Should I rug/blanket my horse or not?

 
by Cynthia Cooper
Rugging or blanketing horses is usually something that makes US feel a lot better especially when its cold wet and we see our horse shivering.
Keep in mind that horses have survived for millions of years without the need for manmade rugs to protect them from the weather.
They have the wonderful ability to grow a thick coat with hairs that stand up to trap air for warmth and lie flat when its hot.
In keeping horses on small acreages we have decreased their ability to find a variety of sheltered places during extremely cold or hot weather and to escape insects. In the wild horses migrate to areas that serve this purpose as they need them.

However it is possible to simulate a more natural environment in which the horse can happily live without the encumbrances of rugs.
Ive rugged horses ever since I started washing them and taking them to horse shows as a kid so I grew up thinking it was all part of the process of keeping horses as many people do. In fact with the aggressive marketing we see from rug manufacturing companies we are led to believe we are being irresponsible horse owners if we dont rug our horses.
What we dont realise is we are actually being irresponsible when we leave rugs on in warm weather allow rugs to rub causing wounds and be a constant irritation for the horse.
An illfitting rug and not many of them fit well pressures the wither and chest when the horse grazes has leg straps that rub especially if the rug slips and a general fit that restricts shoulder and neck movement.
Im not advocating that we should never put a rug on a horse what I am asking people to do is be responsible and sympathetic about rugging their horses and to understand what it feels like for the horse.
Imagine if at the first hint of cold weather you put on a heavy coat that you werent allowed to take off.
How hot would you get when the sun came out or if you ran around a bit? How uncomfortable would it be for you to move around?
Life would be miserable and is for many horses whos owners merrily go off to work each day in the cold of the morning and then when the sun comes out and the day warms up theres noone around to remove the rug.
The poor