A basic guide to rugging horses.
Rugging a horse for the first time.
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.
Every horse is different and should be treated as an individual case.
Dr marlin s article titled the science of rugging.
The only time an older horse needs rugging in the winter is if they lose condition during the winter.
Horses that are clipped under the weather or elderly for example will require more rugging through the colder winter months than good doers native breeds and those that are unclipped.
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 ideally start with lighter rugs and move to thicker rugs as it gets colder.
First the science bit.
Your horse mag yourhorseonline.
Does your horse really need to wear one.
Horses are mammals and they maintain their internal body temperature at around 38 c through a well developed mechanism known as thermoregulation which has developed through evolution so that the body temperature is maintained within a narrow range.
Dr marlin is co author of equine exercise physiology a book that shows how to achieve the highest standards in your competition horses this book is useful for horse enthusiasts and students as well as experienced trainers.
She doesn t need a rug.
Many owners feel their horse s skin to see if it is warm but this is not accurate and can lead to over rugging which can have negative effects on the horse s health.
If you were showing and wanted to keep her coat short that is another matter but just for a pleasure horse rugs are really not required.
The horse has a core inside body temperature of around 37 38 o c and horses are very efficient at maintaining this when the environmental ambient.
Australia has such temperate weather we really over rug our horses.
