Do Horses Need To Wear Rugs

Unclipped stabled horses may not require rugging.

Do horses need to wear rugs. On the down side wild horses do not tend to live as long as domestic horses. For this reason our thin skinned horses who have fine coats and less natural defenses wear fly rugs and masks during peak fly season. But i hope that if any of you have been struggling with all the conflicted advice that this has helped. Clipping and the type of clip will also influence your decision on rugging.

Chances are if the weather is wintery but not windy nor wet your horse probably doesn t need a blanket. While it is true that wild and free living horses survive without rugs they move more than their domestic counterparts and are able to find their own shelter from bad weather. Some horses will need heavier rugs and some might not need rugging at all. I still have the british mentality and can t quite bring myself to leave them without a blanket except for.

Hood like neck rugs hoods are separate pieces that can be used for extra warmth. The temperature is dipping and you re wondering if you should put a warm winter blanket or turn out rug on your horse. Unlike neck rugs hoods are made from the same material as stable blankets and cover the horse s face as well as the neck. There is sometimes a concern from our visitors that they must be overheating as it appears non nonsensical to add an additional layer in the baking heat but the fly rugs are deliberately designed to keep them cool and well as keeping out the pests.

You certainly feel like you need to wear a sweater or jacket but does your horse need an extra layer. Horses and ponies wintered out may need extra protection from the driving rain and therefore may need rugging. Horses who are clipped obviously need the extra protection since they don t have. Is your horse out all the time or stabled.

For domestic horses the answer is yes no and maybe. We continue to publish horse hound. Favourite answer you re right most horses do not need rugs or any added blankets if they re allowed to grow coats. Rug older younger thinner or clipped horses sooner.

Native ponies with a small bib clip may not need extra protection and warmth although a thoroughbred who is fully clipped will.