The shivers!

Alli got soaked over night from all the rain because I- being naive- thought she'd be ok overnight without a rug seen as it was around 12/13 degrees C (54' F)- usually to warm to rug her. So anyway, this morning when I came to see her she was wet but not shivering, just sulky from being wet- she detests rain. I took her into the field shelter like normal to feed her and she broke out into really violent shivers.

So I took her into a stable (not usually stabled and doesn't much like it in there but it was warm and dry), sweat-scrapped some water off, towled her face and body, put her coolers on, mixed up some warm sugar beet (not her usual breakfast but she's had similar things recently on trial which she liked), gave her a haynet and waited until she dried out and stopped shivering until I put her light turn-out on and put her back out in the field. I spent about an hour and a half to 2 hours with her, and she was not a happy pony while in the stable. After I turned her back out she was warm under her rug and not shivering, but still acting sulky from the rain, but like I say, that's not unusual for her.

So, now I'm worried (I always worry haha). Did I do the right thing? Is there anything else I could have done to speed up the drying and de-shivering process? I hate the idea she was cold and wet and unhappy. I feel terrible that she got cold from my naivety, but she usually copes pretty well with bad weather and last night I thought she'd be fine. I guess I just want reasurance I did the right thing this morning after being so stupid last night...

You did the right thing. I experienced the same thing with Sky one autumn. He was completely soaked, the barn (not this one) didn't allow turnout sheets so I brought him in, called up my folks (it was midnight, just got done with work and studying) and they brought a whole bunch of towels and blankets. I fed him over 4 flakes of hay, and spent 3 hours towel drying him, handwalking him in a cooler. Just trying to get him warm again. After the rain stopped and he was dry I had to turn him back out again. I was so worried.. I thought I killed my horse. But the next day he was fine.

Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I believe you did everything right. Maybe she needs to be fed more hay in order to keep warm during the cold or think about getting her a turnout sheet.

Ah she will be fine. I have forgot to put my mare's rain sheet on a few times and she's always shaking like crazy. Sometimes I just didn't know it was going to rain. She gets terribly pissed if I don't get her sheet on before she gets wet.

I now watch the weather carefully and if it's below 75f and raining she gets her sheet. And by the way if it's just a light sheet I will put it on her when she's wet and she will dry out under it on her own. But there's no harm in trying to dry her a bit first.

Eurgh, I worry haha. I've experienced horses getting chills and getting really sick from them, I was so worried she would get ill. I was thinking about putting a hay net out with her, but it was raining so hard it would have been soaked through within half an hour, I'm not currrently paying for any hay and there is no lack of grass in her field lolz. Thanks for the reasurance though!

Wow Sky, I feel so sorry for you and Sky not being allowed turnouts at your old place! I could never leave Alli without a rug over fall, winter and spring, she'd freeze!!

Yeah I was so angry when I heard that stupid rule.. that was before I knew how important blankets can be, especially for a horse not in optimal health.. sheesh. That wasn't the only thing screwy about that barn though. So glad to be out of there.

She'll be okay!!! And yeah I heard the same but Sky made it fine.. not even a runny nose. Just keep your mare warm.. it's good to have access to hay all the time, even in the summer but it is ultimately your choice!