Q to those on 24/7 turn out

[gixer]

do you leave the same level of rug on 24 hour or put an extra layer on at night?

I might be moving Rio (again poor love) to a yard closer to home and altough I would have access to a stable all the others live out unless the weather takes a nasty turn, so she's have to stay out when they did she'd go potty in on her own!

[Karon]

I usually take my rugs off mine during the day iof it's dry, put a lighter weight one on if it's wet and mild or leave them the same if it's horrible. Ash is the exception, she has a HW Wug on at night so always goes into a lighter weight during the day (she's rugless today) otherwise she'd cook.

None of them are clipped and all are hairy, two of them are a decent weight, Ash tends to drop weight easily and Rash is still a little light for her build after being ill in the summer.

[ruthp]

I tend to leave the same medium weight on all the time at this time of year (with checking obviously) unless it's particularly bright and sunny and then they can have a roll without. Given that Bali is white, I have to admit to being more reluctant to let her go without, as trying to get her clean afterwards is a nightmare!

[Furiey]

Bailey is out 24/7. Not clipped but he only grows a fine coat (Hanovarian x Westfalian). He only has a no fill lightweight on to keep him dry more than anything. He's fine with the cold, just doesn't like the cold and wet. First put it on late November when we had the cold/wet period. I don't put anything warmer on at night and he's always warm when I check. He gets too hot if there is any fill in the rug. He does lose some weight over winter, but then he needs to lose some before the lush grass of spring anyway. I might take it off for a while during the day at weekends if it's really nice and sunny to let him have a roll and sunbathe for a bit.

[june]

Ours are out in heavy weight Rambos. They keep them on pretty much all winter unless it is unusually warm in which case they come off during the day.

[basilhorse]

my unclipped TBs are in mediumweights all day and all night unless it is unusually warm then Basil at least could go naked. Forest is a bit skinny for nakedness I would say.

If i had stables to dry the horses in then basil could go naked much of the time and just be rugged when cold and wet really but as he's likely to be wet and muddy I can't rug him without drying him out and grooming him so he tends to stay rugged. Next year I will have stables (I hope).

MTA: Basil does get groomed and rugs re-arranged/swapped but proper grooming only happens when he's dry at the moment.

[horsey2]

I check rugs and re-arrange them daily and change weights according to temps but generally don't change them daily do have a few with different fits which I alternate to stop any rubbing but don't add extra layers. At the mo my boy has a blanket clip and a lightweight on and is just about to reach his target weight

[arabmania]

asti is currently in medium weight turnout and stable rugs. I have heavy weight turn outs for her but havent felt it neccesary to use them as yet, as she comes in at night.

[yan]

I usually put a lighter rug on if the weather gets milder,say 12 degrees for a week or so,but you can feed more or less hay which really makes a differance in colder weather.

[gixer]

TY all think from that Rio (Warmblood without a thick wooly coat) has been out mose days with a MW turnout, on very cold days she's had her LW stable on underneath but I have molly coddled a couple days and she's come in sweaty from that arrangement!! so just the MW required.

I'm apprehensive of moving, this is one reason with having had her stabled now for a couple months overnight I dont want really to just lob her straight out, I feel like I'm being cruel!

there are other factors too, I need to make my mind up soonish as potential new home doesn't actually have much space left (IF I move one of the BIG carthorse stables will be getting split into 2) new yard is closer to home by 7 miles, closer to competition yard for the summer, on the doorstep of hours of off road hacking and is £60 per month cheaper

ok thats a bit of a no brainer I suppose, but Rio is settled at current yard, we're both into a good routine day to day wise, evening riding is floodlit by flick of a switch (new yard is on generator for floodlights), get on well with YO and know I can get Rio sorted short notice if I need to, although thats available at new place too

ARGHHHHH I give up don't know what to do lol

[horsey2]

IMO I think horses settle quickly to living out 24/7 especially if there is others out and shelter, I think they can keep themselves warmer if there out to. If the new yard is better for you go for it, I'm sure she'll be happy out with her new friends

[beany1]

I also swap and change amount/weights of rugs according to weather (esp wind and rain) but I don't put a night one on - unless the weather was going to change during the night. I think if they have food and protection from the elements they can regulate themselves pretty well. Mind you - I don't actually see them at night, so I'm just hoping lol!!

[emsxx]

All mine live out 24/7 and neither of the donks (1 is 8 months) nor my rising 3 Comtois have rugs at all - but they do have access to field shelters with straw beds and hay if they want them.

I do have my 18 yr old TB mare rugged though as she had a tough year this year health wise and I found she just wasn't warm enough nekkid. I change the rug depending on the weather and take it off on nice days so she can roll.

[marianne]

I try and adjust rug to weather conditions. Not exactly practical unless you have 24/7 access to your horses. And of course the bummer about removing rugs is they've all rolled and got plastered in mud in about 5 minutes of removing rugs!