metalmare
Well-Known Member
My foal is naked, carrying plenty of weight and very warm! I can't even believe I've got him in at night... how soft am I?
Depp_by_Chocolate
Well-Known Member
My 2 year old is out without a rug 24/7 and appears much happier than the other horses she shares a field with who are rugged up to the eyeballs.
TGM
Well-Known Member
I have two unrugged at the moment, obviously both unclipped, but they are coming in at night. I do put a turnout on the old girl when we have torrential rain, but when it is just cold like it is at the moment, she is happier naked!
The_snoopster
Well-Known Member
My nf gelding is unrugged and out 24/7 and also my shettie they are fine and do not seem bothered at all, and although i went out and bought them rugs they are still in the wrappers unopened but are there if required.
My 21 year old cob mare as a l/w rug on but to be fair i don,t think she needs it as she as put weight on this winter, all mine are on diets as they do not seem to want to lose their summer bloom and are all chubby.
My 21 year old cob mare as a l/w rug on but to be fair i don,t think she needs it as she as put weight on this winter, all mine are on diets as they do not seem to want to lose their summer bloom and are all chubby.
PucciNPoni
Well-Known Member
Never ever used to rug any of my horses when I lived in New England where winters were MUCH more severe - snow from October/November and freezing temps ...right til March sometimes April. They went out all day, only came in for the worst of the weather (when the snow coming down at a rate so fast that their hay would be buried before they got to eat it!) and even then, if given a shelter (ie trees or manmade), they'd happily stand outside all the time.
However, they had their shoes pulled (bare feet cope much better with snow anyway) and were only ridden occasionally and lightly this time of year as getting a sweaty horse dry and back to normal temp is something that takes a long time and continous changes of wool coolers and stabling. So in THIS country where it's much more the norm to keep horses in work year round it's perfectly understandable keeping them clipped and rugged and stabled at night at least.
My own horse, on box rest, has a full coat and wears a rug as I feel she can't keep herself warm by moving around enough. She feels the cold and I don't want to hinder her healing process after surgery by not keeping her warm/healthy. Otherwise, if I planned to not ride her over winter, I'd keep her nekkid.
However, they had their shoes pulled (bare feet cope much better with snow anyway) and were only ridden occasionally and lightly this time of year as getting a sweaty horse dry and back to normal temp is something that takes a long time and continous changes of wool coolers and stabling. So in THIS country where it's much more the norm to keep horses in work year round it's perfectly understandable keeping them clipped and rugged and stabled at night at least.
My own horse, on box rest, has a full coat and wears a rug as I feel she can't keep herself warm by moving around enough. She feels the cold and I don't want to hinder her healing process after surgery by not keeping her warm/healthy. Otherwise, if I planned to not ride her over winter, I'd keep her nekkid.
HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
It infuriates me that people think like that... what do wild horses do in the cold weather? They survive!
I rug up my horses because it's what they're used to (and I always worry about how much to put on them) and our pony always used to be without a rug. It's only now that he's getting old and not in the best of health that he has a snug rug on to keep him cosy.
I rug up my horses because it's what they're used to (and I always worry about how much to put on them) and our pony always used to be without a rug. It's only now that he's getting old and not in the best of health that he has a snug rug on to keep him cosy.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
It infuriates me that people think like that... what do wild horses do in the cold weather? They survive!
[/ QUOTE ]
Many just barely. I've seen unfed feral ponies at the end of a winter,begging on the other side of my mountain gates, mares in foal with a foal at foot, walking skeletons. Pitiful. I've seen plenty of the ones that don't make it too, anyone who lives on mountains/moorlands where there are wild ponies will have.
Natural selection and all that, yes, but there is still absolutely no reason or excuse, for an owned, domesticated animal trapped in a field (rather than 1000's of acres) to get to that state just because the owner prescribes to the "They are horses, they have fur coats and are designed for it" theory.
It infuriates me that people think like that... what do wild horses do in the cold weather? They survive!
[/ QUOTE ]
Many just barely. I've seen unfed feral ponies at the end of a winter,begging on the other side of my mountain gates, mares in foal with a foal at foot, walking skeletons. Pitiful. I've seen plenty of the ones that don't make it too, anyone who lives on mountains/moorlands where there are wild ponies will have.
Natural selection and all that, yes, but there is still absolutely no reason or excuse, for an owned, domesticated animal trapped in a field (rather than 1000's of acres) to get to that state just because the owner prescribes to the "They are horses, they have fur coats and are designed for it" theory.
Faithkat
Well-Known Member
I've got 3 New Forests out unrugged. They are fine, they have coats like bears and are being fed haylage in the field. They wouldn't be rugged if they were still out on the Forest . . . . . .
HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Many just barely. I've seen unfed feral ponies at the end of a winter,begging on the other side of my mountain gates, mares in foal with a foal at foot, walking skeletons. Pitiful. I've seen plenty of the ones that don't make it too, anyone who lives on mountains/moorlands where there are wild ponies will have.
Natural selection and all that, yes, but there is still absolutely no reason or excuse, for an owned, domesticated animal trapped in a field (rather than 1000's of acres) to get to that state just because the owner prescribes to the "They are horses, they have fur coats and are designed for it" theory.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh I agree that some wild horses have a terrible time, I didn't mean that it was all easy for them. I just think it's silly that some horse owners think all horses and ponies, no matter what kind they are or where they come from, should be heavily rugged up when it's cold. It depends on the horse I think. As I said, mine are rugged and cosy (and I feel fine about it thanks to good advice from people on here).
Many just barely. I've seen unfed feral ponies at the end of a winter,begging on the other side of my mountain gates, mares in foal with a foal at foot, walking skeletons. Pitiful. I've seen plenty of the ones that don't make it too, anyone who lives on mountains/moorlands where there are wild ponies will have.
Natural selection and all that, yes, but there is still absolutely no reason or excuse, for an owned, domesticated animal trapped in a field (rather than 1000's of acres) to get to that state just because the owner prescribes to the "They are horses, they have fur coats and are designed for it" theory.
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh I agree that some wild horses have a terrible time, I didn't mean that it was all easy for them. I just think it's silly that some horse owners think all horses and ponies, no matter what kind they are or where they come from, should be heavily rugged up when it's cold. It depends on the horse I think. As I said, mine are rugged and cosy (and I feel fine about it thanks to good advice from people on here).
Lill
Well-Known Member
We do, 2 welsh d mares, 1 welsh d 2yo and 1 midget hairy pony!
eggs
Well-Known Member
5 warmbloods unrugged, unclipped, on holiday and out 24/7. Old companion pony rugged as he feels the cold.
They are all hayed and checked daily. Hoping that they will drop a bit of weight before the spring grass arrives!
They are all hayed and checked daily. Hoping that they will drop a bit of weight before the spring grass arrives!
Eriskayowner
Well-Known Member
QR Mouse is out in the weather he is designed for, in the coat that he designed for it!!!!
_HP_
Well-Known Member
5 unclipped natives are unrugged...1 tb in a mediumweight combo
D
Donkeymad
Guest
Me Me Me
Three unrugged, two in summer weight, one in MW.
the woman that reported our horses (remember those underweight heavy heavy cobs?) reports any horses and ponies not wearing rugs in winter!!
the woman that reported our horses (remember those underweight heavy heavy cobs?) reports any horses and ponies not wearing rugs in winter!!