This morning I went to see my boys and they were a bit
damp, but felt warm non the less. I was going to rug and
stopped myself, I am already thinking of rugging
tonight....
I don't want to end up with several rugs on them in
December but I think I am being soft rugging so early
and that I should leave them to grow a good coat.
Please tell me what to do. (I have been looking at the
rain today and feel really bad)
PS They are out 24/7, TB, and aren't getting a stable
built until this weekend (hopefully) so shelter is
limited although they can get out of the wind against
hedges.
Unless they
are elderly, underweight or you are about to clip, I
would leave them if they feel warm in the early morning.
When the sun does come out, they would be horribly hot
and itchy whilst loosing summer coats under rugs.
And if you put even a waterproof rug on at night, it
could flatten out the coat so they feel a sudden cool or
wet day even more.
I did have my heating on at home the
other night and even though our horses are stabled at
night I still feel a pang of doubt that they are out
there and I'm tucked up in bed nice and cosy warm.
They haven't had rugs on so far and probably won't until
a) they get clipped, b) it gets REALLY cold during the
day.
My other half is a bit harder and won't hear of it -
reckons that they are hardy, healthy enough and
"they are bloody horses woman". Oh well. We
can't help it if we have a mothering instinct.
I do think many people go over the top in rugging their
horses unnecessarily - even if there's a hint of rain,
on go the NZs and the next day the sun comes out so the
NZs come off.
Fair enough if you have a 'fine' type of horse that
needs the extra warmth - but they WILL be the ones with
layer upon layer of rugs on by Dec.
SO - I'd leave them off for a while yet.
I rugged my
boy last night (in a Rhino Lite) but all others were
unrugged. He is 27 so I felt justified - my 2yo I
wouldn't dream of rugging!!
They are actually coping with this weather so much
better than in August when it rained, had some very
chilled horses then!
I'm a softy
too but I keep telling myself that mine is FAT and happy
- while the others huddle in the field (some with rugs
on) mine goes round biting bums and wanting to play so he can't be that cold - does help that he is turning
into a furry 14Hh thellwell - arrrgh! HOW MUCH ARE
CLIPPERS!!!!!
Trust me - you
don't want to know how much clippers are !
...on that note how much do people charge to clip for
you - either if I take my horse to them or they come to
me either way ? (Just a trace probably)
I have my
horse rugged in a N/Z at day and he has his first light
quilt on at night!! Yes I am bad but also I am doing a
Hunter Trial next w/e and didn't want to have to clip
him in Sept he grows quite a thick coat and sweats a lot
so felt it was fairer to rug to prevent coat growth and
touch wood it seems to be working. He will be kept fit
and compete all winter. He will SJ, affiliated Dressage
and Hunt if it gets started, he is out during the day
and in at night!!
Rugging depends on everyone's circumstances and how they
manage their horses, if mine were living out I would not
rug yet as I don't like to see horses that live out
carrying the extra bulk of 3 rugs in the middle of
winter - I think it is unfair.
Round here trace clip would be around £15-20
When I used to work in a riding school, we wouldn't put
rugs on this early (apart from the oldies). It's far too
early and later in the winter, you'll have to use loads
of rugs.
The only thing is - if you don't want to clip, you can
put rugs on to prevent the horse's winter coat growing
through. It's probably not worth the hassle though (and
I'm not convinced it always works!)
If your
horses feel warm and are not looking hunched up and
miserable then you don't need to rug yet.
My cob will be living out this winter and she doesn't
feel the cold or wet easily so I am going to leave it as
long as possible until rugging her so she will grow a
woolly mammoth coat. Rugging her up would just
make extra work for me so I won't rug until I really
have to.
