To Rug or not to Rug!

  As we move towards November, the colder nights and mornings probably have most of us wearing an extra layer. Does this mean that our horses should too be wearing another layer? For many of us, we are on the fence as to whether to rug or not. In our decision to rug or not too rug, we can’t compare like with like, i.e. humans and horses. One obvious deference between us and our horses is that they have fur coats, and secondly due to the horse size the horse does not lose heat as quickly as we do. So, in a nutshell, at the same temperature the horse will actually feel warmer than we do! If you are unsure Weatherbeeta have a handy guide here.

If you opt to rug at this time of year, it brings its own dilemmas, as the weather changes from day to day – and often hour to hour! You can put a mediumweight on your horse on a chilly morning, and then the sun comes out and the animal becomes too hot. For this reason, its important to take your horse’s rug off everyday to check for sweat marks, as this is an indicator you are over-rugging the animal.

No two horses are the same, and the horse owner is usually the best judge as to whether they animal needs a rug. Young and old horses/ponies are likely to cope less well with the cold. Young horses are smaller and often have less bodyfat and will lose heat more rapidly. Older horses have a reduced ability to control their body temperature and may have lower body fat, possible health problems, reduced digestive efficiency and be less active, which can all contribute to them being more at risk in cold weather. Mature horses should ideally sustain a body temperature of around 38⁰C to avoid any health problems. 

Despite the uncertainly of the weather this type of year, there is a variety of reasons why we rug our horses. The first being to keep them warm, if the temperature has changed. For others, it is to keep them clean and dry. If your horse lives out, you want to be able to saddle up and not have to wait for a dry day to ride. 

At this time of year, people choose to clip as there is plenty of activities to take part in with your horse. Just because it's coming into winter, doesn't mean we stop competing or hacking. The mechanism whereby horses keep warm is by trapping air between the hairs. This process is called thermoregulation. In the case of a clipped horse, this has a big effect on the ability to retain heat. When the coat gets wet the hairs collapse and less air is trapped leading to faster heat loss. 

If you choose to clip, the situation changes for the horse. Many of us clip because it makes our life easier. For example, your horse sweats less and its easier to dry him or her off. With a full coat, if they sweat, it can be hours before they dry off. 

Some signs that your horse is cold.

Cold ears

Exposed hairs standing on end

Tense and rigid stance, not resting a foot

Shivering

Tail clamped down

Some important points to consider when choosing an outdoor rug

The temperature. Has it dropped considerably? Is it continuously raining? if so, your horse may feel the cold. If horses get wet, they lose more heat.

Is your horse clipped? If he/she is fully clipped he will need extra warmth and protection and a neck cover.

What type of breed is your animal? Keep in mind that cobs, are much tougher than thoroughbreds and may not need rugging. Some breeds of horses have a very fine skin and coat, such as thoroughbreds This means that they feel the wet and cold more than tougher, hardier breeds of horse. Please keep in mind, that despite the breed, a clipped horse will need a rug to compensate the hair which has been removed.

Younger and older horses are more vulnerable and may need rugging sooner.

Rug Weights

Before you go to purchase a rug for your horse there are three things you need to know: your horses’ measurements, the type of rug you are looking for, and the weight of rug your horse requires. The best advice if you are unsure, is to visit your local tack shop and get advice. Weights can often confuse us. 

The filling of the rug is measured in grams to give the weight and the weight tells you how warm the rug is. The higher the grams in the rug, the more insulation, therefore keeping your horse warmer. It is important to look at your horse as an individual when making a decision on what weight is required, as different horses have different requirements.

General Guidelines

Lightweight rugs normally weigh between 0g and 100g

Mediumweight rugs are normally between 150g and 250g

Heavyweight rugs are 300g and upwards