Rugging Horses In Rain

Ideally start with lighter rugs and move to thicker rugs as it gets colder.

Rugging horses in rain. I would only put on a lightweight rain. Yes i know lots of arguments surrounding horse rugging etc. Don t rug horses based on how cold you feel. If it s still quite warm most horses are better off getting a little wet than steaming up under a waterproof rug.

Older horses young horses thin horses and clipped horses will need rugs first for most horses unless clipped and living out 24 7 rugs should not be considered before temperatures overnight begin dipping towards 5 10 c. Picking the right rug during warmer weather is no mean feat. 1 they can get rain rot from rain but mostly only when they get wet and dont dry for long periods of time ie if they have a blanket on that gets wet or have a thick fur coat and doesnt get curried often enough. Yes i know lots of arguments surrounding horse rugging etc.

There is no shelter in the field i only have a separate stable and the weather here can be cold and rainy a lot. Horses that are used to the colder weather and have spent most of their time outside tend to cope better with cooler temperatures than horses that are stabled all the time. Friends have started rugging their horses at night time even cob types aswell but thats their choice. He may get a little chilly but that is much better than getting overheated and possibly getting heat stroke or colic.

Treatment of rain scald is the same as mud fever by cleansing the affected area with an antibacterial solution such as dilute hibiscrub chlorhexidine and warm water to help gradually remove the softened scabs. Bathing a horse in inclement winter weather in cold water is not ideal and is an important consideration in a basic guide to rugging horses. Once bathed even in warm water a wicking rug should be applied until the horse is dried and then the horse can be rugged and checked a few times before a final rug choice is made. But i ve never been one into putting a rug on a horse i just think they are big animals i m talking sturdy 16hh cobs can look after themselves.

Rainy weather can be very humid and it is sometimes better to leave a horse unrugged in the rain rather than keeping it sweaty in a humid rainy storm. The area should then be rinsed with warm water and dried thoroughly and the process repeated as appropriate. Rugging temperatures celsius as a general rule if your horse is not clipped and in healthy shape the following temperatures may require rugging if your horse is stabled. There is no shelter in the field i only have a separate stable and the weather here can be cold and rainy a lot.

Combined with which rugging is very different for every horse as it depends on breed weight climate his work load and even their coats themselves. But i ve never been one into putting a rug on a horse i just think they are big animals i m talking sturdy 16hh cobs can look after themselves.