Are your youngsters that are out 24/7 rugged or not in winter? I would prefer not to rug but would be interested in what others do. Mine is a 10 month old irish x.
I was thinking of pitting a rug on my rising 3 yr old now as he will be getting broke in this year and it may get him used to things being thrown over him. He doesn't really need one though
My youngster has a rug on just because there isn't much shelter in her field. Plus she dropped more weight than I liked. She's got a lightweight rug and an anti-rub bib, keeps the rain off her and think she appreciates it.
My 3yr old has a medium weight turnout without a neck. he is 3/4TB. he is in a large flat field with trees down one side, but it's pretty open. he's not getting any hard feed so I don't want him to drop weight using it to keep warm. he gets hay and the grass is still ok in there.
Normally no, but my rising 2 year old has had surgery and they clipped out a huge area - so until the coat has grown back he is rugged to stop him getting chilly, but only a lightweight.
My 2 welsh d, both 7 months have medium weight rugs, cause they have too much weight, my friesian who is nearly 2 also has a medium on, my nearly 2 year old welsh d and my friesian cross both have medium on, my other friesian just a rain sheet, my haffy will sweat in anything, in my eyes one size does not fit all, each of my are rugged to there needs, ie what field they are in, what shelter they have,and what body score they are, I like to see a rib, but I don't wanna play a tune on it
My 8 month old filly is rugged as she is in a fairly exposed paddock without access to the shelter. I go by feel of the ponies and how they look etc, but even my natives are rugged as needed.
When I got my gelding he was lean and is quite a fussy eater. He didn't grow much winter coat and we do get some horrid weather (wet and windy together, which really makes then cold and sometimes they wont stand by the hedge ) so he's rugged. He has also put on a little weight as I've found a feed that he likes, although he seems to put most of his energy into growing.
My new girl is rising 3 and is rugless, it is how she came so I am not changing things. She is getting plenty of hay to keep her warm and does have grass in her paddock, she is living out 24/7
Wolf isn't rugged, Felix is. Felix is a bit of weed, like Faracat's youngster, and he's out 24/7 in all weathers. So he does need a bit of cossetting. Wolf on the other hand is much fatter and has a proper welsh coat so doesn't need any help in that department.
They've both worn a variety of rugs though just to learn what they are about.
My rising 4yr TB/WB old has a rug for the first time this winter. It is the first year I haven't bought her in at night though. Going to put a neck on her for the very cold weather.
My rising 2 year old KWPN is. He's not out 24/7 but when he is there is no shelter in the field (not even a tree!) and because it's so flat here when it rains and its windy and cold on top of that it's unbearable as it really stings and I am sure only the toughest native could stand it.
Even our Fjord demands to be in when its windy and raining and he's got a really thick coat.
i've got a rising 4yo Sec A who's never been rugged in winter. We got him at 6months old and he came in at night for the rest of that winter as that was what he was use to (we got him in Dec) since then he's lived out 24/7 appart from the odd night in.
He wore a fly rug last summer but thats it as far as rugs for him he just doesnt need them
He's irish draught x wb. He has not been rugged as yet and has quite a thick coat. He has been stabled at night but I guess if they are out they can move around more to keep warm.
I rugged my youngster in the winter as a 2 yr old. I had decided not to but then the paddock was getting cut up so I decided to try a rug for her.
After rugging her the field got a lot less damage. For most of that winter she wore a 100g liner under a waterproof sheet even when we had the temps of -12. She seemed happy enough, YO was much happier and as a result I was happier as I wasn't getting earache off the YO because of the state of the field!
Play it by ear. If you think they need a rug try it if it turns out they don't, take it off!
I can never decide! My 2 year old threequarterbred is, as of tonight, in a MW with neck as he has no coat at all. He has been wearing a LW with no neck at night and naked during the day if its not raining. Hes about right weightwise. His small fat newfie mate is naked and I hope he will shiver some weight off over the next few days but I doubt it. Seen at a distance he looks like a musk ox on the Frozen planet.