To rug or not....

TrecPeter

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Joined
13 September 2006
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Geneva
www.alwena.com
Haven't been on here for a while but an HHOer jaded me to post this
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Do you laboriously rug up your horses every winter?

For several years ours are outside 7/7, and are adorned with their natural winter coats to keep them warm in that season.
They've never had health problems, and appear to be sane happy neds. They do get hay "à la volentier" in the winter and get through large amounts when it's really cold (say below -5°C). We can tell how cold it is by the hay consumption, as it's their central heating
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We quite often ride them for 2-3 hours in the winter season when the ground is OK, but always outside, and don't go mad, so they normally return almost dry to the field despite their wooly winter coats.

Here they are in the snow....

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As in the UK recently, quite a lot of snow...makes life a bit more difficult to manage their hay, but this mobile hay feeder is excellent and provides shelter with the flaps up!!

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They are what i call 'proper horses'
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edited to say - I leave the rugs off until the very last minute with mine to give them a chance to grow their winter coats, but in the end I put rugs on them because of their breed and age. Or maybe it's just because Im feeling the cold....
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They look lovely and if used to it, will be able to tolerate the cold better. But in "below -5", I say rug. You did ask.
 
Some of mine are not rugged although they do have access to a very large field shelter and ad-lib hay.

Even when it was well below -5 they were not rugged and were warm when I checked the base of their ears and elbows. They have now been tucked up or miserable looking.

Only problem with ad-lib hay is that they have all put weight on this past week but with the thaw coming I will be cutting down on the hay.
 
Don't go by what other people do/say. Your horses appear to be very happy and healthy, so I wouldn't bother.
 
Fab pictures. They look happy as larry. I try keep rugging simple and minimal. Years ago ours all lived out even in snow with no rugs and never did them any harm. Its only my girls age that is my reason for rugging as she feels it more now. I leave it as long as possible and do think horses are easily over rugged. My friends horse for example was dripping in sweat as she had been over rugged, poor girl, happened a few times and I keep telling her mare is too hot but she does not listen
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