Winter turnout rugs - confused and not knowledgable!

[needastrongone]

Help is required for our pony re rugs

It has been suggested that now is the time for us to get our winter rugs but would appreciate a little advice anyway re rugs as I am confused.

Our pony didn't come with any tack or rugs so have spent a small fortune recently!

In the rug department I have his fly rug and a lightweight rug, that's it so far. I am confused by it all to be honest. Do I need a travel rug specifically, obviously it's so hot at the moment he travels with boots and tail guard but that's it. A stable rug and a heavy weight rug? One for autumn/spring or is that the lightweight one? How heavy does the winter rug need to be and does it need a neck? He's quite fine in build, although has put on weight obviously over the summer months (welsh cross with a riding pony). Previous owners didn't fuss him or double rug him, 'he's tougher than he looks' I remember her saying!

He's obviously out all the time at the moment but will be stabled in the autumn and winter.

Help greatly appreciated!

If you are getting him clipped you will need both lightweight and heavy weight turnout rugs , its always useful to have at least a couple of each I case of damage / drying . If he's stabled at night I'd go for a lightweight stable rug for the start and end of the winter and a heavier one for the worst bits . Buying rugs is one of the most fun bits of owning a horse/ pony , we collected our Dartmoors rugs from the wash last weekend and the man commented on what a lovely variety of colours and patterns we have .

Oh gosh - that's a lot of rugs, was hoping you would says that a combination rug was an inside/outside/winter/autumn/travel rug all rolled into one that also self cleaned

His fly rug is very fetching, DH says the pattern looks like pound signs from a distance, which he thinks is most appropriate!

He won't be clipped, he's not very hairy iyswim? There's probably a technical term for it but there are ponies at the farm who have really thick coats, he seems to stay the same, to do with breed?

If your daughter wants to do much with him in the winter you would be better to clip ,it makes management much easier and clipped and rugged means they maintain condition over the winter . The only horse /pony I've owned that I didn't need to clip was my ex race mare and she never grew any hair ( think she had some kind of hormone issue ) . Clipping is really quite easy if you get some decent clippers .If you go on line there are lots of offers on rugs at the moment ,we just got a new Masta turnout reduced .

Ok, will investigate clipping. They soon sort me out at the farm anyway and I have learnt SO much in the last few months but it's sometimes nice to try and figure stuff out myself.

Yes, have been looking online, then got confused I think with the descriptions and varieties etc.

Is Ebay any good?

We've never bought horse stuff on ebay , my sister gets quite a lot from 'equestrian clearance ' , we don't have any really good saddlers local and once you know what size you want its ok buying online . There is nothing more satisfying than tucking your horse up for the night all cosy in her stable when the weather is crap , our pony is on full livery and I quite miss the hands on but just don't have the time .We don't have neck covers with this pony as she has quite a short neck but wears quite a large size rug , when we had our horses ( now deceased) we used to have the rugs with high necks as opposed to a neck cover IYSWIM .

Start with 1 medium weight stable rug and maybe 2 turn outs. I've ended up with more than I use! Even with a full clip my lad hardly ever needs his heavy weight. If u have a fleece u could always put that underneath if we have a spell of -10 weather and if u don't full clip u may not need a heavy one. What type is your horse/pony? I have way more rugs than I need! I second equestrian clearance. Cheap is not always better in terms of make the straps break or they rip. get someone to help u with a turn out as there are different degrees of rip-stop (some are tougher than others). I love Amigos and Rambos but also have weatherbetas and some masta rugs. Premier equine have offers on each day if u sign up for emails but a lot can depend on your horse's shape as with our clothes different brands suit different shape horses, I have stable rugs with removable necks so I can add it on during colder weather without having to buy 2 rugs. Do u know what size? You'll learn a lot this next year, better to need more and add to what u have than have a tack room full like me!

