Time to rug up? + stopping rug rubbing mane out

[No_Angel]

I rugged up my girl Maddie last night, it was very wet and so she had a huge bowl of fat food and a rug on, and it seems to have worked, she has only lost a bit of weight off her back rib.

Do you think I should start rugging her up now? I want to keep what weight I have got on her as she tends to loose it very easily, and im wondering if it will keep coat growth down enough so I dont have to clip her, due to her temperment I think shed be very spooky and I dont agree with twitching them or drugging them, but as she was a racer she might be used to it. Might have to get the clippers out and test her reaction.

Also, Amber has a full neck rug and the seam tends to rub her mane out, anyone know how I can stop it doing this? The rugs for the other 2 with teh hoods dont seem to do it, just the one with the full neck, but its a lovely rug so I dont want to get rid of it.

Thanks Tasha

[dcp]

Hi I am asking myself the same question. I go onto www.metoffice.gov.uk to check the predicted tempretures at night so I can judge whether Charlie needs a rug. Personally I don't really want to rug him up too early as he is a thin skinned TB and I want him to feel the benefits of his rugs when he really needs it. I will rug if it's wet or windy. As for the mane rubbing sorry I'm not sure. :)

[ajhainey]

:p Can't imagine rugging up down here - it was 27 degrees yesterday! I'm still debating whether to buy an air conditioner for the house :D

aj xx

[Esther.D]

ditto adjhainey....it has been very hot here the last week and we are all too hot in t-shirts :eek:

[No_Angel]

Well I was in a t-shirt yesterday but then it poured down and I was soaking when I went to put the horses away- soaked to my underwear :eek:

[eventerbabe]

on the cooler days i'm having to rug bonnie. her weight is yo-yoing so badly. but she's only getting a rain sheet on when turned out and a coolmasta at nights so nothing heavy. play it by ear, you know maddie best :)

[Dales_Lover]

What breed is she?

YOhas started rugging her Arab - a LW on at night - which is pathetic IMO! It's been so hot the last couple of weeks - and it isn't cold at night. It might rain, yes, but that's what horses have grease on their coats for - my pony was out in the rain and she hasn't shriveled up yet!

Mine doesn't get rug till late November - though last year it was nearer christmas!

[No_Angel]

Maddie is an ex racer tb.
It wasnt that cold last night but I put a stable rug on her, she seemed really warm but I prefer that to her loosing all her weight. At the moment im not rugging her up during the day as it can get warm, but her coat is changing and im still not sure if I want to clip her. I think ill dig the clippers out and go terrorise a horse :D ;)

Edit to add- I dont usually rug my other 3 up till it gets really cold, but they are a hardy bunch.

[eeyore]

i have a TBx (non ex-racer as far as i know though! :D) but last winter he lost a lot of weight though. mind you i think it was coz i didn't up his feed enough.

this year i've already started upping his feed and we've also got him on Speedi-beet and pasture nuts this time.
he's living out about 90% of the time currently, unrugged, unless it's about 12 degrees or lower.

hmmm does anyone know if they do like anti-rub things for necks?
i got an anti-rub vest for ben when his rugs were rubbing his shoulders, but i do recall something in robinsons or shires about mane/neck protection.
maybe it was just something to keep the mane tidy overnight before a show - may be worth a look anyway!

[No_Angel]

Well, she wasnt too keen on the clippers, but what did I expect shes scared of wound powder and the radio :rolleyes:
So looks like im not clipping. I took her rug off her this morning and she seemed really alert and happy, her stable is round the back from the others so was a bit colder than theirs so she might appriciate the rug a little more.

http://www.shires-equestrian.co.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ShiresEquestrian.woa/6/wo/2ySHOoccFlLWT753sF8xZg/5.0.80.1.14.1

This one seems good