Over Rugging Horses

Over rugging issues actually go beyond the simplicity of the horse getting warmer.

Over rugging horses.

We are called out to horses displaying signs of colic but actually. Over rugging may also mean the horse warms up under the rug but not in other exposed areas. 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. If it feels chilly he she may need.

Risks of rugging or over rugging. Over rugging or putting a rug on too soon can compromise a horse s ability to do this. We as owners have been warned of the serious consequences of over rugging their horses. Excessive overheating can cause horses to show signs of colic as well as increasing their chances of developing laminitis a life threatening issue in itself.

If an obese horse is rugged too much it will prevent them from losing weight which can put them at risk of laminitis. We mustn t forget that horses are designed to use fat reserves over winter to keep warm. When horses over heat they divert blood to the skin surface so that they can lose body heat by sweating. Risks of rugging or over rugging rubbing especially if causing the horse to sweat.

Check a horse is warm enough not too warm if the rug has slipped very regularly check if a horse s coat is standing up this is a good indicator that the horse is feeling chilly and its natural. Sweating causes the skin to become hyper hydrated the effect you get when you stay in the bath too long and more prone to damage and infection. If he is hot under his rug his ability to cool down naturally is lost too. Rugs and stabling prevent sunlight from reaching the skin which is necessary for the generation of vitamin d.

The horse uses a considerable. What happens when my horse becomes too hot. Tuck your hand into a horses rug and feel behind the wither. Dick vet equine highlighted the issue on facebook after the practice saw an increasing number of horses being rugged unnecessarily this time of year.

In the short term it can lead to overheated horses she said. Ms fordham said over rugging can have serious consequences. Sweating causes the skin to become hyper hydrated the effect you.