Too hot in heavy weight?

[dodgers89]

I've just got a horse on loan (so excited!) he came with two heavy weight rugs with non detachable neck pieces. Yesterday I noticed he was sweating a bit where the neck piece is sewn into the rug. We're still getting a fair amount of rain and once evening comes it's pretty cold. He's out from about 7am til 6.30pm. Could I put on his medium weight rug with a rain sheet over the top? Would that be warm enough at night? Thanks!

 

[rising_promise]

Rugging is extremely individual to each horse so nobody can really tell you what to put on apart from going with your gut feeling. If he's sweating he's telling you he's too hot so drop the weight of rug down one.

My chaser clipped TB has been wearing her MW with neck all winter but has just dropped down to a slighter lighter one during the day because she was getting too warm, then has something added at night in the stable.

She's quite a hot horse though and doesn't need an awful lot of rugs. Some do, some don't but listen to him if he's saying he's too hot, that's the only thing you've got to go on at the moment.

Good luck with him

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

been very mild recently so not suprised he is warm, def try the MW

really is so individual, got one in a MW and then 2 wearing 3 rugs, all happy and just right in temp.

 

[Jnhuk]

My guys are still in their light/medium weights just now and don't bother with neck rugs unless weather is nasty. First winter ever not needed their heavy weights. The yougnster has been rugless. We live in Scotland!

Just go with your gut feeling and check under their rugs when you visit them at different times of day. If your horse is sweating then drop down and see how they go.

 

[Mince Pie]

My lad is the 'very warm' type (if he was a human he'd be the bloke walking round in shorts with snow on the ground!) and has barely made it out of his 50g LW this winter, despite being fully clipped.

You want him to feel warm but not toasty warm, go down to the MW and keep checking him

 

[starryeyed]

Congratulations on your new loan horse I agree, I'd drop down to a medium weight, as it is much better for them to be a little on the cool side than too hot. As others have said, it's tricky to advise when you don't know the horse, but if he has been sweating then it would certainly suggest that he doesn't need as much warmth. My thin skinned horse has been in mediumweights, the other two are in light/medium.