Bedford Joy
Well-Known Member
Can anyone tell me how their elderly TB'S fared over winter? Mines dropped weight being in a stable with very little turnout so am concerned she may not like being out next winter ...
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Elderly TB's out all winter ???
- Thread starter Bedford Joy
- Start date
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
Not mine, but the elderly TB's and ponies on a former yard did really well through the really cold, snowy winters a couple of years back. They had plenty of ad lib hay and good natural shelter. The open barn was rarely used by any of them. None dropped weight, quite the opposite, they were in lovely condition.
The benefits were fresh air, natural light, constant freedom to keep moving, maintaining fitness and interaction with the herd.
I've just moved to a yard where they come in a night very early, so mine are standing in for an extra 3 hours and the decrease in movement has meant they're coming out of the boxes very stiff each morning.
The benefits were fresh air, natural light, constant freedom to keep moving, maintaining fitness and interaction with the herd.
I've just moved to a yard where they come in a night very early, so mine are standing in for an extra 3 hours and the decrease in movement has meant they're coming out of the boxes very stiff each morning.
Baileybones
Well-Known Member
My 29yr old tb doesn't look great right now - lightest I've had him.
He has however managed to break a rib this winter and fight an infection. That coupled with the longest winter ever and a poor hay / haylage yield last summer I think has all just started to catch up with him.
He has also had to spend more time in this winter than normal as the fields were under water.
I've upped his feeds and he's well rugged up. He's bright in himself and still a loon so I'm hoping the spring grass will soon have him back on form.
I'd be inclined to see what this summer brings us as this winter hasn't been typical x
He has however managed to break a rib this winter and fight an infection. That coupled with the longest winter ever and a poor hay / haylage yield last summer I think has all just started to catch up with him.
He has also had to spend more time in this winter than normal as the fields were under water.
I've upped his feeds and he's well rugged up. He's bright in himself and still a loon so I'm hoping the spring grass will soon have him back on form.
I'd be inclined to see what this summer brings us as this winter hasn't been typical x
lme
Well-Known Member
I think this winter has been exceptionally hard. Horses that usually cope fine have been struggling. My ancient TB x (she's 32) has usually wintered out fine with hard feed & hay. This year, we admitted defeat & brought her in in January because she was looking dreadful & really not coping. She's looking better now (and, much to my surprise, coping very well with living in) but I will be glad when we get some grass & she can go back out with her herd. She had been living out very happily since she retired 10 years ago and she is a lot less creaky when she doesn't spend all night stood in a stable.
smellsofhorse
Well-Known Member
With decent grazing.
Plenty of hay and feed and kept warm.
A horse should be fine out.
Worm accordingly.
Some like a decent shelter too.
Plenty of hay and feed and kept warm.
A horse should be fine out.
Worm accordingly.
Some like a decent shelter too.