As the temperatures drop and winter creeps in, horse owners face the seasonal question: Should I rug my horse?

Like many things in holistic horse care, the answer depends on multiple factors, from your horse’s breed and coat condition to their health, workload, and environment.

At The Horse Herbalist, we believe that nature’s wisdom combined with thoughtful management offers the best path. Let’s explore the pros and cons of rugging, so you can make an informed, horse-centred decision this winter.

The Pros of Rugging

Protection Against Wet and Windy Weather

While horses have a remarkable natural coat, constant exposure to cold rain and strong winds can chill even the hardiest. A waterproof, breathable rug can prevent rain scald and a wet coat that loses its insulating power, especially in regions prone to cold, wet winters.

Support for Clipped or Fine-Coated Horses

Horses that are body-clipped for work or competition lose much of their insulating winter coat. Similarly, finer-coated breeds (like Thoroughbreds or Arabians) often benefit from extra protection to maintain body condition.

Weight Management for Older or Vulnerable Horses

Older horses, those with underlying health issues, or horses struggling to keep weight on in winter may burn precious calories simply trying to stay warm. A well-fitting rug can help conserve their energy for maintaining condition rather than battling the cold.

Convenience for Busy Owners

A rugged horse dries faster, stays cleaner, and is often easier to groom and saddle in winter. For owners juggling work, family, and horses, a rug can save precious time during the short daylight hours.

The Cons of Rugging

Interference with Natural Thermoregulation

Horses are incredibly efficient at thermoregulation. Their winter coat grows thicker, traps air, and can fluff up or flatten depending on the temperature. Over-rugging can confuse their natural system, causing them to overheat, sweat, and even chill if the sweat cools against the skin.

Multiple Rugging

Try this yourself if you put 2-5 rugs on your horse at once. Put on your shirt, fits comfortably, then put on a large jumper, then put on a top coat which appears to fit snugly and does up to the neck. Feels fine until you go for a good walk, then keep the lot on for the rest of the day.  How do you feel? You can’t undo the neck closure, your big jumper has now pulled down your shoulders restricting your movement and making you sore, your shirt is wet with sweat. You’re not happy. Please keep this in mind.

Skin Health Risks

Rugs, especially if not regularly checked and adjusted, can cause rubs, sores, and fungal infections. A damp or dirty rug is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Behavioral and Emotional Effects

Some horses dislike rugs, feeling restricted or itchy under them. In sensitive horses, constant rugging can affect mood and wellbeing, creating low-level stress that goes unnoticed.  On the other hand my old thoroughbred positively beamed when he got his lightweight rainproof doona rug on in the cold weather.

Dependency and Muscle Loss

Constant rugged horses can become dependent on artificial warmth, leading to reduced muscle tone (especially if turnout is limited and they’re not in work). A horse naturally moving to stay warm promotes circulation, flexibility, and fitness.

Key Considerations Before Rugging

• Breed and Coat Type: Hardy breeds like Icelandics or Highlands often need little to no rugging compared to lighter breeds.
• Health Status: Young, elderly, or sick horses might benefit from additional support.
• Environment: Is there access to a sturdy shelter from rain, wind, and snow? Horses that can get out of the elements may not need rugs.
• Workload: Performance horses in active winter work may require clipping and appropriate layering.
• Daily Monitoring: Horses in rugs must be checked at least once a day (preferably twice) to adjust for changes in weather or conditions

The Horse Herbalist’s Approach: A Balanced Path

At The Horse Herbalist, we advocate for a mindful, responsive approach:

🌿 Allow horses to develop a full winter coat naturally wherever possible.
🌿 Provide field shelters, windbreaks, and plenty of forage to fuel their internal “furnace.”
🌿 Rug only when truly necessary — choosing lightweight, breathable, well-fitted options.
🌿 Stay flexible! Weather and horse’s needs can change daily

Remember, horses evolved to live outdoors year-round. They are far more resilient than we often give them credit for. By tuning in to your horse’s individual needs — not just the calendar or a set temperature — you’ll nurture a healthier, happier horse all winter long.

