'Evil evil Rug!'

The business with the rugs ...

I admit I am checking the weather forecast probably about 20 times a day. The little app supplied for free by the Met office is quite accurate. Never before did I think so much about the weather!

• - If it rains ... how heavy, will it be constant or intermittent, will it be windy as well? (Wet and wind chill ... even colder than forecast)
• - What is the temperature - will it be above 10 degrees or below? If below, rug on or not? - what is the 'feels like' temperature? And again ... will it be windy?
• - If the sun shines ... how hot, do we need fly masks, fly spray do I need to bring them in to shelter away from the sun and flies for a few hours ... and: will it by windy?

I have been informed that it is better not to have the rug on than to have it on and them overheating. If we get hot, we take off layers. If the horse gets too hot, it will just stand in a corner and not move. At least if they are cold they can go and run around. I have noticed when observe the horses in the pasture on a chilly day that they will be more unruly and that they chase each other around a little more often just to bring up their body temperature.

I am finding this crossover period when summer turns into autumn ever so tricky to plan for.

While I was feeding the crew who had come in for their food it began raining quite heavily. I moved them all into their compartments so that there weren't any fights over food taking place.

Everything seemed relaxed and I enjoyed listening to the sound of the rain on the roof tiles mixed with the slow and steady chewing sound of the horses eating their food. I can tell them apart by just listening to the sound each of them makes while eating.

It was a warm autumns day yesterday but the temperatures have dropped drastically overnight and now the heavy rain together with the wind was making everything feel rather wintry.

I went to fetch their rugs, put them on and then let them out back into the field, except for 'Mr F' who was still eating.

Suddenly I heard some hoof trampling outside and so I went to see what all the noise was about. As I was about to step into the field followed by 'Mr F', 'Rose' came charging around the corner, in wild panic. She was completely out of her mind and charged straight for the stable door. I had just enough time to shove 'Mr F' out of the way (I'm afraid he has no sense of self-preservation when I am around). I shut her into one of the stables, leaving 'Mr F' in with her in a different compartment. The others still outside where quite upset by 'Rose's behaviour and tried to come into the stable as well but I quickly shut the door. One crazy horse was enough to deal with at a time!

I could only put down her behaviour to the rug. Last time she had a rug on she ran down the stonewall trying to escape and nearly getting away with it.

I joined 'Rose' in her stable; she was standing in the corner, shivering with anxiety, her heart pounding in wild fright and probably also because she was out of breath. I wasn't quite sure what to do next. Instructions where to put the rugs (in turn for keeping 'Mr F' here for free, I do the mucking out and as I live here, I help out with other stuff when I can.). But I knew that if I would let her out again with the rug, she would go mad again. I could just let her get on with it and wait till she gives in. But I didn't have the time to go and check on her all day long and therefore decided it is safest to take that hated rug off.

She was still besides herself but didn't move. I spent a little time with her, just being in there. But I had to get on with my work and opened all the doors so they could get out. 'Mr F' gladly went to join the others, he doesn't like 'Rose's crazy moods.

It was still raining heavily and although all the others were outside, 'Rose' decided to stay in the dry. She just watched them. It wasn't until some 3 hours later that she finally went back out into the field to join the others.

The question is: why does wearing a rug make her feel so anxious and how can I get her to stop being so anxious about it?

With winter approaching it would be better if she would get used to it or it will be difficult for her to keep her weight ...