Rugging mares
QDo I need to rug my pregnant mare? Eloise Sweet, Staffordshire
AThere may be exceptions, and at our yard our mares are stabled or barned in the winter, but in general we don’t rug the mares for the reason that we’d need to remove the rugs close to foaling and thereafter, as the straps would present a risk to both the mare and the foal for suckling. If and when we turn these stabled mares out for a leg stretch in the field, we’d put a rug on for the time they’re out in a turnout rug. For mares that are turned out all winter with shelter, opinions are divided. There is the opinion that unless you use a very heavy duty turnout rug, a rug can be counterproductive for the normal insulation properties of the mare’s coat. For native mares, I don’t think a rug is necessary.