02/10/2023
To rug or not to rug….that is the question!
And what a question it is - inspiring hot debate on both sides of the fence (pun intentional)
It’s actually a very easy one to address - there isn’t any horse that needs a heavyweight when it’s still 12-15 degrees over night. The End!
It’s that simple
If you’re horse is clipped, you don’t want them filthy, they are older, they feel the cold, they are under weight etc you are not going to cause massive heat stress by putting a lightweight on or a rain mac.
I stand by my 2 weather rule this time of year and in spring…
Cold and wet
Wet and windy
Windy and cold
They can have a rug but always the lightest appropriate option and I only use a combo in the very worst weather imaginable - other than that - standard neck
Avalon is clipped and currently in a 50g, Boris has a comparably fine coat, not yet clipped and in just a rain mac when the 2 weather rule dictates.
Just be sensible, don’t feel like a bad owner for rugging or not rugging - but don’t whack them in a 350g just because you’ve reached for your duck down gilet
