Tag Archives: Icelandic horses

Super-Duper Rugs Arrived!

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Most of my super-duper high-neck Rambo rugs have arrived now  and I’m just waiting on the ones with 100g fill (for colder days) and Fivla’s 0g.

Yes, I spent a fortune and do I think it was worth it?   Well, I will admit I was nervous when I tried on Tiddles’ new rug this morning but it fits beautifully and is exactly what I want for him.  The high neck will stop the rain dripping down into his shoulders and legs (he gets very depressed when that happens) and the high quality of rug means he could basically live in this until summer arrives, which of course he won’t.  I love it. He loves it.  It is the perfect rug for him – a proper waterproof rug.

In the package was also a 0g rug for Vitamin.  It is exactly the same rug (Rhino Wug Pony Turnout), but bigger, obviously (Tiddles is 4′ and Vitamoobag is 4; 9″).

And, again, a perfect fit.  Vitamin has spent her day happy she has a new rug that covers her neck whilst having the freedom to move around. I am not a fan of total neck covers – they can be very restricting.

Meanwhile, Fivla has to wear her older version (standard neck) of the rug and her’s should hopefully arrive soon.

Why did I buy them all new rugs?  Because I am fed up of economising and throwing good money after bad on not-very-waterproof rugs, that let the side down filling up with water and have to be changed.  I have worked out this is a false economy and kills my back too.

Then Flossie came down the hill carrying the Icelandic horses’ rain-sheets. Nothing is easy to carry in our world.

We quickly rugged them up.

So we’ll see what the weather brings next.  I was getting used to the calmer days.

My Winter Horse Keeping Method

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The old folk – that is Haakon, Kolka, Iacs, Vitamin and Fivla – are doing well.  They live at the bottom of a rather steep and slippery hill in the field that is inside the track.

This field hasn’t been grazed for two years and is a naturally sheltered valley too, so they can get out of the wind if they want.

Everyone is wearing a rug and the difference has been huge in so many ways.

No one is miserable, shivering or cold.  They just eat, most of the time or rest.

So far, they have kept their weight on and I am very pleased about that – weight maintenance in winter is a constant worry.  The field is holding up well too and hopefully we will get a few more weeks out of it before I move them again.  I don’t want to over-graze as I think it will be useful again next winter.

Keeping everyone outside as much as possible has meant the old horses and ponies are much healthier and “normal”, if you know what I mean. Yes, there is the routine of breakfast but no one is hanging around after looking miserable and wanting to come inside (unless it is beyond vile and then obviously they’re in).  When it rains, I don’t worry.  Their state-of-the-art high neck rugs (and am buying for the old ladies and Tiddles too) are doing the job perfectly and mentally, I think I can see a huge positive change because no one is struggling.

I have decided that this is the best way to keep them in the winter.  Loads of food and good rugs, preferably with high necks (that makes such a difference). The minute anyone can’t cope with this regimen and just wants to be inside all the time, then I will just have to think again.  But, for the time being, it is working.

Anywho, today’s ouvrage!

To join les autres.

Rugs off, Rugs on!

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It was a lovely morning, so Flossie and I took off everyone’s rugs, and gave them a brush. It’s always good to see what’s going on underneath because you never know.

 

After brushing everyone who wanted to be brushed, so that’s everyone, we decided to put Tiddles’ rug back on as it is only a 0g fill rainsheet and he’s not that fat.  The other’s, however, have a good covering, though Waffle is feeling a little ribby for the first time ever. I am secretly pleased.

And then onwards down to the old horses and ponies who were very pleased to have their rugs taken off.

Again, it was good to see what was going on under there.

I was particularly impressed with Vitamin.  She looked fab.

The Icelandics were a bit flattened.

Kolka entertained herself with playing with the rugs.  I shouted at her to stop, please.

Floss hung all the rugs on the fence posts for putting back on later.  And, a little known fact, if you suspect you might have cauda equina, climb over an electric fence that’s on and you will soon find out (owie is all I will say and now I know the fence is working and I don’t have cauda equina!)

Later, in the afternoon, just before dark, the sun had long gone away and I called the old horses and ponies to us so we could put their rugs back on.  Fivla and Vitamin did not need asking twice, they were like two old ladies in the January Sales determined to get a bargain.  They cantered over full speed.

The others were a little more casual.

But we put their rugs back on as it was getting cold again and I possibly think they were grateful.

If Fivla and Vitamin could’ve done up the buckles and straps themselves, they would’ve.

Fivla loves her rug.  It is all she ever needs.  That, and food.

Playing Rugs

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I spent a good part of my  morning in the rain looking at Haakon’s and Kolka’s rugs.  I was trying to find out exactly what weight they are.  I already knew the size – 5′ 9″.

I found some labels and took photos in case they would give me the information. I couldn’t see anything, though.

For us, Rambo rugs are the best brand.  I like everything about them – their fit, they stay on in a gale, their waterproofness, and they are very hard-wearing too.  I truly believe with rugs that you get what you pay for (I have been stung before).

I also like the high neck fit.  This is Haakon’s.  He is very comfortable in it.

At present, Iacs doesn’t have one that fits. So he is in an older- style Rambo with no high neck.

It is not ideal but it is functional, despite the patching.

Kolka is also wearing the same high-neck version as Haakon but…..

…. it is a size too small for her (her other rug wasn’t the best so we stuffed her into this one for the time being while I did the research).

My current plan is for them all to have high-neck Rambo rugs so they can spend their winters outside, warm and coping well.  Once indoors, I scoured the internet and have just bought the last (possibly in the world) 5′ 9″ high neck 200g Rambo rug (under £200) and it will be for Kolka. Then I will try her rug on Iacs and see if it fits him better. He always was a size smaller than Haakon and Kolka but this year appears to have somehow become bigger so now all his rugs don’t fit him anymore *** sigh ***.  Typical Iacs. Always different.  He played with my walking stick as if that makes anything better.

All Inside

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My morning was spent getting ready for the mother of all weathers.  According to the weather forecast, the temperature is going to dip hugely so I filled every container I could find with water for when the tap freezes, which it always does.

The stalls all have fresh water buckets, forage licks and haynets (except for Fivla and Vitamin’s – no hay eating teeth).

And Skippy is charged up, ready to go.

The sheep have haynets hanging, a lick bucket available and fresh water too. I even cleaned out their feed bowls just because.

Later on at 2.30 p.m., the weather started to disintegrate and I don’t mind telling you that no one needed asking twice when I opened the gates.

They all, to a horse/pony, rushed into their stalls, almost taking off their own rugs without rolling first and started to eat looking very relieved that they were not having to stay outside anymore.

So now I am going to spend my entire night lying awake thinking “thank the Gods everyone is inside tonight” while the weather rages around us.

But will I sleep?  Probably not, because Gussie and Dahlia are the only ones outside – I didn’t see them come home. I’ve wedged their field gate open just in case they remember.

update: they’re all home now. Phew!