Travelling rugs in cold weather

[Traks]

What do people travel their horses in in winter? Would a Thermatex be ok for a partially clipped horse? Or a stable rug? It's a horsebox so less breeze than a trailer. Thanks

 

[Abacus]

Depends on weather and how recent the clip. A very recent clip on a cold day, I’d use a thermatex. A less recent clip or warmer day, thinner fleece. Or a warmer day and more hair, no rug. Depends also on the size of lorry and companions, as a couple of horses in a small space will warm it up quickly.

 

[Traks]

Depends on weather and how recent the clip. A very recent clip on a cold day, I’d use a thermatex. A less recent clip or warmer day, thinner fleece. Or a warmer day and more hair, no rug. Depends also on the size of lorry and companions, as a couple of horses in a small space will warm it up quickly.

Thank you! 1 horse in a 2 horse lorry, it's a 6.5 tonne so reasonably space for just one! He was clipped about 3 weeks ago. I'm thinking will try his thermatex and take a spare in case x

 

[mavandkaz]

They tend to get warm travelling. So step it down from whatever you would put on in the stable.
My fully clipped boy got too hot in a thin cotton sheet this weekend, when it was 6c, and came off the lorry at bit sweaty.

 

[rara007]

I’d be worried he’d be too warm in a thermatex, that’s reserved for the really cold days and long journeys for travelling for mine.

 

[tyner]

How nervous are they to travel?

It was a cold day in Scotland and we were going 6 miles down the road. I popped a mesh cooler rug on, that has fleece over the spine. It's a very smart travelling rug by Comfort Zone Equestrian, a lot lighter than the thermatex.

There was a diversion and a locked gate, he was in the box about 25 minutes max. He travelled with the shipper I always use, in the box he knows.

Quiet traveller and never been a problem travelling, he's gone all over the country.

Got out box and under that smart rug was a full lather. In less than a half hour of travel.

Not a nice way to arrive. I felt really awful for trying to keep him cozy on the short journey. He certainly didn't need my help, after I was causing him so much stress, smart rug or not.

 

[Red-1]

If he is a confident traveller, I would say a Thermatex would be fine.

 

[sbloom]

I agree to always go lighter than you might think, lighter than you'd use as a cooler at home in the same weather.

 

[jnb]

I use a DryRug unless it's very cold - then Thermatex.

 

[Winters100]

Anything down to 0 degrees I use a cotton sheet, below that a thin fleece, although admittedly I rarely transport only 1 horse.

 

[ihatework]

On a partially clipped horse I probably would go naked or scrim/cotton sheet unless they were an exceptionally cool customer.

If fully clipped then thermatex for the majority or something thinner if real sweat monsters.

 

[AdorableAlice]

There was some research done a while ago on the energy expended by a horse whilst travelling. The effort/energy the horse is using by balancing himself on different types of travel.

Some horses are using energy at the same level as if they were trotting so it is no wonder some of them get hot under rugs.

I go for the lightest rug, summer sheet and have other rugs on the lorry just in case.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If I really feel I need to, then a cotton sheet to travel, then I keep checking equine temp after parking up and opening the ramp - and then might add a fleece or thermatex if they start to chill at all.

 

[Steerpike]

I never travel mine in a rug unless it's after an event travelling home where they will get a light weight thermatex on if I feel they need it. I always have a variety of rugs available though so once I get where I'm going I can rug accordingly.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I travel without on the way there unless it’s to keep clean for showing, I put a fleece on for returning if they have been sweating.

 

[criso]

On my clipped tb who feels the cold something like the thermatex.

As well aa travelling I'd also be thinking about will they be standing around or tied up to the box before/between classes? They'd be more likely to get cold then so I'd want something warm enough for that.