What is the point of stable rugs.

doonrocket

doonrocket

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This year being the first I've had the boys at home I have hardly used their stable rugs. The turnouts - particularly the duos', where you can change the liners, are breathable and light. They are on rubber with shavings and so they seem to stay cleaner if I leave them on in the stable + I can turn them straight out in the morning.

Am I missing something or are stable rugs becoming a little bit obsolete?
 
The turnout rugs that can realistically be left on as stable rugs are reletively new though so I would imagine that stable rugs are hanging on in there at the moment as everyone is so used to using them

I personally like to see a horse bedded down and in a nice clean stable rug but thats for my benefit and not the pony's - it would probably be more comfortable for him to not have a cold rug put on twice a day but I simply cant bring him in and walk away leaving him in a wet (externally) rug, I simply cant! crazy I know

I guess stable rugs may become more and more uncommon as the years go on for the reasons you state though
 
I am more than happy to leave my boys turnout rug on if its been chucking it down as I know this is the best way of ensuring it will dry out quickly.

Although given half a chance I do love swapping to a nice cosy stable rug that in reality is probably quite cold initially and like you say - a bit pointless....strange isn't it really??
 
Finally! :D

I have thought this for years. Mine always have their turnouts left on overnight. Saves time, money, stops the horse losing heat between changes AND a wet rug will dry a lot faster than if its hanging over a door ;)
 
If I had some kind of rug apocalypse and mine were all wiped out (unlikely,I know;)) I would just replace all 27million of them with 2 x ballistic nylon/highest denier outer possible,breathable turnout rugs with a set of liners. (One outer rug being a spare,in case of breakage/rips etc) Oh,how neat and organised and space/time/hassle saving that would be....:D
 
I have to admit, I have left turnout rugs on my horses for the last two winters, purely to make things easier for my husband as he does the horses when I'm away.

Things I like about it -

Smelly/stained rugs get rinsed off when horses are turned out!
Turnout rugs don't seem to rub manes as much and often sit better.

Things I don't like about it -

Using the horse as a rug dryer for wet rugs, using his body heat, which I think should be keeping the horse warm, not drying rugs.. I personally have spare rugs, so if the horse is dripping wet he gets changed into another rug. I think the minute it takes the horse to warm up a cold rug is less of an issue than standing in a wet rug in a draft is..

You don't notice changes in body condition etc as much when you don't take rugs off daily. I used to ride a horse for a lady who hadn't ridden it for a few months and hadn't taken his rug off much, when we came to tack him up we had to buy a new girth he had got so fat!
 
I am really old so I remember when a turnout rug was made of canvas, when it rained it got soaked and very heavy and most of them eventually let the water in. They didn't fit and they rubbed. So you changed rugs daily to allow the rug to dry out. If they where stabled you had a lovely jute rug which had a horrible blanket liner and you held in place by a canvas sursingle. They where not very warm so if you clipped your horse you had to put another blanket underneath They where heavy and needed to put on expertly or they rubbed. They were also a b*gger to wash.
We then discovered man made fibres , light weight breathable and waterproof.Hurrah. Trouble is horsey people live in the past when you had staff and groom could spend hours grooming and doing piontless things.
I have not changed a rug in 15years, as long as it fits, is waterproof and it doesn't rub. why? If I am showing I may put a lightweight washable under rug so I can keep them extra clean but save your time and money.
 
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Venevidivici said:
If I had some kind of rug apocalypse and mine were all wiped out (unlikely,I know;)) I would just replace all 27million of them with 2 x ballistic nylon/highest denier outer possible,breathable turnout rugs with a set of liners. (One outer rug being a spare,in case of breakage/rips etc) Oh,how neat and organised and space/time/hassle saving that would be....:D
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Yeah dream on.

We all know we wouldnt be as happy unless we had a dozen various rugs draped over all sorts of walls/bits of rope/stable doors/hangers/haybales in various states of wetness, muddiness, smelliness and repair. Then we huff and puff as we shell out good money for our massive stack of rugs to be cleaned, laboriously pack them away for the summer swearing as we try to compact them, then we stash them under spare beds, in car boots and old leaking trailers/caravans until September when we unpack them in a panic after the first chilly night before deciding that they are last seasons colours/too old/too small and go and buy a couple more

But its what keeps life interesting :)
 
I like to reset my horses rugs upon turning in/out. How can you check for rubs/injuries/condition otherwise?

So it wouldn't save me any jobs leaving a turnout on.
 
Actually I only own turnout rugs! I switch between the ones I actually use for turnout and the ones I use for when in the stable, but I find turnout rugs are usually more resistant and handle time a lot better.
 
Mine are in cottons and Medium fill turnout rugs all winter. When they were stabled at night, they had walk in walk out stables so it was pointless for me to put them in stable rugs as the rugs would get wet anyway.

Occasionally when at a show or it's not been cold enough for a medium fill, I just use a cotton & a polar fleece with a rain sheet over top. Keeps them both warm, without over heating them.

My Boss uses all the rugs he has won as prizes as stable rugs. It allows the canvases to dry somewhat and keeps the boys all nice and cosy.
 