Oh and though I'd love to be a millionaire by inventing an inside outside fleecy travel all round any use rug ...... U can get a premier equine rug that is suitable for stable and turnout. Some people will love it and some won't. I do believe that rugs dry well on a horse so I'd be happy with it (if I needed another one.....)

I can second Amigo as good rugs - they've fitted 2 of mine well and without movement or rubbing.

You won't have to have a full clip unless he's going to be ridden a huge amount - have a look at these for info www.horse-clipping.co.uk/types-of-horse-clip.php. I have a TB, hunter clipped who lives out in winter and I've hardly used the heavyweight turnout I have for him - only when it goes below freezing/is very wet and windy - about 3 times every winter, otherwise it's a medium turnout and a quilted stable rug (not fleece, it's a nightmare) if he has to be in. I use a neck cover and snuggy hood for cosmetic purposes as he absolutely loves rolling and gets filthy.

My vet has always said to me that if a horse is living out then it is much better under rugged than over as it can warm up by moving about, but can not cool down......

We don't use travel rugs or stable rugs particularly. Ours wear their turnouts in and out. Mainly because it saves time, and also, if its raining, turnouts actually dry out much faster when worn by a warm pony rather than hung up somewhere.
I'd buy a lightweight, a medium and a heavy turnout. Possibly a medium weight quilted stable like a Pony Warma just in case it's extra cold, or the you need to make repairs. A lightweight and a quilt = a medium. A medium and a quilt = a heavy IYSWIM.
The MOST important thing is fit. You don't want anything which will pull at the shoulders, or slip down behind the withers and cause a pressure point. Don't be tempted to go too big in a turnout either. Many people say you can size up for a t/o, but you don't want anything which drags backwards! The pony needs to be able to graze without the front of the rug digging into the windpipe, but the hole mustn't be too big that they hang out of the front. I personally don't like full necks, they prevent mutual grooming and affect social interaction.
We have a wide range of ponies and really like Horsewear Ireland. Rhino Pony Wugs are great, they have a mid neck, which prevents neck seam chafe, but leaves plenty of neck free and an X clip fastening at the front which allows the neck hole to fit very nicely. They seem to float over the pony rather than cling, which helps prevent rubs, and a size up or down won't do any harm. The Amigo pony range is good too, but you need the thicker shell otherwise they are just shower proof.
They aren't the cheapest rugs in the world, but cheap rugs are often a false economy. Fwiw I wouldn't touch Masta with a barge pole.

We try to keep it simple with our ponies in the Winter. They have a bib clip (under chin, down the front and under tummies) and they have a medium weight stable rug and medium weight turn out (what are sometimes called New Zealand) rugs. We only buy rugs from the Horseware Ireland range - usually Amigos - because they are excellent quality. We save money buy not worrying about the latest colours and usually buy off Ebay or Equestrian Clearance etc on line. We like turn outs with detachable hoods. We start them with hoods on but if they start to rub their manes we take the hoods off. We also get them Bossys Bibs if they begin to rub. We are ready to put their bibs on all year round if their summer weight/fly rugs start to rub them as they change shape. We tend not to travel them in rugs as they can get hot. For Autumn/Spring show they wear their lycra neck and body suits but I wouldn't suggest you start buying these!

Like Saggy we only change rugs if we have to. Usually they wear their turn out rugs in the stable as well. We only put their stable rugs on if their turn outs are particularly wet or they are going to stand in all day (for vet/farrier etc).

Funnily enough now I'm at my own place, last winter I hardly used the stable rugs, left their turn out rugs on (amigos except for 1). I have also found that the Horsewear light weights (I have the amigos) are the only ones I have used that actually stay waterproof in heavy all day (yes I live in the northwest) rain! All the others I've tried soak through and take ages to dry. My lads amigo is on its 3rd year, unheard of for him he loves trashing them!

Mine lives in her turnout.

They're warm, why take off a nice warm coat and put a cold on one? Unless she's soaked I rarely change them over. The rugs rarely leak and dry faster on her.

