To rug or not to rug?

[Shannon_Clover]

Honestly, I never own a rug for my 15 years of on /off pony/horse ownership/loan.

My mare only wore a rug for one season when she was on loan as a hunter. (at loan stable not at home)

Now I am wondering is it really okay to let my mare and seven months old colt to go without a rug?

For the winter, They have their usual stable and yard with access to fields during the day when weather okay and plenty of hay when stabled.


How do I make a Poll?
want to know how many here rug or dont rug.
Thnaks.

[Pink's lady]

Yes, absolutly. I brought Pink in last night in the most horrfic weather, thinking I'd put a rug on her. But had a look at her's and Kim's coats and although the top layer is wet, they're dry next to the skin. So chucked her back out again naked;)

It's really important young horses are allowed to grow a thick and wooly coat and also learn how to keeo themselves warm (how to stand etc). I suspect that all these horses that just don't grow a proper winter coat, regardless of them being left unrugged, has a lot to do with being rugged up as a baby.

Your lot have got a perfect set up - they can come into shelter if they want. Although I bet they don't spend much time inside;)

[puzzles]

if your mare has more-than-coped before, she should be fine now, the foal too.
in fact, as you are not rugging either of them, both - especially the foal - will build up their own resources to help themselves.
providing the base of their ears are warm - not cold nor hot - and they have good shelter, then they should be fine.

monitor their condition carefully and it may be a good idea to weight-tape the mare reguarlly (every 2 weeks or so) so you can catch any weight-loss early on.
good luck

[teabiscuit]

just keep your eye on how they're coping.

i don't like rugging foals and mums they find enough trouble to get into without rugs :eek: :rolleyes:

[becs]

Also wouldn't the foal have a raised metabolic rate (like kids) hence not feel the cold as much, burning up energy quicker? (see what PL says!)

[Jessey]

I would leave them nakid :D let the foal toughen up a bit and mum sounds like she will be fine anyway, and you don't want them getting in a tangle with all those straps.

J x

[Mehitabel]

if they are happy and healthy, then why not. we rarely rug our youngstock, or the ones who aren't ridden. i don't like rugging foals either.

[Afellpony]

I was thinking of leaving Falcon rugless this winter as he trashes them. He should cope. He lived on the Fells and no one actually dashed out to rug him there. He is also not clipped.

[Zer0]

I would never rug a foal unless it was deathly freezing, because accidents can happen. My rule is to keep a rug just in case it gets below 10 degrees, but it doesn't have to be that heavy or expensive if your horse has it's fur grown out.

[Shannon_Clover]

Thanks for replies.

They both already have their natural thick winter coat so they should be fine.

(Colt's first winter coat)

[puzzles]

oh good
xx

[coss]

sounds like they will be fine rugless, far too many people rug for the sake of it. Many rug to keep them clean- fair enough, bu some rug and odn't let the horse's grow a coat and they are far better to use their own resources, it is also healthier

[puzzles]

i agree - many use them just because they feel guilty or worried, when they acn eb an unecessary expense