no cover in winter and sweaty

Hi! So I lease this horse and the owner is into the natural horsemanship part of looking after horses and she says that I cannot cover this horse ever, no matter what (unless before a show) It's winter at the moment and I ride him, once I get back he is extremely sweaty and it's almost dark and getting cold and I don't know what to do- all my past horses I would sponge down lightly, chuck there winter covers on and put them away but I can't do this, he gets really sweaty and by the time I've fully untacked it's dark so no sun to let him dry off, he ends up getting put away sweaty and I know that's really bad! What do I do?

As in no cooler?

I would put a cooler on that poor horse and hand walk him. Going away sweaty in winter will get him very sick.. it's a shock on their system.

At least get some towels and towel dry him or something so the heat is gone and he's not damp.

No cooler and no winter cover. Do you think that if I used a cooler, walked him around with it on him after I've finished (take it off) and then put him away without any cover it would be fine? She has a definite "no-no" towards any covers but I'm sure I would be able to use a cooler, would using a cooler affect his winter coat at all?

Thanks :B

How cold are you talking about?

Coolers suck out the moisture of the sweat, walking them around gets rid of the heat. I'd say after that they'd be fine to go outside during winter. And as far as I can tell, using a cooler does not negatively affect their summer coat. It's not like a blanket, it's more like a large wool towel if anything.

We are only heading into the start of winter now, no snow or anything like that but we gets lots of rain often and well, I live in the north island of new-zealand. Last year's winter was extremely cold but it varies, the weather right now is medium during the day but at night it drops considerably, the mornings are often brisk, foggy and mid winter there is almost always frost. :S

Don't work him into a sweat and if you do blow dry him before putting him away.

What did the owner tell you to do?

Doesn't take much for a sweat...

Ask the owner what you can do.. I'd go with a cooler (wool/fleece) to pop on him for 15 minutes while you cool him down.

Ok thanks heaps!- will talk to the owner about using a cooler.

I'm bringing this guy back into work so he breaks into a sweat quite readily. :)

The owner didn't say much about this sort of thing except that to sponge down underneath the girth if sweaty but after I've ridden he is often sweaty all most everywhere.