Anyone else turning out in the snow?

My pony lives out so no problems there!

My horse has been going out as normal for 7 or 8 hours a day with hay in their fields. Its quite icy getting to the field but we have a 'poop track' which is surprisingly effective! Also - I'm finding that the horses are being very sensible walking to the field. My TB loves his stable but would go stir crazy being kept in all the time!!
 
We have too much ice on the yard to make it safely to one of the turnout fields and there's quite a large patch of sheet ice just inside the field gate so lots on our yard are stabled most of time. Currently we're being allowed to let them stretch their legs for short spell in the sand school (read for that go charging about bucking and letting their pent up energy out!) as it's safer to get to and people are also taking their horses for walks up and down the more snowy parts of the yard along paths, etc. We are just starting to thaw here so hopefully in next few days we can get them to the field again and normal routine of being out daytime will return.
 
We kept ours in Mon and Tues last week as the ice made it dangerous to get the horses to the field they have however been out every day since, we have been putting hay out but they seem to prefer trying to hunt the grass.
My girl gets swollen legs so i hate leaving her in for any length of time on the Mon, Tues we kept in she had 1/2 and hour loose in the school in the morning and 2 hours out in the school in the afternoon.
The snow is melting fast here sono doubt we will be back to muddy gateways and leg hosing soon!
 
my 2 girls are out 24/7 and my boy is in, he gets turned out from about 10-2 with my friends oldies as I cant get him back to his field which is up the lane as its like an ice rink he is quite happy but I wish it would go away now so I can have the farrier tomorrow as there is no way as I said that I can get my girls down the lane to the farrier...
 
I kept my Mare in for the first few days of the first lot of snow. But she got so depressed, so I decided to turn her out. Well, she dragged me out to the field. At one point I almost lost her, she was soooo fresh.
So, now she goes out everyday, if only for a few hours.
She certainly doesnt seem to mind the snow, and she is barefoot so the snow doesnt ball up in her feet.
If its safe to do so, turn out is far far better for them.
 
My gelding is being turned out still. He loves it to start off with then once he has finished the hay and playing he just stands by the gate and wants to come back in again.
 
The yard owner turns mine out in the mornings and they love it! They have haylage in the field, but the TB especially loves searching for grass through the snow!
 
We can not get to our field as its down a very icy road, those that can get to their paddocks have found turnout is being reallly frowned upon by YOs but everyone kicked up a fuss so now we have been offered turn out in another paddock for a few hours in the afternoon, but owners have to stay on premises in case of accident. Not really workable for those working full time which is most (hmm funny that!), I am managing to give him a bit of a leg stretch in my lunch hour but its hard work!

He's finding it very hard, as he is a stresshead and needs to be out or at least working, so he isn't eating his hay, just hoping we thaw out soon and they can get back out before he drops too much condition
frown.gif
 
We are very lucky at our yard in that we have a huge barn to put the horses in during the day. It means they get to socialise and have a leg stretch as there is enouh space for a little canter. We turn them out for anout two hours or so whilst we are mucking out then put them in there to prevent boredom.

I think we would be more inclined to turn out if there hadn't been a horrible accident with the other lady on the yard's old horse. He was turned out as usual in the snow, unfortunately in the 5 hours he was out, he slipped over and broke his leg, the yard is DIY and the horse suffered in the snow until someone found him and called the vet. Of course he had to be put down.

Before you jump to the conclusion that he shouldn't have been turned out, there was less snow than this and we had checked so see if we thought it was safe, but a water pipe running along the bottom of the field burst between us checking and him falling, causing an section of the field to have turned into a deadly skating rink...
 
Mine have been out everyday regardless of snow. I have altered fields though, they all have seperate T/O now next to each other.
They have there breakfast in the field of a morning & a big pile of Hay/Haylage. Because there seperate i dont have to worry about scrapping for buckets.
It has stopped them being loonys, pain in the butt getting everything out there though feeds, water, haylage bloody nightmare.
 
Been turning out while I muck out, with hay, but she's not impressed about being out in it. As soon as I walk back up, she whinnies and leaves the hay to be brought in - jogs and bounces all the way back in too, so I think she's happy enough. So far, it's just snowy on our yard, but as soon as it gets icy, she'll be confined to her box. I hate it, so does she, but she's 29 and I really don't want to risk her slipping on sheet ice - especially as we have to go up a slope, then onto a hill. It's lethal when it's icy - I can't even stand up on it!

But yes, while it's just snow, she's going out for a leg stretch every day (except today as she had the farrier).
 
Not so far, but hopefully he will be out tomorrow. He has a hock injury though, and I'm wary of him hurting it trying to run through the deep snow.
 
Mine are out 24/7 now with full neck rugs on and lots of haylage, its been better for them to be out than in and they both love it. I thought my old one wouldnt be impressed as he's always liked his house but now he cant wait to get out again!
grin.gif
 
All the horses on our yard have been out every day from about 7.30 although they've been coming in a little earlier than usual at about 3 instead of 6 as we're not allowed to put hay in the fields for them as we have two horses who get very possessive about the hay and then fights start. By 3 they're hungry and ready to come in for twice as much haylage as they normally eat. I don't get to the yard until about 6ish so I turn my two out in the school for a play again while I muck out, more for my convenience than them needing it, although Archie loves a roll in the school.
 
My five are out 24/7, rugged and perfectly content. They don't seem to be bothered by the snow (unlike in heavy rain and wind, when they'll sometimes pull "don't like this, Mum" faces).
 
Bob is out from about 7am until about 3pm(ish). He's been in for 3 days since the snow started and that was only as it was too icy to risk getting to the field.

Not many are out though as apparently 'it isn't fit weather for horses to be turned out'.
confused.gif
confused.gif
Okay, if you say so!! I must be one of the mean owners then.
 
mine are out for a couple of hours in the morning, then on hard standing til about 3.30ish then stable for night.
not everyone is turning out on yard, as 2 have rolled and got stuck upside down. more the flatter backed types. pretty scary. has nobody else had that problem?
 
I have two living out - a two yr old with rug and new forest without. Four are in at night and out with hay in the day from 7.30 to 4pm. If i left them in then they would go bonkers though it is very heart in mouth when they do hooly round and the ground is frozen. Especially after injuries! But i think they would be worse if they were confined for longer.
 
Mine's out today for the first time since before Xmas
grin.gif
we've had a slight thaw and there was just enough grass on either side of the ice sheet to lead him up the hill. I've wanted him out for weeks!
 
Ours have been out for a few hours each day, they seem to really enjoy it initially then when the haylage runs out and they get bored of digging through the snow, they come back in. Can't wait for this snow to melt now
frown.gif
 
Mine are out 24/7 because it's too icy to bring in the two that had been coming in at night. I reckoned it was far better to have them all out and I could then ask the farmer to give them hay if I couldn't get there (as happened last Thursday). They're all fine and getting through copious amounts of haylage.
 
My TB is out all day. She was in for 2 days on the trot (exuse the pun!) but that was a forced decision due to it being too icey to walk her to her field.

My other is out 24/7. He is doing fine. My YO, very kindly, put lots of hay down for him to stand on. He also has readybrek for breakfast with warm water. How cute!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top