Rugging

"Your horse doesn't need that rug", or "your horse needs a heavier rug", or "why don't you rug your horse?". 

Well, rugging has long been a matter of discussion and rugs have evolved over the years to make life much, much easier. Gone are the days of a heavy New Zealand for turnout that doesn't allow airflow, and turning it inside out with a thatch underneath to dry them off. 

However, due to these old fashioned rugs we have been taught certain rules about rugging. It may be, however, that now these rugs are obsolete that some of the rules no longer apply. 

Who has heard, "never put a rug on a wet horse"? If said horse is turned out and without the option of putting him in a stable with a fleece (and a rug on top if necessary) to dry him off, and I wish to rug him, I'm not going to wait for the rain to stop before I can allow him warmth. In the UK, who knows when that will be?! 

The reason for this rule is due to the old rugs causing rubs and the horse developing skin conditions due to the lack of breathability. In this day and age, the modern rugs allow the horse's skin to breathe, and if an appropriate rug is used, the body heat generated under the rug will dry the coat and the under side of the rug pretty quickly. Therefore, this old fashioned rule is outdated. Sometimes rug rubs are un-avoidable, especially for those horses with high withers and narrow shoulders, but a good quality,well fitting rug and perhaps a satin anti rub vest does help this issue. Rugs should always be checked regularly to check for rubs, but much like breaking in a new shoe, their skin does toughen up in areas. 

Rugging can be tricky, but depending on your horse, and of course the weather, depends upon the rugs used. I do not believe an app on your phone can tell you what rug your horse should wear. For starters your horse is an individual, just like you. You may feel the cold more than another, and this is the same for your horse. It also depends on what they are conditioned to. Not to mention breed, age, environment, weather conditions, work load, coat type, even their colour has an impact. For example, a chestnut and a grey are more susceptible to sensitive skin, and therefore skin conditions. Some colours often have a short coat, often seen in a roan, whereas a lot of bays appear to grow a longer coat. The origin of your horse may also have an impact. If your horse has been imported from a warmer, dryer climate, he will feel the cold a lot and could be very susceptible to rain scald and dermatitis.  

Work load, to me, is a very important factor. If your horse is stabled and fully clipped, being ridden every day, it is important to keep them warm, and their skin in good condition to allow them to carry out the work load asked of them in the trying months of winter. Also, if you have a few in work and they are fully clipped, believe me, you won't want to be clipping them every two weeks when their clips grow out because they have not been kept warm enough. A horse that gets cold will grow his clip out very quickly and have a dull, often greyish appearance to it.  

There are many reasons for rugging, such as to keep them warm and dry, to keep them clean, to keep flies off, sweet-itch. To aid in the prevention of coat growth and to impove general health, condition and well being. Or even, to prevent losing shoes when your thoroughbred gets a bit chilly and gallops around...like some I know! 

An important factor to consider when rugging, is that when a rug is applied it flattens the coat, which is designed to stand up in the cold to trap air and keep them warm. Light weight rugs have a great place in the summer months, however, shouln't be used during winter months as the rug will flatten their natural coat and the horse will become cold. Personally I believe if you are going to rug, do it properly, or not at all. There are rugs of all weights and denier so if you have a native and wish to rug over winter, but they do not need a heavy rug, a rug with a small amount of polyfill will suffice, such as a 100 gram rug.

With so many different weight rugs available, it is possible to change rugs according to the conditions throughout the seasons. 

The man made breeds such a thoroughbred, benefits hugely from rugging over winter. Yes, roughed off they can survive without rugs with plenty of forage and shelter, however, they are not designed to cope as well as a native, such as a New Forest pony, or a Cob. A well fitting rug will mean the forage they eat can go towards keeping a good weight rather than keeping them warm. Not to mention rain scald on their sensitive skin. I have had so, so many horses come to me at the end of winter (after being roughed off) who have not been rugged and each one has arrived thin, suffering from rain scald and dermatitis. These horses take a lot more time (and money) to get back into peak condition and fitness than those horses who have been roughed off with suitable rugs.  

I own many thoroughbreds, and during winter months their skin and coats have attracted many positive remarks on how shiny they are. This is not because I spend hours a day grooming them... partly this is due to the good quality feed (Dengie Alfa Oil) I use, but, a clean rug (preferably satin/silky lined) and not allowing them to get cold for too long has a big impact. Dirty, greasy rugs is not so good. 

A native with good forage and shelter will thrive without a rug, and may well be better off without, unless he is in heavy work and requires a clip to avoid sweating and contracting a chill or sores. 

Winter months are long and hard, so when the warm, sunny weather comes it is important to allow the horses time without rugs. This is especially important as horses need vitamin D, just like us.

There is an element of personal preference when it comes to rugging. However, the choice of rug/rugs or no rugs largely comes down to the needs of each individual horse, and the desire for your horse to 'thrive', not just 'survive'.