When should I start rugging my TB horse up?

[Keeva]

Hi, I have recently bought a TB horse and don't know how cold I should let it get before I start piling the rugs on? Any advice, thanks

 

[Pinkvboots]

It depends but being TB they have a very fine coat and feel the cold, then they tend to drop weight if cold, Is he stabled or turned out at night?

My Arab is rugged at night as he feels the cold and will drop weight, but my warmblood has more coat and carries more weight so is still naked, mine are still out at night.

 

[Moomin1]

If you pile rugs on horses, they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature, and will struggle without thereafter.

Truth is, if horses are hardened to being without rugs, they really shouldn't need them, whatever breed they are, in this country. I know someone who has bred racehorses for around 20 years now. Not one of their TB's has a rug on unless it's ill or elderly. They never lose condition because they are fed the correct diet.

 

[fabscd]

When he gets cold. If he doesn't feel cold at the base of his ears or my failsafe is to shove a hand between their back legs (but be careful, some horses aren't too keen on this so watch yours doesn't kick!) then he is probably ok. If his skin feels cool to touch at these points, and his coat is standing up he is probably cold. Watch out for him dropping weight as well.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Our herd of TB's live out all winter unrugged unless it's been heavily raining for a prolonged period. They do well because they have haylage and a large field with plenty of sheltered spots.

Just go by how your horse is, if he looks tucked up and drops weight, then rug him. Don't rug too much, too early otherwise he won't be able to regulate his body temperature.
Plenty of forage, exercise to keep him fit and healthy will keep him warmer than any rug. With the exception of continued windy, cold rain.

 

[ThoroughbredStar]

in the past few years I have started rugging at night sept/oct but they certainly don't need them on in this weather at night. Depends if you want to keep the coat slick and shiny too and prevent the winter hair growing early- puts off clipping too However an over rugged horse is as uncomfortable as an under rugged horse. If they look tucked up stick a rug on

 

[soot]

I tend to leave rugs off to encourage some growth ... and then I clip it all off and rug (in a month - ugh, where's the summer gone?)

 

[whizzer]

I start to rug at night in sept on chilly nights,mines a very poor doer & he starts losing weight if I hold out to long. I check base if ears & 'armpits' on front legs. He also just starts to look cold & mooch about not eating much if he's getting chilly. I rug as lightly as I can then once he's in at night from end oct time he's fully clipped & the heavier rugs come out.

 

[Baggybreeches]

Mine are rugged (lightweights) at night as they have started stirring in their coat, during the day whilst they are out if there's no wind I leave them naked, but we have wind that blows right up from the coast and they do get cold if they are out until late. Play it by ear, my big TB doesn't mind being cold but it doesn't help his stringhalt, my ID mare hates being cold and will walk through the fence to come in if she gets cold (she is the wimpiest horse I have ever known).

 

[madmav]

Mine are rugged (lightweights) at night as they have started stirring in their coat, during the day whilst they are out if there's no wind I leave them naked, but we have wind that blows right up from the coast and they do get cold if they are out until late. Play it by ear, my big TB doesn't mind being cold but it doesn't help his stringhalt, my ID mare hates being cold and will walk through the fence to come in if she gets cold (she is the wimpiest horse I have ever known).

Aw bless her. I love the sound of your wimpy mare getting quite assertive to reach a nice warm stable. Girl power!