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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

To rug or not to rug?

9 replies

pushtheskyaway · 06/10/2014 13:24

Just gathering opinions on the following...

I have a 2 year old Dales and a 4 year old New Forest who live out all year round.

On my friends advice I have been rugging them from around November onwards (depending on how cold it is) up until around March. My NF is a poor doer (although he has really filled out this Summer!) but my Dales holds his weight fine.

They get ad lib haylage in their field over winter, as well as a balancer. My NF is only currently in very light work.

Do people think they really need to be rugged? Especially from November onward? I am reading so much lately about the benefits of leaving horses un-rugged that I'm not sure if I am doing more harm than good?

OP posts:
Bonkey · 06/10/2014 13:36

I have always left any natives I have had un-rugged or if its really really wet then a lightweight. If they have some sort of shelter (tree's hedge etc) and plenty to eat they will be fine!

I saw a artical about horses winter coats not long ago and it was really interesting - they are more than capable of regulating them selves!

My Tb on the other hand has been rugged since beg of sep with a lightweight at night and just been switched to a middle weight. He is a thin skinned wimp Wink .

Original poster
pushtheskyaway · 06/10/2014 13:49

Thank you for the reply Bonkey. Smile

May I ask what natives you've had? I think my Dales would be fine, but I do worry a bit about my NF. He is a poor doer, and I fret about him losing condition. It doesn't help that my friend who looks after them for me when I can't get to the yard loves to criticise the way I keep them! I am always getting told my NF should be stabled over winter cos he doesn't like the cold!

The field is really sheltered. There are loads of trees and hedges for them to get into. I am a strong believer in keeping horses as naturally as possible, and to be honest I probably wouldn't stable them even if I could afford it!

OP posts:
feekerry · 06/10/2014 17:55

Nope I wouldn't be rugging any natives at all that lived out 24/7. Regardless of weather!
They are well adapt to living without rugs and if they live out 24/7 they need the chance to grow proper thick coats as required.
The fields opposite to ours are owned by an eventer and during their winter breaks they are all chucked out without rugs!!

Bonkey · 06/10/2014 18:19

I have a shetty and have had a new forest and a cob :)

I honestly would never put anything more than a lightweight on a un-clipped native at most as long as they had good shelter and ad lib hay/haylage! :)

Bonkey · 06/10/2014 18:20

And I would tell your friend to feck off and you will keep your ponies as you decide Wink

Try it - if he loses too much weight (he will lose some they all do!) then pop a rug on :)

TooMuchCantBreath · 06/10/2014 18:46

Go by them. My conny and arab x are rugged already because they were both tucked up and their coats were starting to look off. Rather than feed extra that they don't really need so I rugged. They're now perfectly happy. The tb I had before didn't need rugging unless there was deep snow! I always think they need treating as an individual not a breed. Oh I also think there's plenty of people desperate to share their opinions on your horse but you are the one who knows them best!

Flexibilityisquay · 06/10/2014 18:53

I'd go by the horses. If they are keeping the weight on they don't need a rug. If they are stood shivering by the gate all day and they are losing weight they do. From what you've said I suspect the NF will need a rug for at least some of the worst weather, and the other one won't.

I've just started putting a lightweight on my TBx as he was getting tucked up and very hungry.

Butkin · 07/10/2014 13:18

We have a variety turned out at the moment - Connemara, Section B, 12.2 Show Pony and 13 h Show Hunter Pony. The two show animals are wearing their rugs all the time except when the weather is forecast to be nice then they get them off during the day. The Connie and Section B go without.

To be honest it's usually for our own comfort - if they are rugged then they can be ridden straight from the field, even when it's raining. Also the Connie and Sec B will need to be clipped soon as they are sweating when ridden so that is when they will get their rugs on.

We plan to start bringing them in at night in mid November..

Bonkey · 09/10/2014 11:46

After all I said - this morning my shetty went out in his rug Grin

In my defence he is poorly, on week 3/8 box rest and only have a small pitiful square of a paddock with no shelter to keep him sane.

I put him out and he stood there looking miserable in the rain so on the rug went Blush

he is probably hating me because he is too hot at the moment

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