To rug or not

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Groom Mum

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Hi
I have two new ponies. They live out 24/7. They are not ridden. They are rescue ponies and are both companions. They are quite fluffy. The rescu centre recommended not to rug them. But it's really cold and going to get colder. They have a shelter but just look so miserable all wet in this cold. Can I rug them? Or does this just cause more hassle. My other horse is a TB and is always rugged through the cold weather. I just feel these little mites should be rugged. Any advise please ?
 
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I wouldn't rug unless they are underweight, old and a bit arthritic or tucked up/shivering. Very hard to keep weight off natives if they can come out of winter slim it will help. My clipped ridden one is rugged, 2 others are naked with thick yak like coats, as long as they have access to shelter and food I don't worry too much.
 
I would go with the rescues advice. I don't rug woolly ponies whatever the weather. If they start to look shivering/tucked up/ losing weight you could reconsider.
 
Clodagh said:
I would go with the rescues advice. I don't rug woolly ponies whatever the weather. If they start to look shivering/tucked up/ losing weight you could reconsider.
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Also it is not really cold yet, my ponies are not rugged, even my 2 pba's are not yet being rugged normally they will be by Nov, if they look a bit cold then I prefer to give some hay before rugging unless they are unwell or dropping too much weight, yours have a shelter if they choose to stand outside rather than use it then they cannot be too miserable, once you start rugging then I think you are making more work for yourself as you will need to continue for the rest of the winter.
 
Honestly don't be tempted, they will honestly be absolutely fine. They will be warmer and happier for not having a rug on. My rescue pony isn't rugged, he has a lovely thick coat of his own and is much warmer to the touch than his field mate who has a rug on.

As long as they have shelter and extra forage when your grass runs out then honestly don't worry. Even when it's wet and horrid they are fine!

The other massively important thing to remember is that to be healthy they need to naturally drop weight over winter, they will do this by using their fat reserves. This is natural and is vitally important if they can't be exercised for whatever reason. If you rug them then they don't need to use these reserves and will come out of winter already fat.

Honestly been there last winter when I had my pony for the first time but going through a whole winter and seeing how well adapted he was made me realise how silly I was being ;-)

Oh and he never goes in his field shelter in winter either. Another tip is don't groom them, you are stripping the oil out of their coat if you do. Let them be muddy, grubby little mammoths :-)
 
Ok thanks. Let's see how they go. They seem pretty ok. It's just me !! Having a TB I've never not rugged. But these little ones are pretty hardy. I will be crying for them when the snow arrives :(((
 
I have a native who lives out 24/7 and not rugged yet. We still have good grass and he gets hay nets and hard feed morning and evening and he's fine. I would rather under rug than over rug TBH. Tip is to feel base of their ears if they are cold then horse usually is.

Agree with the not grooming as they will lose the natural oils in their coats that keep them warm.
 
Honestly they will be fine. I really regret rugging my hairy yak. She has been totally naked and grown a massive coat and been fine but when the wind and rain kicked in I put a rain sheet on. It's totally flattened her coat, she feels warm where she's clipped and chilly where she's furry, so in the 0 degrees we've had over the weekend I've had to put her in a mediumweight which she's been just right in. I've left the other one naked and he seems to be happy enough. I usually stick my hand in their armpit to feel how warm they are. Both live out on good grazing with shelter. Yours will be fine :)
 
Groom Mum said:
Ok thanks. Let's see how they go. They seem pretty ok. It's just me !! Having a TB I've never not rugged. But these little ones are pretty hardy. I will be crying for them when the snow arrives :(((
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I have got a hairy companion pony and the snow doesn't even melt, it just sits on her back and mane, so you can see she isn't losing much heat.
 
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