Ahh, the age old conundrum returns (well, amongst the equestrian community anyway), what rug to choose today? If, like many horse owners, you’re not on site to switch rugs during the day if it starts raining heavily, or we have an inexplicable burst of November heat, how can you prepare and ensure your horses are comfortable all day/night?
We’ve put together a helpful list of tips and hints when it comes to rugging to make sure your four-legged-friends stay warm, dry and comfortable throughout the winter months.
Horses don’t feel the cold like we do and the natural oils in their skin help provide water-resistance, so if you have a native type who is also unclipped then they may be fine without a rug. If this is the case, they will still require shelter and access to proper forage so they can create the heat they need.
Older horses (whether native or not), may lose the ability to generate heat for themselves so it’s a good idea to keep them extra toasty with a rug. Similarly, breeds such as thoroughbreds and Arabs have a naturally thinner winter coat so need extra rugging up in the cold. It's always worth researching your breed and also watching your horse for signs they might be feeling the chill - they're all different.
So, what to look out for? There are a million different rug options and a lot of them can be mega expensive. We’ve put together a basic wardrobe for your pony to see you through:
Stable rug:
One lightweight and one heavier (poss a 100g and a 300g) to ensure you have something for when the evenings cool. A removable neck will help ensure your pony stays toasty warm on even the coldest nights and a liner will help add warmth in colder weather and is cheaper than buying another entire rug.
Cooler:
Great for competitions when your horse has been working hard and you want to make sure they don’t lose heat rapidly.
Waffle cooler:
These are great for travelling and can also be used as an additional liner when the temperature really drops. These will also help keep your pony clean on the way to an event.
Turnout:
This is a MUST-HAVE and will keep your pony dry through the rainy weeks (or months). Good to get re-proofed every year to ensure water-tightness. Make sure your tummy straps aren’t too snug so that they’re comfortable but equally a younger pony will easily catch a leg on a longer strap. Turnout rugs are designed to that horses can move freely in the field and come in anything from a 0g fill to a 450g so you can gauge what’s right for your pony depending on his breed - and also your local climate.
It’s vital to make sure that you’re taking your horse’s rug off every day so that you can check them for any incident/blemishes. Rubbing can happen and lead to sore spots if rugs are kept on for too long.
A stabled horse won’t have the opportunity to keep warm through movement, so if you’re unsure how cold it’s going to be then opt for a lightweight stable rug to see them through.
And if it’s REALLY cold, don’t be afraid to double up on your stable rugs and keep our four-legged-friends properly snug. The below might be helpful:
We hope this is a useful guide to surviving winter with your horse . . . don’t forget that PADDOX will continue to list all your favourite competitions and activities so sign up today and never miss an event again.
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