NB We were expecting this rain, but it hasn't materialised. How can you be so selfish, keeping it all up there.....?
Click to expand...

What she said!
 
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