Firstly, I must say, thank you so much for the detailed responses. You horsey people are very generous with your knowledge and experience and I do appreciate it.

I know that at the farm they tend not to change over the rugs, which is a throw back to when just one of them did all the ponies every day (not sure why this happened as it doesn't now) and he just got too frustrated doing approx. 10 ponies, changing rugs over etc and trying to run the farm too. I can totally understand why, but didn't want to take 'shortcuts' (for want of a better word) if this wasn't appropriate. It's a working farm and they are practical first and foremost, even though they love their ponies, they 'keep it simple' at Butkin says

So I am probably best investing in good quality waterproof turnouts then initially I think.

He's a 5.3 size. I am not fussed about having the latest patterns etc either. Thank you for the advice re neck too, the grooming did cross my mind, as did the fact that, to my layman's mind, keep the body warm would be the most important thing.

Thanks also for the clipping information too.

in case you are not sure about necks (you could get medium turnouts and if it gets cold add a neck on rather than put pony in a heavy weight) some of the Amigos have detachable necks. I like these with my lad as he has a huge mane so I only use it here and there. same with premier equine I think (though they are quite a deep make in the body) shame you're not 5' size as I have a couple I no longer use!

www.rideaway.co.uk/AMIGO-BRAVO-12-MEDIUM-250G

here's one (ignore the next on the photo it's separate purchase)

I cant see any Amigo/ Rambo/rhino ones on equestrian clearance (they are all Horsewear make)

One other money saving tip. Buy your rugs at the end of each season. The shops will be discounting the Summer Sheets etc soon to make way for their Winter stock and that is a good time to buy. It is amazing how quickly Spring will come round again!

I'd just like to say in defence of Masta ,I've had their products along with Horseware ,Mark Todd and many other makes over the last 34 years and I've never had a problem with them ,indeed I've never had a NZ/turnout rug leak since the early days of slotted surcingles( I'm that old!) .Having said that I think I take better care of my rugs than lots of people ,when we were on DIY we dried our rugs overnight in the house on ironing boards . All of my rugs have lasted well and when our horses have passed away their clothing gets passed on to a local horse sanctuary.

Butkin - yes, others have mentioned to buy out of season too. I shall need to be organised!

Lovesswimming - are you me?! I had this one as my main contender, even before I saw your post (honest!) DD likes the look and sound (from the description) of the Rhino Wug, but it has a half neck, which I am a little unsure about, my friends slips down her ponies neck, and he had a far thicker neck than our pony! Thank you for taking the time to look though, that is very kind of you

I have to buy the neck for the Amigo rug, which I am swaying towards, which then prices it slightly higher in total. Then if I have to buy a heavy weight rug too...mmmmmmm

I used to have stable and turnout rugs, now I just use the turnouts, and put an extra rug underneath if necessary at night when they're in. (I feel they can get colder in the stable than out as they can't move about to keep warm). Turnout rug is always dry in the morning that way, which is a massive bonus.

If you are starting from scratch you could consider the Horsewear range of rugs that take their liners. I have gradually been switching over to them and am very pleased. I think the Amigo Bravo ones are excellent. Premier Equine also do something similar. The half neck rugs can cause a rub half way up their neck, depends on how good the fit is on your pony. I go for full necks but then I have a grey and a roan to keep clean...

PS I've bought a lot of rugs off ebay, its worked for me at any rate.

Update. Have bought the amigo bravo medium weight after consideration. Without the neck but I can purchase as a later date as required. From what I have read, you can put the Rambo liners underneath for extra protection.

Now to save up for further rugs as required, I have other stuff to buy for camp as well this month so anything else will have to wait!

Thanks all.

This might be me stating the obvious, OP but do you know where to check if a horse is warm enough? You need to feel ear tips and the hairless area in the gusset. If they are warm there they are warm all over. Don't feel the body, the hair insulates them and you get a false reading.