My pony is not clipped and I was wandering what weight rug I should put him in in winter if at all. Should I put him in a stable rug when he is in his stable, and should I put a rug on him when he is out?Should I ride him in an exercise sheet as well?
new zealand rugs are great for colder weather in the outdoor pasture. if your barn is closed off from the wind then a regular fleece rug should do the trick at night. you can ride him with out a sheet on as his fur will keep him warm enough. if you bathe him after you ride him make sure you put a wet/dry sheet so he doesn't get chills and get sick. there are thicker winter coats for barn and stall use for nighttime as well but i think he/she should be good for the most part. BTW, any horses over 12 hands are not called ponies, they are put in the horse category. under 12 hands is a pony technically speaking.
14.2 IS a pony as you well know. he doesn't need any rugs at all if he isn't clipped. Wild horses don't wear rugs and farmers don't put rugs on their cows, sheep and pigs. People put rugs on horses to make people feel better but horses if they are not clipped and in rugs get too HOT in the least bit of sun. Nature has made them able to withstand cold and rain in a way humans cannot. My ponies live out all year and are not clipped and i ride regularly. But be warned lots of ignorant people will tell you that you are cruel if you don't put a rug on He doesn't need an exercise sheet, those are for clipped horses so they don't get a chill
At my barn, we do not use blankets in the winter- only on Saturdays before a show after we've washed them.
