Just that really. Those who have read my previous thread will know that I help look after two horses. Their owner is now on holiday for 2 weeks so I'm in sole charge.
The other day when I did them it had been raining all day and I got to them and they were both shivering . I phoned the very understanding other half and he bought some rugs down , I tried to dry them off a bit with towels but they went on wet(I know its a big no no but they were shivering so short of bringing them home and blow drying them I didn't have much choice).
I have read some bits on rugs and see there are people saying that rugging now is too early and they won't get a winter coat etc. I'm sure that if they were shivering and tucked up that I did the right thing by rugging them.
They are a 4 yo old TB and a 15 yo Hanoverian. They live out 24/7 are in a field that have been in since June, they get minimal hard feed and no hay , the Hanoverian is a bit plump at the moment but nothing serious and the TB is neither fat nor skinny. We live in the South East , the field is at the top of a hill and has hedges on three sides and no field shelter.
What I'm looking to know is....
What horses has everyone here got and how do you decide when to rug them?
I have done the ear base feeling thing, what sort of temperature should they be on their ears?
I work long hours so can't get there in the middle of the day to do wardrobe changes so is it better for them to be too warm or too cold?
What weight rugs is everyone using at the moment?
I'm new to the living out way of life as with other horses I've looked after they have always had a stable if it gets chilly so I've had the option to stable them with no rugs . I just can't stand the feeling that they might be shivering in the field feeling unloved , while at the same time I don't want them being too warm or being rugged early so they won't get a winter coat and will be colder when it is proper cold.
any advice much appreciated :-)
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.
The tack room
To rug or not to rug
11 replies
tallulahturtle · 16/09/2013 10:20
OP posts:
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.