When do you start rugging?

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GypsyGirl

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Just a random question really,
I have a TB mare and she lives out 24/7 (well rugged in the winter of course)
But im just wondering when you al start changing your horses rugs to medium weight then heavy weights? Maisie has a light weight on at the moment, but when its sunny its taken off and put back on at night.

Just a random post, im not looking forward to winter! May start to order my wellies and wellie warmers etc soon if the weather carries on like this lol.

:)
 
Heavies, soon as I've clipped tbh! So about October/November time. Usually have about 3 rugs on during winter!
Mine's been in a no fill t/o atm when it's been raining and was out 24/7 since about March time.
Is in at night tonight with a little fleece on atm.

No doubt if the weather keeps on raining like this they'll all have to be in soon to save the feilds tbh.

Plus cubbing starts soon followed by hunting, so others shall be stabled a lot more and rugged up in mediums probably starting next month.
 
Mine are currently in rainsheets and will probably alternate between those and naked until I clip my big boy at the end of September. Then it'll be mediumweight for a while ...... and then heavyweight as winter takes its grip. My little boy can hold out for a bit longer for his clip I'm hoping (as he's a monkey and I want to delay it!!!).
 
When they start to look cold or miserable.

No set date, I suspect that the olds will be having blankets on overnight way before any of the others do.

Some may choose not to have them at all, it's up to the individual. If they are warm and beggar off when they see me coming with a rug then they don't need one - don't laugh:) I know my horses too well.
 
Living out - when it gets cold. Rainsheets give protection from wet and driving wind, but they flatten the hair and stop the horse keeping itself warm naturally. I'm not rugging at all yet. I move to medium rugs when they are obviously cold. Most winters I don't use heavyweight rugs at all, although the oldie may need watching this year.
 
I currently have my TB rugged in a mediumweight at night and naked in the day, little pony naked 24/7 unless bad rain/wind as field has absolutely no shelter :( and both live out atm (trying to keep it that way as long as possible for it is still meant to be summer!)
Obviously depends on individual horses, not just breeds/types/ages etc and the environment they are in (available shelter, food etc)
 
Depends a lot on the horse, and where it is living. At present neither of ours are in rugs - but they do appreciate coming in at night for a good drying roll in the bedding. Have needed to put a thermatex on the oldie to dry her off quickly a couple of times but they are so warm that they are telling us they don't want rugs any more than that.
They have a windswept hilly field but because it has plenty of natural shelter and doesn't get the really bone-chillingly cold northeasterly winds they do pretty well - rain doesn't really bother them only if it is accompanied by strong cold winds. Whatever the weather you can guarantee they will be in the part that is most comfortable to them!!!
It doesn't seem to be anything to do with type or breed - our TB always used to be last into rugs and first out of them but he was like a radiator, even the native ponies were 'asking' for rugs before he was!
 
My guy gets miserable and really really grouchy when he gets cold so it's dead easy. However I have been keeping an eye on temps last year so I knew when to catch it before he got widdled off.

Lightweight nearly all year (rain scald). switch to medium when it starts consistently getting below 8 C. Then heavyweight below 2 C and when it goes below -2 he gets the 480gm space suit :) and yes it's silver ;)
 
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