Urgent opinions please, I know you should rug up a wet horse...

[gails]

Bu we have been away from home alday and when I went to give him his tea he was shaking from every muscle.

I wicked him the best I could, but he was still so cold, so I have put his light weight on, he immidiatly perked up and infact I ended up chasing him to catch him to put him back

I was always told never to rug a wet horse, but I do not think I had any other choice.

Opinons please

 

[Vizslak]

its fine, modern rugs are very breathable, its not an ideal thing to do regularly but wont hurt him.

 

[Booboos]

If the horse was really cold I would put a fleece to absorb the moisture, and a stable rug and give him a little trot on the lunge. That should warm any horse up in no time!

However, you might find that despite the shivering (which looks alarming) he is not that cold, so maybe if you can bring him in for a bit to dry off that might be enough.

 

[Cahill]

i think that the old fashioned NZ`s would keep the wet in so that is why people used to say never rug a wet horse
but
the modern breathable rugs will allow the horse to dry in them but may smell a bit after.
imo.

 

[gails]

Thankyou, that puts my mind at rest.

He stinks anyway

 

[Cahill]

 

[dingle12]

If i have to rug a wet horse i always pull the rug up too far forwards to let air in and it will slip back on its own.

 

[KatB]

Along as the rug dries quite easily so doesnt stay cold and wet on the horse, its not a problem

So if you are going to rug up a wet horse, just make sure you rug him up warm enough

 

[Pearlsasinger]

In the 'old days' we used to rug with hessian-type rugs with wool blanket linings and we 'thatched' with straw to help horses dry off. Whoever told you not to rug a wet horse? How else are you supposed to dry him?

 

[diggerbez]

i rug wet horses all the time

i always just put a wicking fleece on first to get the wet off the skin...rugs are breathable nowadays tho...

 

[PeterNatt]

A Thermatex Rug is ideal for a wet horse as it will breathe and dry the horse. Remove it after 30 - 45 minutes when it has done the job and then replace it with a normal rug.

 

[kellyeaton]

this happehned to mare a couple of weeks ago she was shaking all over so dryed her off with a towel put a fleece on and then put her l/w over that she was dry in a couple of hours so took fleece of and left her l/w on!