To Rug or Not to Rug!!!!

[lexy]

I need someone to tell me im doing the right thing my leaving my boy rugless!! I know I am doing the right thing, but tonight down the yard the only horses without a rug was mine and a big Belgium Brabant!! Even the hairy cobs all have rugs on, which i think is crazy

I have decided to leave him natural as im not riding him at the mo as gone barefoot therefore he wont be having a clip. I know that horses coats if left alone are better than any rug u can buy and most horses prefer to be rugless, but i just know everyone down the yard thinks im being mean!! I dont usually care what people think and nobody has said anything yet....but i just know they will at some point.

Please give me your thoughts and who is rugging or not rugging so far.

xx

[jenna]

If your horse is happy and not dropping weight because he's cold/wet, then leave him!

I've got five, and only one is rugged, because he's a big wussy warmblood who drops weight like a stone if he gets wet and cold. Even he's only worn his rug about three times this season - one of them being tonight as it's forecast to rain heavily.

All the others are, and will remain, rugless as they're hairy and happy!

[Laura Chandi]

Rugging up is such a difficult one, Lexy!
I agree with Jenna; whilst your happy with how he's looking then leave it off. If he's got free access to as much fibre as he needs then his internal furnace will be working away; 'The Ready Brek Effect' I call it!
This weather doesn't really help as it's mild and dry one minute, then cold and wet then mild and wet.....etc etc...!

Out of my 5 I lite rug three at night as one is wuss, one is a TB in work who's quite lean and grows little coat and one is a veteran and kept lean as lami-risk. Also, they are on a field with no real grass so have hay in the coral which means they are just stood around alot. They will move onto their winter grass Nov 1st which is good grass so even though the weather will no doubt get colder/harsher the rug situation will stay much the same until things get really bad! Mine don't have any shelter other than natural so I do feel I need to provide something...

I know what you mean about hairy cobs being rugged; there's loads round here that are rugged up to their eyebrows!

Play it as you see it I reckon. If you think he's struggling with the elements then stick a rug on but only 'cos you want to....

[saturdaygirl]

I know this post is ancient, but it's a topic that drives me mad so will add my opinion! People rug too much! I'm the first to say my horses, when in work/ clipped are very well rugged; both to keep them warm and keep a good coat for the show ring. However I'm under no illusion they 'need' most of it, and when out of work are left to grow fur as nature intended. I used to work with a selection of top show horses; including PBAs, ex racers, TBs and warmbloods. All were rugged up until HOYS, and then within a week afterwards were out, naked, and happy as larry. They all grew brilliant coats, and most kept weight on far better naked, out 24/7 and fed lots of hay than they did all summer when filled with food and kept in... Most racehorses winter out without rugs!