my 12 2 welsh is a new pony to us and have only had her a few days but she didnt come with anything do you think its a good idea to get her a rug for over the winter or leave her without as i dont think she has ever worn one at all
Welsh ponies tend to have thick long coats, they are a hardy breed. So I would have to say "no" your pony should be just fine without one. But just keep an eye open on his or her coat, if he or she gets a thick and long enough coat.
My 12hh welsh section a has been unrugged all year and will remain so. She was born feral so grew up being used to freezing conditions on the mountains. However most welsh ponies (any natives really) are very very tough and hardy and can easily winter out without any rugging. If she has a thick coat then she is well prepared for the winter and is unlikely to need anymore than shelter and some ad lib haylage should it get very cold.
Most native breeds are hardy little buggers, and if they have shelter really shouldn't need a rug to keep them warm over winter.
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However, I think it's worth getting a light weight to have on stand by should your pony get cold, or if it's raining badly, and they're handy for keeping them from getting too ridiculously filthy rolling in mud.
Really depends on what breed, how thick is her winter coat when it has all come through, will you be clipping her, will your pony be in a stable during the day or during the night?
most horses at my stables have rugs, but my pony gets a very thick winter coat & lives out 24/7 & he doesnt have a rug & never has before i had him. but i might clip him then i will get him a medium eight rug
just think, all wild horses survive all year round with no rug:)
If she's groomed regularly yes cos it takes out the oils that protect them from the cold and rain. If your pony is cold the base of her ears will feel cold to the touch, horses lay down a lot if they're cold, and if really cold (usually if they get wet in colder weather) they shiver. Horses use their body fat to keep warm. If under rugged they'll use more and lose weight, if over rugged they'll use less and gain weight.
Is she coming in at night? If not then she'd need one as its colder at night and you don't want to her loose any weight . Does she have a fine coat or really fluffy? Either she would need a heavyweight or middleweight if she is clipped, or if she is seriously fluffy then only a lightweight. But its wise to get a rug in the winter. x
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Good luck x
most native breeds are fair hardy but if shes clipped i would definitely recommend it. You dont want her getting sick. And if the weather is say snow or heavy rain and wind if you dont have shelter your best off with a say mediumor heavy wait our door rug. if your not putting a rug on her dont clip her. leave her hair to grow long and fluffy.
No, no no. As long as a horse is in good health, they will be fine without a blanket. In fact, it is healthier for them. Ponies especially are beasts when it comes to weathering out the winter, so don't worry about it.
Probably best too get her a rug. If you ' re having her clipped, and/or she'll be out at night, you'll definitely need one - a heavyweight turnout rug. If she's going to be in at night, and not clipped, you could get away with a mediumweight.
depends on the length of her coat, is it long and fluffy or short and smooth? is she clipped? as she is a native breed she will probably be ok, as long as she has access to shelter.
If you 're going to ride and her and therefore need to clip her then yes I would get a light weight waterproof rug.
i would get her a rug even if its just a light one:)
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and definetly if you plan on clipping her!
Hello,
I would advise that this very much depends on what you want to do with your pony over the winter.
Firstly, is she living out all the time, do you have a stable or a field shelter for her?
Secondly, is she going to be doing minimal quiet work, or are you going to do Cross Countries, Hunter Trials, ODE and hunting? Or do you want to be able to go fast on her frequently?
If she is living out and you are going to go pretty slowly so that she sweats as infrequently as possible, then no rug will be fine.
BUT - if you want to be able to do lots with her, go fast etc then she will sweat if she has a thick coat. When you get back (after walking home the last mile to cool her down) she will be cool, but not dry, and when you turn her out she will either catch a chill or lose condition easily.
So, if you want to do this, clip her and rug her, and for preference, stable her at night, or at the least, shut her in your field shelter at nights with a bed, haynet etc.
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If you are stabling her, get a nice quilted rug too, but if you are shutting her in her field shelter, leavig her in her all weather should be fine (just in case she gets out and rolls in the mud in a nice indoor rug !)
By all means turn her out during the days. In a nice all weather turn out rug.
