I ^know^ she's got really thick rug on and a field shelter and she ^hates^

[seeker]

her stable with a passion, and is absolutely fine but I do so wish that dd's pony wasn't outside tonight. She's 17 - it makes me feel sad to think about her!

Same here. My DD's pony has been clipped (minimally) but has a thick, full neck rug on. It's been below 0 all day today, and he was toasty earlier today, but you can't help but worry about them.
My new boy is also out. He doesn't seem to have much of a wooly coat, but was toasty earlier. The lady I bought him from said he's always wintered well (through loads of snow last year) without a rug.............can't help wanting to go and wrapped a rug around him too!
Your DD's pony will be fine, especially with you to worry about her xx

so long as she's plenty of hay as well i'm sure she will be fine.

she's Arab isn't she? You could double up the rugs but she's probably fine.

Both mine hate stables too but the big one has to stay in or he wastes away, the pony has a fleece under the heavy rug and is probably warmer than I am.

As long as they have rugs, shelter and food (some horses won't eat frosty grass) they will be fine. Horses generate a huge amount of heat from their natural body processes in particular digestion. They are much more efficient than us! (That said mine is stabled and rugged but would happily live out)

She's got a fleece and a full neck heavyweight and a pile of hay and she's as happy as larry. And she has wintered out for the past 4 years (that's all the history we have).

I know she's fine - it's me that's being pathetic. Dd is much more sensible than me!

If they are outside they can gallop about to keep warm, but not if they're in a stable. My TB is 17, and is wearing a fleece rug under his usual turnout and is fine. He prances about for a bit every now and then and then settles back down to his hay. Just make sure they have enough to eat, and aren't drinking too cold water and it'll be fine.

She'll be fine. Horses are much tougher than we think. DD's pony has grown the thickest coat I have ever seen - even his legs look like they have doubled in size he is so fluffy. His new nickname is The Yak. He has had frost on his back these last few mornings, but he is as warm as toast.

I took pity last winter on my Welshie - he was shivering away in minus 12 and I thought I'd put his rug on.....However he was so damn fat that I couldn't get the belts done up! I left him after that and he was absolutely fine. He too has had a frosty back the last couple of mornings, and it doesn't melt for ages which shows how good the insulation is!

It's made wors because she's in a field with 4 natives. They are so fat and fluffy they look more like teddy bears than ponies - she looks so thin and leggy next to them. Even though she is very fluffy by her standards!

We've cracked and started bringing them in since Saturday night. Although they are rugged (including necks) they just looked cold and we didn't want them eating frozen grass so we've brought them in for the night. They don't like coming in during the Summer but they seemed quite pleased and were waiting at the field gate.

Once temps get over freezing they will be back out again 24/7 (unless we get really hard, cold rain and then we'll reconsider).

I must be a hard hard woman. Mine are out rugless in a paddock with a spinney for shelter. IMO natives with huge coats don't need rugs. Basically all you will do is make them colder. The rug flattens the fur. This leaves no room for air. They need the air as their body heat warms it and it acts like a thermal layer. Putting a rug on top is the same as wearing three pairs of socks. You feet get colder. My ponies coats are so efficient if you touch them they actually feel cold on the outside. Feel their ears or undercarriage and they are toasty!

Saggy, I agree in principle but how do you go about riding them? What happens when they are wet and muddy - do you have to clean and dry them before putting their saddles on everytime?

You're completely over-reacting. They don't like the wet so much but the cold isn't an issue. My warmblood spent two winters out in a sub-alpine climate where it rarely came above freezing for 5 months! Didn't bother her in the slightest. Go to Canada and you'll see horses outside without rugs and 6" snow on their backs. It's insulating.

I agree with Saggy re: natives. DD's pony, who resembles a powder puff atm, is only going to be lightly ridden through the winter. If he is too wet he won't be ridden at all. Having said that, DD's xmas pressy is some one to one lessons at Talland so she will get her riding fix from that through the winter.

I understand your theory Saggyoldclothcatpuss, and planned to go down this route with my Dartmoor and my new Welsh x, but this weather has taken a lot of horses locally by suprise. My new boy has been so wooly in the past (I've seen pics), but he isn't now. Gave in and rugged him yesterday-his ears were cold as was his belly :( He looked miserable. Not sure what state the rug will be in, as he's young and not worn an outdoor rug before (most he's had is a cooler)

Good point butkin, that's the only drawback. We've not had too much problem so far, the only one of ours who is ridden in winter isn't much of a roller so it's not too bad. I'd put a saddle on a damp back. Not a muddy one.