When to put rugs on horses in Autumn

We’ve had several enquiries about when to rug up a horse or pony in Autumn. This is a difficult time of year, like Spring, and there are no hard and fast rules but this is what I would do:

If the horse is not too hairy by now, put on a lightweight waterproof rug on wet, windy days. It is still mild so he would only sweat in anything heavier. You have to be ready to take off this rug if there is very warm sunshine. The rug will keep the shine on his coat and stop him getting too hairy. If the weather is warm and mild, I would take the rug off during the day and put a light rug on him at night – unless the nights are very warm. Sweating under a rug is bad because it can lead to skin infections so be careful of this.

When the horse gets so hairy with his winter coat that it difficult to dry him off after excercise, it is time to clip him and put on the winter rugs. I personally don’t think we are at that stage in Ireland yet as my horses and ponies are still shedding hair. If you want to make life easier, you can leave the rugs off until the horse has grown a winter coat, then clip him and put on the winter rugs. The drawback is that a horse in work will be harder to clean after turnout and will take longer to dry off after work.

Ponies and horses in very light work or not being ridden (who will not be clipped or only lightly clipped) can be left until they have grown more hair before putting on winter rugs.

For tips on clipping horses and ponies, click here.