Using turnout rugs as stable rugs.....yes or no?

I prefer to change to stable rugs. A few reasons really, stable rugs are cheaper so prolong the life of my turnouts (I've got ones that are 20 years old now, I have one who likes to rub in the stable so she would have damaged a turnout by now whereas the stable rug I can just stitch back together every so often). I generally use a different weight of rug at night. I like to take the rug off, groom and check them all over every morning and night, if I'm already doing that I may as well change the rug.
 
SuperH said:
I prefer to change to stable rugs. A few reasons really, stable rugs are cheaper so prolong the life of my turnouts (I've got ones that are 20 years old now, I have one who likes to rub in the stable so she would have damaged a turnout by now whereas the stable rug I can just stitch back together every so often). I generally use a different weight of rug at night. I like to take the rug off, groom and check them all over every morning and night, if I'm already doing that I may as well change the rug.
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What she said, also stable rugs can fit in the washing machine so they're not as greasy and stinky inside as if a turnout is worn all the time. I also hate crap and pee stinks and stains on a turnout, they're for mud and rain.
 
I too leave turnouts on mine. We have a rota for putting horses out so it's easier for the person putting 5 horses out of a morning and they dry much quicker on the horses. Mine get ridden most evenings - unless it's absolutely hammering down - so they get their rugs rearranged every day. If they're not ridden I still rearrange it unless it's absolutely caked in soaking mud in which case I'll leave it for the next day. They seem fine with this.

Having switched to wood pellets last winter I've noticed they stick to the rugs far less and the rugs aren't as smelly on them too. Just a thought for those who use turnouts in the stable.
 
Mine lives out so it's not relevant at present but when she was stabled I was a big fan of changing runs. Don't ask why, I know it doesn't make much difference to the horse, I just like putting stable rugs on!
 
I prefer to put stable rugs on- pony loves nothing more than lying in poo and I'd rather wash a stable rug than a massive heavy turnout rug! Plus I prefer to change them so I can check temperatures and adjust accordingly- I'd rather use a lighter rug overnight anyway as some of the turnouts can be quite heavy :)
 
My horses are lovely and warm in their turnouts in the morning so ... do I really want to take their rugs off lose all the heat and put a freezing wet/damp turnout on???

No I like them going out keeping the heat they generated during the night out to the field.
It is different when you have 8 rugs to change (livery) not to have to change my three as well. So any poo stains/ pee gets rinsed off the rug when it rains.

I would rather keep them in high quality top turnout rugs than cheap stable and turnout rugs. That is my choice and it works and has worked for years.

We do not have rug dryers here, the rug racks are in the stables with the horses they do dry a minute bit but they are still very heavy and wet and cold in the morning. I feel sorry for the horses here who have to wear a freezing cold wet rug in the morning when my horses turnouts have completely dried and they are warm when going in the field.

So where the owners think ohhh horrid wet rug off my horses in dry rug and toasty, they don't see the soaking wet cold rug going on a horse who has to wear it for many hours on a cold day. IMO wearing a cold wet rug on the following day after the rain does not do horse any good nor does still wearing as wet rug and going back into rain only to wear it 8 hours +.
 
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I like mine to change to a physically lighter and comfier stable rug and keep the mud covered turnouts out (we're on horrid clay) but then we have a rug dryer too ;)
 
I do like to change them to stable rugs just for different fit/pressures and also easy to stick in washing machine but I do admit that as much as I hate leaving a wet turnout on over night it dries a lot quicker and the horse stays warmer if it's left on. It also makes morning turnout a lot quicker.

I have on v cold nights chucked a cheap thin stable rug over top of turnout (dry) for extra warmth but have kept that rug solely for that use in that I would never use stable rug directly on horse because the inside gets manky! Although it obviously can be washed...
 
Have not used stable rugs for years. On,y use them now if a horse is in for a long time on box rest. I use Rambo Duo and PE Trio with spare liners for each horse. I regularly wash the liners and the otters go in the washing machine at the end of winter.

I prefer to let the rugs dry out on the horse - obviously if they were wet through to the skin I wouldn't leave them on. As others, I don't see the benefit of taking a warm rug off to put a cold rug on for the night on,t to repeat he process in the morning.

My horses are horses so they have no concept of "snuggly pyjamas"
 
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