Does he need a rug

[Daneva]

My new horse has been living out for most of the winter, unclipped with a light rug. He will be coming to us shortly and will be stabled during winter. I do not intend clipping him now until next Autumn. Will he need a rug in the stable - any thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

[The Flying Irishman]

Scoobie isn't clipped this year and he does not wear a stable rug (as he sweats if I do put one on)

[¿M€®¥ñ™]

Well I have a half shetland who grows a really thick coat but in winter he still neads a wooly rug - he doesnt have a stable anymore though (he did in NZ, and we did the same there, and now we are in Aus...not quite as cold lol). How cold does it get in winter over there? What breed is your horse? How open is the stable?

[Daneva]

He is medium/heavy weight irish cob and although he has his winter coat on its actually not that hairy.

[Kanuma]

nope! i realy wouldnt! i live about 45 mins drive from you,
my connemara doesnt wear anything at all and he lives out,
my 24 year old welsh b has a nice wooly coat and only has a rug on when it is nasty and he lives out,
my 25 yearold showpony has a light weight on when out and nothing in his stable and is very happy. my arab is the same.
my friend even had a horse with a trace clip out with only a lightweight on unles it gets realy bad.

although i must admit i will be increaseing thier rugs massively in march to try and encourage thier coats out in time for the show season

[Moomin]

The only thing you have to consider is how cold it actually is at night and the fact that when they live out they keep themselves a bit warmer as they move around. I don't know if you have ever been to your yard a few hours after dark but it gets very chilly - then consider your horse standing still in it....

I have a cob of the sam description, and her coat is not hairy either - the lighter Irish Cobs don't tend to be as hairy as people think. Mine is unclipped and wears heavy rugs indoor and outdoor (her outdoor one is lighter than infoor tho) or she loses weight rapidly.

[Kanuma]

It doesnt tend to be that cold on the wirral though (certainly warmer then a windswept welsh hill).
the cliped horse in the above post is an irish cob