Insanity..... Maybe there's going to be carnage

So after a LONG time in insano land, where I seem to live at the moment, I'm back again. Well I'm back if anyone noticed me gone.

It's been a pretty taxing winter here, and the horses have been put through the usual stress of their owners trying to work out what rugs to put on their particular horse, what's in fashion at the closest horselands, what their friend is putting on their horse. I could honestly pin them all to a wall and give them a lecture about it!

Not all horses are the same by any measures! Just because Jo bloggs from the next stable, who happens to be your buddy and thinks they're god with everything to do with horses ( that's my job isn't it...*smirk*), rugs her horse when it's clipped in 4 woollens and a big doona does not mean your horse needs it, well does any horse need that..... hello no sub zero tempurates here~!
When it comes to rugging it's all about the individual. One may be naturally hot, another one bitterly feels the cold, their access to shelter from rain and protection from the wind. Are they in a barn with lots of other horses, or a singular stable with only themselves? All these things have to be taken into account, but the biggest one is the individual.

*How to tell you're over-rugging your horse 101:
It's not rocket science. When your horse sweats, surprise, it's over rugged!
Kidding.
The first signs that a horse is over-rugged to the point of being uncomfortable rather than just pouring out sweat will be small. Excess water drinking, erratic behaviour whilst rugging and unusual stable habits - like staying out in the piss-pouring rain all night when they used to stay inside.
Out of these the erratic behaviour is my number one teller. It starts with ears back or removing themselves from the rug as you try to put it on, and finishes with kicking, biting and running away panic-striken. If left unchecked it will become a habit. If the symptom ( over-rugging) is treated quickly, then the behaviour reduces and tends to go away very rapidly.

Just remember a few things. Horses don't have the same ambient tempurature as we do, it's far below ours! Coat growth is not dominated by the temp, it's the LIGHT ( well the periods of darkness) that indicates the seasons, so rugging the crap out of your horse won't stop any coat growth, it might just keep it flat and bleach out the colour.

No one likes to rug an angry horse.