17/08/2024
Time to assess your rugging choices for Spring thru Autum - less really is best. Read on ....
๐ฟ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ: ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐๐ด๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฟ
As spring approaches and the days start getting longer and warmer, itโs time to think about how we care for our horses in this transitional season. One of the key areas to consider is ruggingโparticularly, the risk of over-rugging as the temperature rises.
๐ก๏ธ ๐จ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒโ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Horses are incredibly efficient at regulating their body temperature. While we might reach for a jumper as soon as the temperature drops, our horses are quite comfortable in conditions that would make us shiver. The key to this is understanding a horseโs thermoneutral zone (TNZ), which is the temperature range within which they can maintain their body temperature without expending extra energy.
For humans, the TNZ is around 25-30ยฐC, but for horses, itโs significantly lowerโbetween 5-25ยฐC. This means that what feels chilly to us might be perfectly comfortable for them. Itโs essential to remember this difference as the weather warms up in spring, particularly when deciding whether to rug your horse.
๐ก๏ธ ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ
During the cooler months, we often rug our horses to protect them from cold, wet, and windy weather. However, as the temperatures rise in spring, itโs easy to fall into the trap of continuing to rug our horses too heavily, which can lead to overheating.
Here are some key points to keep in mind:
โช๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐: The best place to check if your horse is too warm is just behind their withers. If this area feels hot or damp, your horse is likely overheating under their rug. Avoid using their ears or legs to gauge temperature, as these areas donโt give an accurate indication of their core warmth.
โช๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐๐ด๐: Itโs tempting to think a light rug is harmless, but even these can block the natural cooling process. Horses cool down by sweating, but this only works if air can reach their skin. A light summer rug can trap heat and actually increase your horseโs core body temperature.
โช๏ธ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ด๐ด๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐: Just as overweight humans find it harder to cope with hot weather, overweight horses can also struggle. As the days warm up, consider reducing or eliminating rugs for these horses to help them stay cool.
โช๏ธ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ: Horses generate heat from the inside out as they digest their food, particularly roughage. On cooler days, providing some extra hay can help keep them warm naturally, without the need for additional rugs.
โช๏ธ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ถ๐น๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ข๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐จ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐: Horses that are older or have health issues may struggle to maintain their body temperature at both ends of the TNZ. For these horses, consider adjusting their rugging based on their specific needsโlighter rugs or no rugs during warmer days, and ensuring they have adequate warmth during cooler periods.
๐ก๏ธ ๐ฅ๐๐ด๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐
As we welcome spring and the warmth it brings, itโs crucial to adjust our rugging practices to avoid overheating our horses. Always keep in mind that your horse might be feeling much warmer than you think, and when in doubt, opt for less rugging rather than more.
Letโs help our horses stay comfortable and healthy by being mindful of their needs as the seasons change.
