Not Rugging Horses

Try not to overgroom un rugged horses as this may strip the coat of the natural oils and reduce its waterproofing abilities.

Not rugging horses.

If ridden ensure any mud is removed from the areas where the tack is fitted. When horses over heat they divert blood to the skin surface so that they can lose body heat by sweating. On the down side wild horses do not tend to live as long as domestic horses. The horse s natural coat was designed to protect it in weather extremes whether that s in northern canada or the mountains of new zealand.

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. If your horse has been allowed to grow out a full winter coat it will usually not need a rug so long as its environment meets the following components and does not have any special needs. For domestic horses the answer is yes no and maybe. Horses should gain weight during the summer and lose weight during the winter by over rugging we mess with their hormone levels which as already mentioned can lead to laminitis and other problems.

If an obese horse is rugged too much it will prevent them from losing weight which can put them at risk of laminitis. Over rugging can not only lead to difficulty in managing the weight of your horse or pony with risks of metabolic disorders and laminitis but can also lead to the horse overheating.