How cold does it have to be to have to rug your horse?

Question

i live in australia and its winter here.

i doesnt usually get too cold nothing really below 5-10 degrees celcius.

My horse had a rug on which irritated his wither and created a scabby 20cent coin/(amaerican "quarter" sort of size rub on him.

its fresh so any rug irritates it. So ive had him unrugged but im am scared that with the coldness( more than usual) that has been going on here , that he will lose weight.

he lives in a huge 30 acred paddock with 19 other horses. he cannot be stable at night.

i just need the wound to heal but i am afraid he is too cold.

Answer 1

HOrse are ideally suited for cold weather.  Anything over 70 degrees Fahrenheit and they get uncomfortable fast.  Most horses do just fin even in weather that's below freezing as long as they have good shelter from wind.  In extrememly cold weather when it's really windy you may have more reason to be concerned, but I'd say the temps you described are ok.  If you don't see your horse shivering incontrollably when outside you should be just fine.

Answer 2

Depends how long he has had a rug on him.  If you are into the middle, or end of winter then I would suggest putting a rug on him.  His coat hasn't developed properly.  It sounds like his blanket doesn't fit him.  You should measure him and make sure the rug is the correct size for him.    

You can try putting something under the part of the rug that is irritating him, like a piece of nice soft shepra, like they use on halters to protect the horses from getting rub marks.  You can sew a piece on, just don't poke the needle thru the top of the blanket.  If it is rain proof the needle holes will allow water in.

Answer 3

You said the temperatures are not below 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and that is easily within the temperature comfort zone for horses if he is properly nourished. He doesn't need a blanket.

Answer 4

Don't worry about him, he'll be absolutely fine!

You're better off not to have a rug on him with that wound.

I have 4 thoroughbred and 8 thoroughbred x's and they live out all year around and none of them have rugs and they're fine and 2 of them have foals at present

Answer 5

He should be fine, horses adapted in cold winter climates. The actually "fluff" up their hair to help keep themselves warm. The blankets lay down the hair. I've only blanketed two of my horses, one who came from the desert part of the west to our northern climates and had no winter coat and my other who was sick. And that was always just when it got to be below -10 degrees F.  

Answer 6

Watch him and if he shakes or quivers, he needs a rug.  Horses in Colorado grow very thick coats for the weather.  Nature takes care of horses and outdoor animals.  Their hair will stand up to protect them.  Just remember if you put a rug on your horse, be sure it is very warm or insulated because it will weight the horse's own coat down and therfore, his  hair can no longer stand up (as nature intended)  

Answer 7

Hi! If you get an old tea towel and put it onto his withers and put the rug on top that should work. Good Luck!

If he is a cobby type he should be fine for a night but if he is more of a TB then I would rug him.