L00bey
Well-Known Member
Just wondering what people thought bout under-rugging or no rugging to loose weight. As it seems a few people on my yard have started doing it.
Thoughts please??
Thoughts please??
Under-rugging for weight?
- Thread starter L00bey
- Start date
BigBird146
Well-Known Member
Seems harsh, not a diet technique i would like to do myself so wouldn't subject my horse to it!!
spider
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't over rug a fat horse but if it has been well rugged up already it's cruel to suddenly leave rugs off.
Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
[ QUOTE ]
Just wondering what people thought bout under-rugging or no rugging to loose weight. As it seems a few people on my yard have started doing it.
Thoughts please??
[/ QUOTE ]
I think it's fine to slim down a fat horse by putting lighter rugs on, so more energy is used keeping warm.
S
Just wondering what people thought bout under-rugging or no rugging to loose weight. As it seems a few people on my yard have started doing it.
Thoughts please??
[/ QUOTE ]
I think it's fine to slim down a fat horse by putting lighter rugs on, so more energy is used keeping warm.
S
bex1984
Well-Known Member
I do it - to an extent. Apparently horses use something like 70% of their energy keeping warm. Murphy is fully clipped, and the thickest rugs I've got are medium weights. He goes out in a lightweight unless it's going to be under about 8 degrees all day, or pouring with rain all day. I wouldn't not put a rug on him at all at the moment, but as soon as the weather warms up a bit he'll need to start going naked.
At the end of the day, if he's cold, he'll move around to keep warm. I feel under his rugs, and he is never cold, but isn't kept toasty warm. Keeping his rugs to a minimum has been done on the advice of a well respected nutritionist.
In Murphy's case he HAS to lose weight, end of. So whatever it takes.
At the end of the day, if he's cold, he'll move around to keep warm. I feel under his rugs, and he is never cold, but isn't kept toasty warm. Keeping his rugs to a minimum has been done on the advice of a well respected nutritionist.
In Murphy's case he HAS to lose weight, end of. So whatever it takes.
DuckToller
Well-Known Member
Some of mine are on the freezer-diet - got several chubby native types, all prone to the very painful condition of laminitis.
There are three ways they can lose weight - feed less, work more, or use up energy keeping warm. Eating less is difficult if horse is kept in for most of the day and night - it would mean longer hours with nothing to eat, leading to boredom, colic and ulcers (well, worse case scenario). More exercise is ideal, but not always possible for most of us esp with elderly semi retired ponios.
So... I would prefer my ponies to be a little cooler and lose weight that way and I have been leaving rugs off in the day (they can run round to keep warm I reckon) and only putting on later in the evening. Haven't found any shivering yet so figure they are ok.
Have to be cruel to be kind...
There are three ways they can lose weight - feed less, work more, or use up energy keeping warm. Eating less is difficult if horse is kept in for most of the day and night - it would mean longer hours with nothing to eat, leading to boredom, colic and ulcers (well, worse case scenario). More exercise is ideal, but not always possible for most of us esp with elderly semi retired ponios.
So... I would prefer my ponies to be a little cooler and lose weight that way and I have been leaving rugs off in the day (they can run round to keep warm I reckon) and only putting on later in the evening. Haven't found any shivering yet so figure they are ok.
Have to be cruel to be kind...
Nickijem
Well-Known Member
I did make sure my under-weight horse was rugged up over the winter but I have now weaned him off rugs (all except a lightweight one on a cold or wet day).
Cop-Pop
Well-Known Member
I think it would be fine as long as it isn't excessive... u don't want the poor thing freezing
I did it with my mare once (on someone else's advice) but as she's mostly TB it was a bit much for her.
Moggy in Manolos
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
Just wondering what people thought bout under-rugging or no rugging to loose weight. As it seems a few people on my yard have started doing it.
Thoughts please??
I think it's fine to slim down a fat horse by putting lighter rugs on, so more energy is used keeping warm.
[/ QUOTE ]
i agree totally, i see no harm in and have done it myself before, not had to do it for a while as my girl seems to stay slim nowadays but they simply use a little more energy to keep warmer, my horse has never once felt cold just not so warm and toasty to touch, i dont understand why it would or should be a problem
Quote:
Just wondering what people thought bout under-rugging or no rugging to loose weight. As it seems a few people on my yard have started doing it.
Thoughts please??
I think it's fine to slim down a fat horse by putting lighter rugs on, so more energy is used keeping warm.
[/ QUOTE ]
i agree totally, i see no harm in and have done it myself before, not had to do it for a while as my girl seems to stay slim nowadays but they simply use a little more energy to keep warmer, my horse has never once felt cold just not so warm and toasty to touch, i dont understand why it would or should be a problem
zelli
Well-Known Member
I think aslong as there is plenty of fibre in there diet then its not a problem at all! Horses are hind gut fermenters, and this produces heat, so why not use it, I would never starve and freeze a horse (having said that, my shetland wears rugs
)
AmyMay
Situation normal
I think it's perfectly acceptable. Amy May was never so slim and well as when she wintered without a rug one year.
Thistle
Well-Known Member
My fattie had a MW in when it was very cold and a LW the rest of the time, he also has a chaser clip and is always toasty. He looks the best this year he ever has since I decided he needed one rug down from the others. He only wears the LW as I don't like the mud!
at work
Well-Known Member
horses are designed to put on weight when food is plentiful so that they have some to lose when it is cold/food is less plentiful. So in one sense they are actually supposed to lose weight when it is cold outside. It could be argued that by rugging we are preventing a natural weight-balancing act
chriscrogul
Well-Known Member
I would rather under rug than put my horse on a diet, he can always run around for warmth but has no way of easing hunger pangs if food was being withheld. In my experience most people over rug anyway.