To rug or not?

[whitesocks]

I hope you can help...

I have a section a that as always lived out without a rug. She has been coming in overnight this winter as my daughter has started riding her now and again and our fields were very wet at some points!

She is very hairy obviously. I am now looking forward to showing her in lead rein, looking to April for the first show. I am going to begin lunging her when I've got time.

Question is what do I do about her very thick coat now? I was wondering whether to out a light turnout rug on which would help her get her summer coat quicker?

I've always had ponies that I've fully clipped and rugged so am not sure in this situation!

Many thanks

[GinaGeo]

Rugging won't help. They shed coats according to the daylight hours.

[judyh]

I have put this before. Leave your lights on till about 10 then on at 6.

[whitesocks]

Thanks for your help

[catkin]

Ginogeo is right and whilst I've had success keeping a coat by switching on lights at the end of the season, I have never tried to force one through with more light in the winter/spring, so I can't help on that. What I will say is that a lightweight waterproof (v hairy pony may get hot with more) will at least help keep the mud off the pony to make it easer to get clean enough to work!

[bunny]

I clipped mine last year when they were starting to moult, about late march some time, looked great by the spring festival towards the end of April