Sophie

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Today’s horse is the product of millions of years of evolution, during which survival depended on its ability to sense and respond to the environment in which it lived. This included escaping predators, being able to sense the temperature of its surroundings and identify food. While the need to escape predators may not be a requirement for the modern horse, their physiological response to fear is still to run.

To achieve this the various systems and organs in the horse’s body must be linked so they work together. The adjustment of an animal’s response to changes in the environment and the complex linking of the various processes in the body that this response involves is called co-ordination.

The two main systems involved in the flight response are the nervous and endocrine systems. The first operates via electrical impulses along nerve fibres and the second by releasing special chemicals or hormones into the bloodstream from glands.

From an anatomical perspective the nervous system is made up of the Central Nervous System (CNS) (brain and spinal cord), and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) (cranial and peripheral nerves), and from a functional perspective it is divided into the Somatic Nervous System (voluntary movement), and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which controls involuntary (visceral) functions demanded for maintaining the overall physiological balance of bodily functions. In clearer terms the ANS is responsible for the involuntary bodily functions of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, reproductive functions and mobilising the body’s resources under stress. To achieve this it must be in balance.

OUT OF BALANCE

Any trauma, accident, drugs, chemicals, physical or mental abuse, including a horse being put under too much pressure, or an underlying genetic predisposition, which makes these types more susceptible, may cause the ANS to be out of balance.

The ANS of the horse is controlled by two branches:

1) Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) – fight or flight.

2) Parasympathetic nervous system – rest and digest.
The parasympathetic system is in constant opposition to the sympathetic system. It can be likened to two sides of a coin. On one side there’s the fight/flight/let me out of here response, and on the other side the rest, relax, eat, and digest.

SNS dominance

Real or imagined circumstances can quickly trigger the nervous response. When the sympathetic side of the ANS is dominant – on a short trigger – this is when the horse cannot help its inappropriate response to everything or anything. At the highest end of this scale you see a horse in a blind panic, eyes boggling, escaping or trying to, even at the expense of hurting itself and others, sweating profusely, heart rate and respiration through the roof. When in the
paddock they walk the fence.

The Nervous System continued…

The very best of horsemen or women know they have to wait until the adrenalin levels drop and the horse starts to settle before attempting to work with a horse exhibiting these symptoms.

The horse cannot help its response; it is involuntary, as there is an imbalance of the ANS.

Many horses suffer ANS imbalance to a lesser degree. They are regarded as being nervous, highly strung, inconsistent, or said to have poor temperaments. These are some of the nicer things said about these poor souls. Often the best of trainers have problems with horses with ANS imbalance. The trainer may feel like at last they’ve found the key to a particular horse then suddenly, for no apparent reason, the horse falls to pieces again and can’t concentrate on the job at hand. The lesser trainers blame the horse, saying it has an attitude problem, instead of realising there may be a fundamental physical problem.

Stress shuts down digestion

Horses with SNS dominance often suffer from an overly acidic gut, which may be ulcerated; they may not be able to gain or hold condition – absorption of nutrients is poor; they may lack interest in feed. Some horses only show the latter symptom as they internalise their anxiety. This makes it clearer to understand why only treating the gut is often a short term solution for these horses. Classically, using herbal medicine, you are looking at treating the
horse, dog or human for six to nine months to help the autonomic nervous system balance. Over this period you can expect either subtle or obvious improvements as the triggers decrease. If your horse is suffering from anything but a minor ANS imbalance then seek the services of a fully qualified horse herbal practitioner.

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM – ANS

Divides into two branches:

Settle Petal helps to balance the ANS. Or for an individual approach and treatment plan – send me a hair!

Angela was one of Australia’s first female jockeys before retraining as a Classical Herbalist, Cranio- Sacral and Equine Bowen Therapist. As well as creating a range of Herbs for Horses (go to thehorseherbalist.com), Angela pioneered a unique hair assessment system for horses in the 1990’s and has formulated many hand-blended proprietary herbal formulas to address the core of most human and horses complaints. Angela is also the author of ‘Flower Remedies for Horses, Pets and People’. www.thehorseherbalist.com

courtesy of www.hoofbeats.com.au

Sophie

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