do old ponies need stables and shelters?

Im in a bit of a debate with what I should do...I rent two fields - one 5 acres through the summer time and one which is 3 acres with two stables and barn through the winter. I pay for both throughout the year even when not in use to secure my letting...Ive been offered the summer field for the whole year and to give up my smaller field which is now on a very busy road due to newly built houses -My pony is 30 and although she is a toughy I do worry about her getting cold through the winter, getting fed up with rain and due to her age I worry about her generally.... due to my student finances, Im quite interested in keeping with the bigger field but not too sure what other peoples experiences are with regards to older horses and only having natural protection in fields??
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I cant add a field shelter unfortunately - I did ask but the owner was not impressed with the idea of it :0( - but the field is on quite a hill so Im thinking there must be quite a bit of protection at the bottom....also there is high hedging all the way around the field and loads of big old trees in the field...
 
The oldie should be fine living out but it's always a good idea to have a stable available 'just in case'..... sorry this doesn't help.
 
Have you suggested a portable field shelter? Owner might be more receptive to that.
It must be worrying in view of her age but as long as she is in good health and well fed I'm sure she'll been fine.
IMO they don't mind the cold as much as constant wet but knowing the great British weather...!
Maybe you could come up with a DIY rig if the weather gets bad, something like a stretch of sail canvas?
Also if you do run in to problems for whatever reason would you be able to get the field with the stables back? If not it might be better to stick as you are even if it's just for piece of mind.
 
If you can't put up a proper shelter then you could get four wattle or woven panels a bit taller than the pony, then you make a cross with them so whichever way the wind and rain blows, the pony can shelter behind something. A lot of studs have them as windbreaks and they do work, just make sure they are pegged down firmly enough. Being a 'natural' material, they won't look so out of place as a 'house'.
 
MFH_09 As I was typing my post I was thinking there MUST be someone on here who knows how to DIY a field shelter...HHO triumphs again!
 
My 24 yo (7/8 TB) lives out all year round. I do have a stable to bring him in if the weather is really wet but he doesn't like staying in and only does so for a couple of hours. In 5 years he hasn't been in overnight and he's been absolutely fine. He has a good rug, hedges and ad-lib hay all winter and depite his age and breeding he barely loses any weight, he only gets a small feed everyday with supplements. There are around 15 other ponies in the fields and all of them are out 24/7 without rugs, the oldest ones being in their 20's and these seem to cope alright.
If you can provide ad-lib hay and a good rug I think your pony will be fine.
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