At 17:27:01 on 12.10.11, zoelovesanimals wrote:

Every year there is always a topic on rugs, and this year i have one to do with Itchyness! My mare Polly gets extremely itchy with even the lightest rugs on, Even in windsheets, or a cotton stable sheet she itches. Its not just your typical have a little scratch and thats it it is full on scratching and it takes over her mind! I have been almost crush almost three days running now and no matter how much you push her to get her to move over she doesn't listen and its like something switches off in her brain. Thing is shes not even hot in the rug she has on! I never let her get to hot anyway due to the itchyness and i like her to be as natural as possible but i don't like her being too cold. I was wondering if anyone has anything similar with there horses and Ponies, and if you can do anything to make them more comfortable? Shes on had rugs on in the last week and its horrible watching her itch and scratch and i can't even groom her because she doesnt stand still! Any ideas welcome!

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At 18:05:46 on 12.10.11, Flicka wrote:
You're pretty sure she needs a rug? Sometimes I think we worry too much about horses feeling the cold and judge them by our own need to wrap up. To be honest I know the weather has become more autumnal in the UK in the last week or so but actually the last two days have been pretty warm. I've seen quite a few horses in rugs recently so I'm probably alone in my opinion lol. Is she an itchy horse in general and does she get irritated by other things like saddle pads and girths? And she's still itchy when you've taken the rug off?

At 19:37:36 on 12.10.11, zoelovesanimals wrote:
Well i would love to say no rugs.. but i would feel judged and would get extremely moaned at by certain members up the yard and i can not deal with it emotionally, for a number of reasons. So you are not alone in that at all!! I only rug coz i get made to feel guilty and like i don't care for her. Although she has been chilly and with her not being herself i do worry! She seems to be an Itchy pony in general, what with her skin thingy she gets and then when ridden in her saddles she gets itchy when they are taken off. Am thinking about giving her a supplement off of Global herbs

At 21:51:20 on 12.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
we have a horse on our yard that gets rubs and bald patches all over her body off rugs because they itch her, her owner bought a full body lycra suit + hood (i call them horsey undies haha) and she hasn't had a rub or itch since

At 20:04:51 on 01.11.11, zoelovesanimals wrote:
I have stood my ground with believing No rugs unles 100% necessary! She hasn't been rugged for over a week now, and already isn't as itchy as she was and shes alot happier! no scratching against the wall while i groom, she just happily stands there! am going to get my rugs washed aswell, just so if i do need to use them they are clean with not scurf on them! :) wonder if i can be brave enough to leave her a naked pony all winter!? thanks for the advice everyone :)

At 21:07:08 on 03.11.11, NMH wrote:
Good for you for going with what seemed right for Polly, & glad it's paying dividends. I agree with the views that say- we rug our animals too readily- especially natives! They have the coats they need, & if they can get out of the worst of wind/wet (far worse for them than straight cold I believe) & have decent body condition, they actually have better insulation without the rug flattening their hair- more warm air trapping!

At 21:35:16 on 03.11.11, zoelovesanimals wrote:
Thankyou :) took alot of thinking but at the end of the day shes a hardy little pony! Shes always warm and adjusts whatever the weather! and i have always believed in no rugs but have always felt guilt tripped into it by other ppl! Its soo much better for her and its not like shes skinny and she gets plenty of hay and feed to keep herself warm! :)

At 13:32:18 on 04.11.11, ozzyscott wrote:
hi, i,m in agreement with not rugging natives at all.