My oldie has a stable rug on under her turnout rug, sometimes two turnout rugs ( weather ) at night when she gets let in to her own small paddock and stable with door open so she can go in or out as she pleases.
She has round hay bale sat in her paddock so needs turnout rug on. I do groom so body is checked in mornings only. Other girls will fix rugs if a mess at night.
 
doonrocket said:
This year being the first I've had the boys at home I have hardly used their stable rugs. The turnouts - particularly the duos', where you can change the liners, are breathable and light. They are on rubber with shavings and so they seem to stay cleaner if I leave them on in the stable + I can turn them straight out in the morning.

Am I missing something or are stable rugs becoming a little bit obsolete?
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There is a very clear point to stable rugs. I'm just sorry I didn't see the gap in the market first!!!

I wish I'd made colourful duvets what leak and charge £80+ for the privilege...

Doh!!!!!!

My filly has the same rug (shires £30) to sleep in and go out in (with obvious checks and grooming in between of course) and none of her poo ever seeps.
 
I must be the exception then ;)

I always change from outdoor to stable rug. I prefer a lighter rug in the stable as its generally warmer in there anyway. I like to check her over often so the fact that I'm changing rugs twice a day gives me the opportunity to do it & to not not do it just once (if that makes sense? It did in my head!!) I've seen a horse go downhill extremely rapidly without owner noticing (am talking days) so I just like that routine. It also gives me that bonding time with her, messing about, scratching her itchy bits etc.
 
how do people "know" how hot or cold their horses are?

there is the usual method of feeling ears, pits etc but is there a reliable scientific method for knowing how many/type of/thickness of rug to choose?

or is it really a case of "I'm cold so horse must be cold"?
 
I own an array of stable and TO rugs. I wouldn't put my horse in in a TO rug though.. not that I have anything against it I just wouldn't ! Like to put on his dry stable rug in the winter when I put them to bed :)

I also find them easier to wash and less heavy..
 
When my horses are rugged, the rugs come off so I can check body condition and give them a few minutes to have a good itch :)

When stabled/out I swap from t/o to stable rugs so they can have their itch, not be a walking rug drier, be in a rug weight and type more suited to being inside.

Then again I do have at least a million rugs... :cool:
 
I have 4 turnout rugs and 3 horses, no stable rugs at all any more. (Actually they have all metamorphised (spell) into dog beds). I undo the sircingles and look at condition every day on the skinny one, the other two I don't bother. Twice a week they come off for a proper look!
 
tinap said:
I must be the exception then ;)

I always change from outdoor to stable rug. I prefer a lighter rug in the stable as its generally warmer in there anyway. I like to check her over often so the fact that I'm changing rugs twice a day gives me the opportunity to do it & to not not do it just once (if that makes sense? It did in my head!!) I've seen a horse go downhill extremely rapidly without owner noticing (am talking days) so I just like that routine. It also gives me that bonding time with her, messing about, scratching her itchy bits etc.
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This. I consider taking the rug off twice a day and properly checking the horse all over and handling it all over is a basic part of horse care. Anything less has an element of laziness on owners part IMO . Fine if you want to put the same rug back on after checks, but not to fail to take it off and check the horse all over.

Also if its not a combination layer rug, normal turnouts dont have the stretchy flexibility that makes them comfy for the horse when indoors eg turning round in confined space.

And if its wet, I dont want my possibly already not that warm horse using what warmth he does have drying it out. I want him in something dry to get him warm and keep him warm.

Modern technology makes it quick to dry turnout rugs and easy to have an under rug on them when they are out. They shouldnt be a substitute for basic horse care.

tin hat on....
 
I leave mine in their turn outs occasionally.
The main reason I change them at night is that I feel they shouldn't be in a rug that's too warm for the day and stay in that over night. Its colder at night so surely they need heavier rugs on!
Also I like my horses to have a chance to have a scratch and airing each day.
 
tallyho! said:
how do people "know" how hot or cold their horses are?

there is the usual method of feeling ears, pits etc but is there a reliable scientific method for knowing how many/type of/thickness of rug to choose?

or is it really a case of "I'm cold so horse must be cold"?
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Don't know about other people but my method is highly unscientific - and based upon getting to know the individual horse and what the horses 'tell' me. After a while you get to sense the optimum temperature for each individual horse. For example, the little mare we have now appears to be a chilly mortal - she likes to be warmer than most of our others have liked and is quite definite in letting us know.

I'm another who uses stable rugs, very old-fashioned ones actually. I like to get the rugs off and allow the rugs to air as well as give the horse a moment or two without stuff on their backs - the little mare referred to above loves a jolly good roll in a deep bed once her outdoor rug comes off (the rug fits her very well, it's just one of her little habits).
 
