Question: What do you think?

I am having quite a debate with myself over rugging at the moment.  Some may know, I'm loaning a 6yr TB gelding.  I've only had him 10 weeks but already love him to bits.  HIs owner (a friend) tells me that he loses condition easily and drops weight fast, so of course I've had this thought at the back of my mind and constantly worry I'll come to the yard one morning to find a skeleton....extreme I know!!  I've had him stabled for the 10 weeks I've had him, and rugged at night.  He had a middleweight on first, and then a lightweight, but for the past week he's been "naked" at night.  So far, he has kept his weight and condition fine and is always warm in a morning....I know his owner still has her 14hh connemara rugged up thick and stabled and still thinks this daytime weather (22 degrees) is too chilly.......

Last night I left him out in the field for the first time this year over night.  He was with his other 5 pals that he is kept with during the day.  He had a very lightweight rug on, more like a rain mac as it had absolutely no filling.  The temperature was 6 degrees this morning and when I went to check on him he was fine, seemed warm enough!!

My point is, TB are naturally warmbloods and known to be harder to maintain weight etc, and feel the cold more, but what do you all think about rugging etc.....I've been readin an article where some are suggesting that the horse, TB or not, should naturally be rugless to allow it to adapt to the cold/warm naturally....and others say never take a rug off a TB.......

I'm happy playing it by ear and doing what I feel is best for my horse, if he's happy, I'm happy, but I just wondered what opinions people have on the matter.

emwood xx