What rug for temperatures?

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MiCsarah

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I'm desperatly trying not to over rug this year, my boy has moved yards and is now in such a sheltered field. For some reason I am questioning on rugs. Thought it would be good to hear what others use in what temperatures. Especially on any fully clipped wimpy horses
 
mine isnt wimpy due to cold but cant stand the wet - hunter clip - no fill (no neck) in day and no fill combo at night. He has access to field shelter at all times and is a bit porky ! Saying that we have had amazing weather doesnt drop below double digits at night ! no rain etc. when gets bit cooler will be fleece underneath or medium weight.

Be interested to hear what others are doing with theirs !
 
mine is in a lightweight with no neck at the mo, but when clipped, I'll probably move onto the medium weight, he's a bit wimpy!
 
I totally feel like im overugging mine at the moment, reading what others have theirs in... My TB is in a 200g standard neck at the moment, i add a 200g neck if its raining though, when it gets below 0 at night, he will move up to a 300g full neck and in the depths of winter wth snow on the ground and its really cold and bitter, he will have a 250g full face hood and a standard 400g heavyweight on. I also have various weights of underug if i need them from a 100g-400g xD

Mine doesnt grow much of a coat and does drop weight a little in winter usually. He is also in work all winter, and kept fit for two showjumping comps a month, hes not clipped though.
 
Welsh cob rugged, tried unrugged for as long as poss before but he doesn't cope, he doesn't get much of a coat. Not rugged yet this year but weather due to change next week so lite will go on at night. Dartmoor and shire unrugged, amazing coats always toasty. All live out 24-7 with two field shelters and sheltered field. Um rugged is great but only for some not all will deal with it and don't think you should make them, read your horse. Keep them dry and give plenty of free hay for central heating and most will be happy without if they are used to it.
 
MW for everything, all living out, all unclipped. It depends on the individual, some make it quite clear they don't want blankets, if some get cold I simply double up, easier for me than faffing about with HWs.

Climate is quite chilly and generally snowy, but dry, from November through to about April.
 
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Mine that in work are and that are not yet clipped only have a lightweight rug on when temperature goes under 10 at night or it is due to rain - for convenience more than for the chilly factor.

The other two that are clipped have light weight or no rug on during day (Hertfordshire area) dependent upon temperature and at night have a heavier weight turnout. Only natural shelter is hedging.

Although my old mare who sadly died a couple of years ago lived happily without a rug Irish/TB until 35 yrs of age. She looked liked a mammouth but enjoyed life without rugs etc and lived very happily out in all weathers.

My friend in the states does not rug her horses even in the winter when the snow is deep etc and she having moved her horses from the uk now thinks I completely pamper mine! But rugging is a personal choice so if your horse is looking happy and content, we must be doing something right!
 
My mare used to lose condition quite quickly so had she still been with is she would have had a 100g on overnight at the moment, and a lightweight in the day. She was unclipped and lived out. Probably would have been 200g overnight and 100g in day had she been fluffless, at the moment. I think skinny new pony is in a 40g overnight at the mo, will go to 220g when colder, and 350g if it snows or gets ridiculously cold. Again, up it by one weight for unclipped.

I just play it by ear really, and always check warmth morning and night.
 
over night mine is in 300gm full neck (trio so 200gm liner with 100gm top rug) with rain sheet over (for extra waterproofing and to save expensive rug from biting field mate! i'd rather replace her LW more often!)

during day - stays in that if horrid - if not has layers off - ie today just in 100gm no neck and lw over - yesterday - naked for a few hours

she's unclipped - but no winter coat yet - lives out - and i'm up in perthshire and field is in frost pocket north facing and chilly!
 
Temp was still in double digits last night when I left the yard. (about 9ish)

At the mo, he's working hard. 2 jumping lesons a week and PC lesson on a sunday. Light school or hack(if we catch the light) one the days inbetween.
He has a high trace clip atm and I left him in a med weight rug with neck off last night (stabled in)
Hope to hold off the heavy weight untill early/mid nov then when it gets really low/snow/ice ect I'll pop a fleece underneath.
 
I have my connie in a 200g no neck, she is fully clipped. When it gets colder, i will swap to amigo heavyweight with neck. If it drops to -19 like it did last year i also have a rambo heavy weights stable that ill shove on as well.

My YO has her wimpy fine coated TB in 300g full neck at the moment and he is never hot.
 
tallyho! said:
What is the point of lightweight rugs?
Click to expand...

When you have greys lightweight rugs are your best friend!

I use them regularly to keep mine clean if off to a show etc.

Also, if I have clipped mine and yet they are still out at night keeps the wind off their backs.

I understand the theory re flattening the hair follicles etc but it works well for my horses.
 
below 10 degrees - lightweight
below 5 degrees - medium weight
below 0 - heavy weight
mega minus degrees - double rugs/triple rugs

when clipped

below 10 degrees - medium weight
below 5 degrees - heavy weight
below 0 degrees - heavy weight with under rug
 
Mine are in LW no fill and have been clipped. I use them to keep clean and dry mainly and it helps keep the wind off of them. I feel the inside of their back legs to feel how hot they are and rug accordingly to this. In the snow last year they were plenty warm enough in their MW, where as my TB X needed a HW, I just feel them and see.
 
my horse hates the cold wind and rain and drops weight that much that he looks neglected at the end of the winter after having adlib haylage and sugar beet, build up fast fibre and mix

at the moment he is wearing a medium without neck during the day and medium full neck at night he has good shelter and im not too worried about over rugging as if i was he wouldnt be shivering this evening after only wearing the rug since he was clipped :o
 
Today my tb was in fly rug and have put him in mw tonight with neck as dropping to 6 degrees. My idx is naked as he's overweight. He'll stay naked unless it rains and is cold. I generally just take each day as it comes, no rule really, I know my horses inside out and rug accordingly!
 
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