I have used t/o rugs in the stable in the past. However current horse doesn't like wearing his t/o inside and tries to rub and scrape it off on the wall!
Who am I to argue with his lordship, I also think it's not very nice for him to sleep in his wet, dirty heavey turnout.
Besides its an excuse to buy him beautiful stable rugs that are all light and soft for him :).
 
tinap said:
I must be the exception then ;)

I always change from outdoor to stable rug. I prefer a lighter rug in the stable as its generally warmer in there anyway. I like to check her over often so the fact that I'm changing rugs twice a day gives me the opportunity to do it & to not not do it just once (if that makes sense? It did in my head!!) I've seen a horse go downhill extremely rapidly without owner noticing (am talking days) so I just like that routine. It also gives me that bonding time with her, messing about, scratching her itchy bits etc.
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I hate leaving her turnout on overnight - there's something nice about putting my mare's jammies on her :D:D Her stable rugs are much lighter than her turnout despite being the same fill plus I can layer her stable rugs much more easily than layering the turnout. I also find that I have different thicknesses of rugs on during the day to at night because of the temperature difference between day and night.

Her turnout dries quickly enough on a rope in her stable so I don't want her using up her energy to dry the rug

tallyho! said:
how do people "know" how hot or cold their horses are?

there is the usual method of feeling ears, pits etc but is there a reliable scientific method for knowing how many/type of/thickness of rug to choose?

or is it really a case of "I'm cold so horse must be cold"?
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I usually have a feel of her udders - is she's cold thats the first place she gets cold and if they're warm then she's warm. I use ears as well. I think it's also about getting to know your horse over time. I now know roughly what sort of gram of rug she needs for what sort of temperature to keep her warm without overheating although she's throwing it all out of whack the last month or so because she's pregnant and not needing as much rugging as would be normal for her :rolleyes:
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
This. I consider taking the rug off twice a day and properly checking the horse all over and handling it all over is a basic part of horse care. Anything less has an element of laziness on owners part IMO . Fine if you want to put the same rug back on after checks, but not to fail to take it off and check the horse all over.

Also if its not a combination layer rug, normal turnouts dont have the stretchy flexibility that makes them comfy for the horse when indoors eg turning round in confined space.

And if its wet, I dont want my possibly already not that warm horse using what warmth he does have drying it out. I want him in something dry to get him warm and keep him warm.

Modern technology makes it quick to dry turnout rugs and easy to have an under rug on them when they are out. They shouldnt be a substitute for basic horse care.

tin hat on....
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No need for a tin hat unless it is to share with me as I agree with you. Even the best rugs can move and if you DON'T take the rugs off to check your horse how do you know there isn't something going on under the rugs? Or a injury you have missed? Once a week is not enough! I have seen horses badly drop weight in just a couple of days in winter.

I have no issue with people using TO rugs as stable rugs but its my personal preference not to do so. My TO's do seem to be heavier as well and we have a rug room for soaking rugs. I have spare rugs now as well to ensure dry rugs are always available.

Our grass liveries are normally brought up by their owners and stripped off and checked daily. Yard will refit and check under any still out but nothing is left unchecked.
 
I also have mine at home and this year they have had there turnouts left on most nights, its been so cold I just thought they would be better off not having cold rugs thrown on in the morning, but I do love to see them all cosy in a stable rug, I will start changing them when it warms up a bit as I find keeping the same rug on causes more rubs on one of mine, I also leave them on if there wet as they dry so much quicker on than on a rail.

My horses are ridden everyday so they get the rug taken off then so I can see any change in weight, agree if not ridden a quick look every other day is a good idea.
 
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I know if my horses are warm enough or not quite easily. I always go for minimum rugs but if their hair is standing on end when I do late checks, they get extra.
As for TO rugs, my youngster isn't rugged in or out at the moment, but my TB has a lovely TO rug for the stable with no neck and a couple of TO combos for the field. The weather dictates which of the combos she is turned out in, but she always has it changed for the no neck TO that is used as her stable rug. Every stable rug I have tried rubs her...not one TO rug has done the same. She has rugs off at least twice a day but usually more and is thoroughly groomed twice a day...apart from the odd occasion of fighting the clock if I'm being brutally honest.

I don't go by ears for temp...a horse can easily be sweating under a gazillion rugs but have ice cold ears when it is sub zero with a wind chill so I don't think it is a safe method. If the hair is fluffed up, the horse is telling me it needs extra warmth, so I oblige.
 
I never leave TO rugs on overnight - I always use stable rugs, so much softer and more comfortable for the horse - and of course I agree with all the points made already although it's each to their own so if you prefer TOs then that's good too :)
Interestingly, everyone on my yard of 16 horses, uses stable rugs. Nobody uses TO rugs overnight and I imagine it would be looked down upon if you did.
 
I haven't got any stable rugs any more. My arab has two duos and he lives in one unless it gets soaked and then the other one goes on instead. I check under it at least every couple of days and he's on individual turnout so highly unlikely to have injuries beneath it. The liners gets washed, the top gets rained on. No one has to waste time and effort swapping and putting away rugs. I'd really struggle if I worked on a livery yard now, going around pratting about swapping loads of rugs for half an hour before all the horses go out, etc. It must be so frustrating for yard staff who can't understand the point of it, which is where I am now.

My horse is generally spoiled with the best stuff in terms of equipment but I think he'd be worse off using stable rugs, not better. He'd just have to wait longer to get out, and he'd keep having a cold rug put on for the sake of it. :confused:
 
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