Anyone else’s still out?

[meleeka]

Who usually come in overnight?

I can’t remember ever getting to Christmas before and not bringing in at night yet. I usually start either when the mud needs minimising, or it’s cold, as my old mare is better in with stable
bandages on.

I hope I’m not jinxing it, but what a lovely mild, dry winter it’s been so far ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

No, we haven't got any grass!!

 

[Cortez]

Yes, mine are very happily out. But as for lovely.....no, I find it very worrying actually as yet another sign that the climate is spiraling further and further towards catastrophe.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, out, still have plenty of foggage. I do have field shelters tho, but are virtually unused except as a w.c!
Last few winters have had stabled by mid November due to saturated ground.

Heck, on last Saturday I even rode in one of my fields, unheard of in December.

 

[meleeka]

No, we haven't got any grass!!

Mine was still growing up until last week!

 

[meleeka]

Yes, mine are very happily out. But as for lovely.....no, I find it very worrying actually as yet another sign that the climate is spiraling further and further towards catastrophe.

That’s very true. I did like cold, dry winters that we used to have. I’m happy not to have the wet, warm winters that we’ve had recently.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Mine is out! Her first winter out at night and she seems to like it.

 

[laura_nash]

Mine are always out, but the field they are in right now is usually half under water by now.

 

[rextherobber]

It is worrying, as @Goldenstar says...

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine would have been out most nights up until now unless it's heavy rain I have to still feed hay but they are happier out at night, it's just that I have one on box rest so the other one is out on his own so his only out during the day.

 

[spotty_pony]

Yep, still out except for on nights when it’s heavy rain forecast. I decided this year to do it like this, and I am loving not having so much mucking out. I am lucky that we have a lot of land though so I can rotate the fields as rest some. We still have quite a bit of grass too. Looking like they may be in on Christmas Day though as it looks a bit grim here on the forecast.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have zero grass and they start scrapping at each other so come in at night, weather wise they would definitely still be out otherwise.
I have two tiny ponies who are still on summer routine! They do come in during the day to get some food and prescand into the one but they have a little field which is completely undamaged so no mud and a little bit to pick at. They are happy enough living out still.

 

[Cazza525]

Yep, mine still out! Refusing to come when called. Both looking glorious, round, shiny and healthy. I feel almost redundant and a bit of a fool for spending previous years mucking out from November, hard feed, hay…..

 

[HashRouge]

Mine are but I've less grass than usual (my field was cut for hay quite late in the summer) so I'm feeding a good bit of hay. They look well and seem, happy though; this dry weather has been a godsend for my elderly, mud-rash prone mare. I did bring in when we had a wet spell a few weeks ago and always have one eye on the weather as my old mare can't be staying out in heavy rain any more. But so far, so good (*frantically touches wood*)!!

 

[McFluff]

Yes, mine are very happily out. But as for lovely.....no, I find it very worrying actually as yet another sign that the climate is spiraling further and further towards catastrophe.

Totally this. It is as wet as normal here, but way too warm. Not good.

 

[WispyBegs]

My horse is still out at the moment!
We have lots of grass and only the tiniest amount of mud in the gateways.

This winter feels like a dream compared to recent years where I’ve spent a fortune on hard feed, hay and bedding and not to mention all the time it takes.

I’m now spending my extra free time riding, so it’s a win for both me and the horse.

 

[Squeak]

We're forecast rain everyday for 10 days from this afternoon so I think you all may have jinxed me!

I've been enjoying having less mud this year but think there's plenty of time for that to still change. The warm and wet winters we've had recently have been horrible.

 

[Shavings]

out, no rug, side of a hill over looking the bay where on a clear day he can see Cumbria/Scotland and still he is fatter then I expected !

 

[Widgeon]

Ours are all out but it's been very cold and dry up here (which I like) so the ground is still good. I'm strip grazing down the last bits of grass now. It certainly isn't warm though!

 

[Annagain]

Ours have only been coming in for 2 weeks. They're normally in by mid November at the latest, We got a good 3-4 weeks longer out this year. The YO announces they have to start coming in when she feels the time is right and those two storms did for us. I think if it hadn't been for those they'd still be out as other than those two storms the weather has been great. We're not allowed to put haylage in the fields so they have to come in once the grass is gone but it's still growing with us and there's very little mud. They're not getting any hard feed other than a tiny handful to stop Charlie being furious at his enforced starvation (he has ad-lib haylage) and trashing his bed. I'd happily have them out all winter as they have lots of decent natural shelter in the field but understand the YO wanting to save the ground and not have them squabbling over haylage (not that I think they would). When we first moved to the yard (20 years ago) every horse had a stable but we didn't have to bring them in and we made it to Boxing Day one year before they needed haylage. Then the rules changed and they were in by the start of November most years.

 

[chaps89]

Mine live out but my fat one is still on his summer routine - in a bare pen with straw in the day and out with a muzzle on at night.
I’ll be scuppered when it gets wet and my pen turns to mud.
I won’t muzzle 24/7 so he’ll have to take his chances with muzzle off in the day I think.

Normally summer routine ends sometime in November, not this year.
I have 3 areas of field that have been resting since late October and they all have good growth on them.

I had a skinny pony arrive a few weeks ago and just a few weeks on my grass has been enough to perk him up already.

These mild wet winters are not good for our fat natives that’s for sure!

 

[irishdraft]

Mine usually are out 24/7 with bringing in if very wet etc . My retired horse is huge despite not having a rug on at all, something I've never done before also not feeding any hay to either of them I have so much grass, I'm pretty sure I've never arrived at mid December without feeding hay in 20 years I've been here.

 

[Cortez]

Also, the horse with sweetitch is STILL scratching and the little midge buggers are still flying around, looks like he will have no respite at all this year into next.

 

[J&S]

Mine have only spent about 3 odd nights in when it was wet. They are practically yelling at me to let them stay out. They are like Widgeon's, strip grazing the last bit of grass, plenty to pick at else where. I was worried that they were not eating the hay but on a poo count and using the weight tape I know I don't need to! All could change with few wet days though. It has been very cold with a strong due east wind.

 

[meleeka]

Also, the horse with sweetitch is STILL scratching and the little midge buggers are still flying around, looks like he will have no respite at all this year into next.

There should be an “dislike” button,’poor boy.