Rug advice please..

[oftenlurkingrarelyposting]

So 6 months into owning a pony I'm still no wiser. Just today took off my (well actually Dd's) heavy weight and swapped it for medium.. Is that ok? Also bought just a few months ago a fleece and mid weight rug cheaply. He's trashed both.. Any advice for inexpensive brands to replace them please?

Depends hugely on the pony age/breed/workload/clipped or not/living in or living out etc.
Mine has been out all winter without any rugs on, and he's nice and woolly.
I would just put a hand under the rug and feel how warm he is.
I'm pretty cheap with rugs so tend to buy them when they are on sale, or second hand off preloved :)

I've stripped my TB off today and he is loving having the sun on his back. Stick a hand under the rug and see if pony is sweaty. With regards to cheap rugs I don't know! I am a massive Rambo fan but they aren't cheap but have always lasted for me.

Thanks, he's blanket clipped and a chunky irish sport horse. He seemed happy last night in a mid weight rug but then he's always happy! I will go and see what I can find on offer!

If he's a rug-trasher then buy second hand - preloved, ebay (though watch out for the postage charges - pick up in person is best option) or see if there are any Facebook equestrian groups for your locality. I'm spoilt because there is an auction centre round the corner from me with a monthly tack auction. I can't remember the last time I bought a brand new rug......

My Arab has been naked the last 3 days and only wearing a no-fill rainsheet the week before that. We are in the SE though so quite warm here.

Horses hate to be too hot. To check they are warm enough, put your hand around the base of the ears or under their armpits - they shouldn't feel warm as soon as you touch them, but after a couple of seconds you should feel the warmth coming through.

Equestrian clearance usually have various rugs at good prices .

dpony isn't clipped and lives out, so only has a rug in the worst of the weather - mostly no fill to keep the mud off. But he lives in a herd of 6 geldings, and the play means his rugs get trashed. I buy Saxon, which is £30 for no fill from Horseattack and just write them off each winter.

Derby house seem to have good deals on fill rugs if you sign up for email newletters

Thank you all.. Great advice.

Two-Times tack (find them on facebook) has loads of cheap rugs! Though this time of year not as easy to find the bargain ones on sale as stock is lower. They don't have online store but if you're close by you can go to their warehouse or they deliver