what rug should my horses wear?

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Ponypopster

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i have two fully clipped horses (with their legs still on) and i never know how to rug them at different temperatures. i know every horses it different, they arent wusses, ones a cob ones and IDx but i was wondering if some could give me a ruff idea at what temperatures they should have a light (without a neck), medium (with a full neck) or heavy (without a neck) weight rug on. i also have fleeces and medium stable rugs i can also put underneath. thanks in advance :)
 
Common sense? If ur horse is over heating put a lighter rug on, if it's cold but a heavier one on? If it's over 10 degrees I tend to put light weights on. If it's over 14/15 I don't rug. He was in his m/w with neck last night but then it was 0 here last night... His a t/b. Far too much choice in my opinion!
 
Horse vary enormously and some like to warmer than others and you to learn what your horses like and some keep warmer than others with no help from us .
I keep fat horses cooler than ones I want to maintain their weight.
What I do is I pull up my shelve and put my arm under the rug on top of the horses quarters if my arm feels warm that perfect if it's on the hot side I have to take decision to reduce the rugging or leave it as it is depending on the conditions .
If my arm feels cool and the warmth comes slowly the horse is on the cool side .
 
goldenstar gives good advice here, Jazzy B common sense is one thing but knowing how the horse is feeling isn't exactly easy! I think that's what OP is getting at.

personally my horse is never cold despite everyone screaming at me that he should have a rug on! but he is underweight so I just have to play it by ear and mostly put a medium on in the night if its very cold. he isn't clipped though. I use the dame method, stick my hand under the rug and see how it feels, "toasty" is too warm!
 
I agree with getting your arm in the rug on their quarters to feel for warmth - it's the only way to know. I also feel in-between the back legs. I religiously do this every morning and night. My ID mare is hunter clipped (legs on but head off) and is living out with plenty of natural shelter. Up until Monday night she was having a summer sheet under her light/med weight full neck turnout and was nice and warm. With last night being colder I decided to put her heavyweight rug on but this morning she was not as warm as she has previously been!! Tonight I have opted for the summer sheet, thin wool blanket which comes right up her neck and the light/med weight full neck rug and she is nice and warm but with the forecast frost I will check her again when the dogs go out before bed and if necessary I will swap or change them! Layers are definitely better than one big thick rug.
 
EVERY HORSE IS DIFFERENT

My tb is a wimp he has a med with no neck at the mo going to put his neck on tomorrow only putting neck on because of the rain he hates the rain, our welsh i might put a l/w on tomorrow, my shire has a fleece & a l/w on none at mo have necks
 
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