To rug or not to rug

[Ashleigh02]

I have a 14.2 fell x TB

He’s never been rugged while I’ve known him as he always has a lovely very thick coat. However I’ve brought him into work and want to do a clip. I’m thinking just a very minimal trace clip. Half neck and down to back legs. Will I need to rug him? I currently don’t have any rugs that really fit him well enough to use so would have to buy one if he needs one.

He’s very chunky and has always been chunky

Just want some opinions as I’m torn with whether he would need one or not

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

With a trace I would say when it's very cold yes why don't you just do a bib clip and see if that's enough if you don't have rugs

 

[SEL]

Chunky as in fat? If so I would probably buy a 50g and use in the worst of the weather but otherwise let him drop weight.

Right now my Dales x is clipped neck to stifle and not rugged unless it's pouring - and that's more because I don't want to scrape the mud off

 

[Kirstd33]

I bib clipped my LW cob a few weeks ago as he was starting to grow a woolly coat but getting sweaty when ridden. If the temp drops abit or when it’s been wet I’ve popped his 50g on with or without the neck depending. Tbh it’s more for me to clean him semi clean so I can ride him 3-4 times a week

 

[Fransurrey]

Depends how much he sweats as to whether I'd bother with a clip - I never clipped my Exmoor. Instead I gave a him a rub down with a towel if he got sweaty in winter. If you want to do a trace, you could always get something that could have liners attached, so maybe a no-fill or 50g Amigo/Weatherbeeta and then if you do need more weight, add a 50g liner?

 

[Surbie]

Like @SEL, do you mean chunky as in tubby?

I have a big cob, carrying too much weight at the moment. He's clipped wither-stifle and is out in his normal sweetitch rugs. If it's pouring, nippy and windy I whack his 50g over the top.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I have a connemara who I just take the underneath of the neck off. It's not a pretty clip but it's where she sweats the most and means she can remain rugless except when it's below 5 degrees or very windy/rainy. She gets either a rainsheet or a 50g. She lives out 24/7 with plenty of forage.

 

[Annagain]

I'd maybe go for an apron clip - half way between a bib and a trace. I always do this as a first clip of the season and don't rug, then when his coat grows back I take it all off and rug him appropriately.
It's enough to stop him getting too sweaty but still gives plenty of coverage to keep him warm in the field.

 

[MuddyMonster]

How often are you wanting to ride? Rugging would undoubtedly make regular riding easier.

How much weight does he need to lose? If a fair bit, I'd be tempted to give him an wither-stifle/Irish clip as @Surbie suggested & pop a 0g on to keep dry and clean to ride.

 

[tda]

My "chunky" Dales pony is being ridden a few times a week now, as she has a short dense coat and needs to be cleanish for riding I think I'm going to take the lot off (leave head and legs on) and put her in a 100g

 

[Ashleigh02]

How often are you wanting to ride? Rugging would undoubtedly make regular riding easier.

How much weight does he need to lose? If a fair bit, I'd be tempted to give him an wither-stifle/Irish clip as @Surbie suggested & pop a 0g on to keep dry and clean to ride.

I cant tell you exactly how much however he looks like a bowling ball. No trace of Tb in him at all! Hes been big for as long as ive known him as he has had a few years not ridden so as ive brought him back hes shed a little but not a lot

 

[JBM]

I would buy a lightweight and save it for very cold temperatures
He should be fine otherwise

 

[P.forpony]

I absolutely swear by clipping for weight loss.

I have a tb in work who's fully clipped and currently wearing 250g during the day and 350 at night, and a mini shetland who in comparison does sweet little, but, he's fully clipped and left naked unless its pouring with rain when he gets a sheet on. He's remarkably not fat!

As long as they have long stem fibre to eat then as they digest it they're getting the central heating switched on. So my preference is always a chilly pony than a hungry one.

If they're carrying extra weight I'd say go ahead with a conservative clip, leave the rugs off and see how you go

 

[Wishfilly]

If it's raining heavily, I would rug, as the clipped areas won't be waterproof, and I think it's not nice for horses with any sort of clip (bar maybe a bib) to be out in heavy rain with no rug. I'd rug with a very lightweight rug, whatever will keep the rain off, though!

I certainly think if it snows etc, he'd need something.

Can you get something second hand to avoid shelling out loads?

 

[SpeedyPony]

I would keep a no fill on hand in case of horrific weather, but otherwise he should be fine out naked clipped- I've had fatties out blanket clipped with no rug, just popped a no fill on if we had relentless rain.