Are your veterans in or out?

[spotty_pony]

My horses have all been living out 24/7 still with hay always available whilst it’s so frosty. They are also getting two feeds (fibre based) per day so I know they are getting plenty to eat.

I do bring them in most days for a few hours which is when I usually ride or let them have the chance to have a sleep if they want to. My boy is 23 and has arthritis in his hocks. He’s well rugged up and I’ve been giving him 1/2 satchet of Danilon per day whist it’s cold in case his joints are aching because of the cold. I rode him two days ago and he was absolutely fine.

Am I overthinking it? Should he be in at night whilst it’s so cold?

 

[SEL]

If he's fine then leave out and just keep checking in as the week goes on. I saw the vet at South Coast Equine had to get an oldie manually lifted who had gone down and got too cold - but I think if they've got hay and decent rugs most should be fine

 

[suestowford]

Mine are out but with constant access to stabling should they choose to use it (I have wedged the doors open). Judging by the number of droppings in the stables they have been in there a bit overnight but then we had more snow in the night so I don't blame them for staying in!
Should have said, they are 18 & 25 and both suffer with arthritis, so I'd rather they had the chance to get about a bit if they feel like it.

 

[lizziebell]

Personally believe they are better out with appropriate rugging and plenty of good quality hay. Outside they can move around to warm up and ease stiffness.

 

[JBM]

My girl gets stiff inside much better for her to be out and moving around just rugged up to keep her warm and she’s happy out

 

[cauda equina]

I do the same as you with my old boy - he lives out but comes in for breakfast which gives him the chance to sleep in a bed if he wants to
He's much better out

 

[Burnttoast]

Two oldies, 19 and 27, both out, older one rugged, lots of grass still but will be hayed in Jan probably, depending on how the fields are. The 27yo gets supplementary feeding. Neither of them like being stabled and the 19yo will jump out if he can. They have a shelter with thick rubber mats but usually prefer to tuck behind a hedge if it's a bit unpleasant.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ours are both out, with access to 2 big shelters. 34 year old is rugged and has 2 feeds a day, 29 year old unrugged and one feed a day. They are on 6 acres and still quite a bit of grass, I have been putting hay out last few days which they pick at but aren't fussed about.

 

[rara007]

Happily out but all ponies!

 

[AandK]

Mine is out, rugged and given hay and a feed twice a day.

 

[spotty_pony]

There’s only natural shelter in the field (hedges and trees but obviously the trees have no leaves now) but he will come in if it starts snowing and he’s always in in bad wind/rain. It’s nice to have no mud at the moment and although cold the weather is so still so my theory is let them be out as much as possible. I just saw him sleeping near the gate the other day, and felt guilty but I’d also feel guilty if he was stuck in all of the time ?

 

[Bluewaves]

Out with a 50g rug 24/7 in a huge field with only natural shelter. He is a retiree of 22 but fat and furry though.

 

[Peglo]

My 31 yr old is in at night but it’s for a break from the wind and rain that we get up here. Also she gets a big feed and a full bucket of grass nuts and speedibeet to eat and the other ponies would pinch it off her in the field so she gets her own time to pick away at it whilst in.

 

[Abacus]

Mine is 24 and has arthritis also, he’s much better out, I think he’d seize up inside. He’s warmly rugged and has lots of hay and a shelter which is only uses in summer.

 

[HorseyTee]

Mine live out.
The tb is 22, welshie 19 and cob 7.
The tb is rugged but welshie naked. Round bale ad lib. Plenty of trees for shelter.
When I stick my fingers into their fur, they're toasty against their skin, and I haven't seen any shivering or anything.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Mine is out 24/7 - natural shelter only but plenty of it. Well rugged, loads of grass but still given hay twice per day as her donkey friends actually prefer the hay sometimes. Tiniest of feed to treat her when I bring her in for a check over and a good groom. She was never happy kept in back in the day when I first had her and she used to still be ridden, far happier and healthier out for now anyway.

 

[meleeka]

Out. The Welsh who’s a wimp has turnout socks on and they have a proper bed in the shelter. I think they are better out in dry, cold
weather and in overnight if it’s raining badly.

 

[Ratface]

Old Horse is out every day, about 0800hrs to 1530hrs. He and his herd are all rugged, more or less, according to their age, (12-31) temperament (steady and biddable, to loon whirlathon - mine). OH has a full neck middle weight over a light weight no neck. He's toasty when in his stable, which has a full, thick straw bed and ad lib excellent quality hay. He has two small feeds, am and pm, chop, linseed, grass nuts, TopSpec Anti-Lam. Every other day, his body condition is visually checked (rugs off/hands/eyes on by extremely experienced YO and Head Groom, both of whom have known him for years. Also trotted up every other day to check for general soundness.
They go out every day if the weather is adequate.

 

[spotty_pony]

Thanks everyone, I’ve turned them all back out this afternoon and he seems happy enough. They aren’t even eating much of the hay so can’t be hungry ??‍ I do worry about him - he’s like my child ? the mare on the other hand is much calmer out - I could see her getting too fresh if in too much!

 

[spotty_pony]

Out. The Welsh who’s a wimp has turnout socks on and they have a proper bed in the shelter. I think they are better out in dry, cold
weather and in overnight if it’s raining badly.

This is what I tend to do. Apparently horses can cope with the cold a lot better than they can wind and rain.

 

[J&S]

Cold and dry is fine for all stock, wind and rain not so good but a nice thick hedge will help. Mine (16 and 25) were in at night during the wet period we had but out now in the cold. The younger one disgraced herself the other night and escaped into the neighbours garden causing panic to her old friend and much noise. Luckily neighbour is family and well horsey so she was summarily put back. The perimeter is now double fenced for that short run!

 

[Vermeer]

My 25 year old golden oldie is out 24/7, is currently wearing a 100g rug (she's normally in a zero fill all winter), having 2x bucket feeds a day along with haylage morning and night. If I stabled her she would be climbing the walls - she has always been much happier outside.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

I have three oldies, 30, 24 and 21. All live out 24/7 all year around. Thirty year old is rugged, fed twice a day with veteran vitality, grass nuts and chaff. All fed two sections of hay twice a day when it is cold and frosty, once a day if it is not.

 

[Connemara24]

25yr old who has arthritis is out 24/7 with adlib hay and 1 hard feed in the morning. He has a 100g rug on but did have a 200g for a couple nights.

 

[TheOldTrout]

In at night, out during the day, well rugged.

 

[windand rain]

Ot 24 7 365 days a year the 26 year old is rugged as currently out on a hill which is a bit exposed coming home tomorrow s will maybe get it ff it gets warmer. fed daily no hay yet as it upsets her tummy loads of grass