You're all making me paranoid about rugs, are no fills okay to use?

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I.Camilla

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I don't rug my 2yo, she lives out and managed really well last winter and that's with only natural shelter.

But I am rugging my conny so I can prolong clipping him, then he will need rugging once clipped and he will also be living out. But at the moment I am using a no fill rug, but I’ve read some mixed opinions on them???

It makes sense to me because when it’s only cold at the moment because of the wind and rain, it should keep the chill off? But there must be reasons some are put off by them?

Also when do people choose to use neck covers? I never know when to put them on or not when I’m onto the middleweight/heavyweights.

thanks in advance
 
I only use a no fill to protect against rain, if used in the dry they stop the horse "fluffing" up its coat and using its natural protection so they can be colder in one than without when it is dry.

I find a 40g or 70g lightweight turnout much more useful - although I also have a no-fill rainsheet but it gets used rarely!

I use neck covers when she is clipped out only - or very occasionally if needs keeping clean before a show.
 
I've heard that lightweight rugs can make horses colder because they stop the hair from being fluffed up when the horse is cold.

I prefer to go rugless but my horses are all hardy and lardy. lol.
 
Don't let the forum make you paranoid. There is good advice on here and also bad. Different people are fussy about different things.

If your horses are doing well with the rugs you use - not shivering and not underweight, don't worry!

ps. No fill rugs used to be called rain sheets when I was young, which was a better name really..
 
I always knew them as rain sheets. They wouldn't make or sell so many of them if they were no good. I find the soft lined ones seem cosier. I prefer to leave mine naked until they are clipped then they feel more benefit from their rugs.
 
Lightweight no fill rugs are useful at this time of year or during wet weather in the summer, I find it is enough to keep them dry and they do not get cold.
In the winter though they can become very cold wearing them as the coat lies flat and the rain seems to make the rug almost cling to the horse while providing no warmth, so I do not use them in the winter.
 
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