At the Barn
When should you rug the horse in rain and cold?
Someone at my yard and I just got into a disagreement about when to rug the horses. Today when we brought the horses in it had rained all day, and then it turned to sleet. Since none of them have been clipped yet they had no rugs on, as the woman who runs the yard didn't think it was needed.
When we brought them in I realised my horse was standing there shivering and his coat had stood up, so I wanted to scrape off the rain and put on a fleece rug to dry him off, because I thought it was a sign he was cold. She said it wasn't needed and that giving the horses forage was enough. So my question really is whether she's right that you don't need to rug horses when they're cold as long as they have access to hay?
Answers from HayHay's experts
Hi! You are quite right that a cold horse needs a rug and/or the chance to seek shelter from the weather. The shelter also has to be designed and positioned so that the horses actually use it.
Extra forage out in the paddock helps the horses keep their body temperature up, because it takes a lot of energy to digest and digestion itself raises body temperature.
Horses are individuals and vary in how sensitive they are to cold, just as we do. So it is great that you, the person who knows your horse, noticed that today turned too cold and wet for him without a rug. From what you describe, it certainly sounds as though your horse would like a rug in similar situations in future.
I hope that answers your question 🐴
Malin Axel-Nilsson
Equine Ethologist
