When and if to rug; that is the question???!

[scoobydoo1]

I know he probably doesnt need it but my cob does seem to like having a rug on him although my rug knowledge is very limited and i just wanted some advice, he lives out (with a shelter in his field) although when he gets moved to his winter field he will be shut in at night.
1st - When i come back from riding he is normally quite sweaty and as it is normally getting late i have been putting a very light breathable rug on him as i dont like to leave him cold and wet overnight. I then go in the morning and take it off him and he always seems warm, dry and happy. Is this good practice as I know your not supposed to put a rug on a wet horse but I do rub him down before i put the rug on him???
2nd - Also if it has been raining in the day and he is soaked through what should i do leave him cold and wet or put a lightweight breathable rug on for overnight???
Or should i just rug him all the time but just change it over every day?
Or should i forget rugging him at all???

I just want him to be as comfy as possible! although he sweats quite a bit and does have a long coat its not as thick and bushy as the shetlands are getting now.

 

[LankyDoodle]

If you come back from exercising him and he's sweaty/wet, use a sweat scraper to get rid of excess moisture, towel dry him rigorously and then if needs be use a fleece cooler to wick away the moisture without him getting a chill.

Horses in the wild get wet all the time and cope perfectly fine getting rid of the excess moisture and keeping warm. They have natural temperature control and can trap heat in using their coats, as well as keeping moisture out. If you rug him, you inhibit this and he may get colder. As a native, he doesn't need to be rugged, IMHO.

 

[stencilface]

I am putting rugs on ours at night at the moment. They are all out 24/7 til the end of oct, when the two tb X's will be put in at night. The TB and the welsh cross pony will be out all winter, pretty much with rugs on full time, except on the dry frosty/sunny days when I think their skin appreciates a breather.

atm I am putting rugs on at night, but the first time for that was last night, just because it was so windy and cold. Meant to be getting colder too, so I expect they will be wearing them at night for a while. TBH, i don't worry if they are wet when I put them on. Most rugs are breathable now, and if the horse is out and able to generate heat by grazing and walking around, I don't think putting a rug on a wet body will kill them!