Wintering out... rugging a TB.. now or later?

M

merliebug

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 January 2009
Messages
84
Visit site
Please help! I'm wintering out my TB for the first time ever and have no idea what to do... He is in a herd of 13, mostly retired pets and 5 or 6 polo ponies being turned away off-season. None of them will be rugged... except my boy!

I have so far left him naked, apart from the odd blustery wet day when he came in shivering. He is pretty well covered, but not nearly as fluffy as most of the others. It's going to drop to 2 degrees tonight - would you rug? Or should I be mean and leave him so that he will grow a thicker coat for the depths of winter? I won't let him get wet and cold, but it's supposed to be dry tonight and tomorrow, just very cold.

Advice please!! (PS. He is only 8, has exceptional grazing and only a handful of additional feed for bute. In the winter all the horses come into a big barn at night and are fed ad-lib hay).

Thanks!
 
Personally I'd start rugging. It's normally the cold, wet weather that drags them down.

But rugging the minute it starts getting cold, and ensuring an adequate ad lib supply of hay should ensure that he does well.
 
I'd agree- If he's come in shivery already I would rug.
I have been trying to be harsh with mine with the hope he will sprout a full winter coat before i clip so i wont have to reclip too soon! However its windy and wet so he's rugged :-(
The horses wintering out at work are still not rugged though- dont think they will be as far as i have heard!?! (racers on winter breaks)
 
Literally just come in from putting a LW on our 18yr old TB, the wind and showers are biting but he still chooses to be out in the field, ours have free access to stables/field good winter coats and are out more than in going by the poo in the stables
 
If he's cold, rug him, if he's not, dont.... My retired TB is getting a bit woolly already and has a bib & belly clip because of sweating in the ridiculously warm temperatures a couple of weeks ago, he's unrugged as yet because he's plenty warm enough at the base of his ears/armpits, has lots of grass to eat and has shelter, will likely be different matter when it's cold AND wet but is so far coping with the drop in temperature fine.
 
Our 27yo TB has been rugged for the last couple of nights and all day today - might get a warmer rug on tonight (currently in 200gm) as 2 degrees will be in urban centres, so likely to freeze near us. If it was the temps alone I wouldn't bother, but its the wind and rain that are the problem (and it snowed in sheffield today, not a million miles from me :eek: )

but we are also already feeding him for the winter to get him ready pointless feeding him and then making him shiver it off, so its horses for courses I think :)

But yes, tonight I would rug :)
 
My TB is in her MW combo as from last night, getting much colder especially of a night time now :( winter is well on the way!!
 
Thank you! He was warm enough yesterday and not keen at all to be caught, which tells me he was perfectly happy, but it's going to be frosty tonight so I think he'll be wearing a MW!
Here comes winter....
 
Mine lives out with good shelter and grazing. She's in good condition, unclipped and spent last winter in a classic neck M/W. Tried putting a combo on her but she and the ISH came out in heat lumps. (It was snowy and -6.)

Am inclined to leave her unrugged this winter, as if snow and ice stops riding like last year, the herd spent their days eating from big bales and got fat.

I'll see how she fares, if she loses condition, or its very wet, she'll be rugged enough to keep her comfortable. She is currently very fluffy and coat has a lovely sheen, so no rugs yet.
 
id definetly start rugging any horse unless its a native cobby type!

TBs are probably the ones to be rugging sooner rather than later! iespecialy a well ecercised one as they have barely no fat warmth lol!

However i have seen a few fat TBs more than capable of keep warm lols.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top