Advice on 24yr old gelding living out through winter.

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Emfox75

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I have a 24yr old 3/4 TB who I retired this summer, he has lived out all summer on excellent land & hasn't needed any extra feed/hay at all & is still thriving going into autumn. Due to the land being so well maintained i also had his shoes removed in June & he has remained perfectly sound. The dilemma is if I should keep him out all winter? As i have been given this option as he's now retired. He will have haylage available 24/7 & I will give him a feed (normally veteran vitality) and the land is sand based so stays relatively dry. Would you keep yours out? & if so would you have his shoes put back on? Thanks
 
He sounds like he's in a great situation, so if he was mine I'd keep him out all year. If he's coping without shoes, leave them off. If he is rugged well and has good shelter then he shouldn't drop much weight
 
Hi,If your horse is used to coming in then I would continue to bring him in unless he has a proper shelter that he can get into himself.Why would you treat him any differently because you have retired him.I have a moorland pony who has always come in and I would not change her routine.Before anyone says'In the wild ' they wouldnt have rugs shelters etc,They are NOT in the wild,so you have to compensate for that.Just my thoughts.
 
My old mares lived out in all weathers when they were younger but now they are into their 20s I think they really appreciate coming in on a night, they can eat without any pressure from other horses and relax. They go out EVERY day though whatever the weather.
 
Sorry I should of said if I choose to stable him, he has no winter turn out, only the grass liveries use the fields in winter, most of which are retired ponies. That's why I am considering it, now he's retired I really don't like the idea of him being stuck in for 6 months only going in a sand paddock for 30 mins a day.
He's been a competition horse all his life so had plenty of exercise in winter to keep him going. I worry he'll stiffen up & become really bored & unhappy.
 
I would definitely keep him out in that case, well rugged and with ad lib forage he will be fine. His joints will also benefit from the gentle activity. Far better than being cooped up in a box.
 
My TB lived out last winter, 1st winter since he was young & he's now 19/20yrs old. Good rugs,ad lib haylage, he's fed twice daily as poor doer but rest were fed once daily. Absolutely thrived,wish I'd done it years ago!
 
Being out 24/7 is often a huge benefit for joints and mobility. Our vet uses box rest as a diagnostic tool in suspected arthritis as it makes them stiffer.
 
I have two oldies, a WB mare and a woosy TB, both mid 20's, mare arthritic, TB a poor doer, they are out 24/7, last winter they only had MWs on and were toasty warm, the only time they came in, was to be ridden or if it was wet and windy for more than a couple of days, they are happier in the field, even if parts get trashed, as long as they get their hay, I feed late and check their warmth at the same time, so if they need to come in, they can
 
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