Fair Weather Horses

Chellebean

Chellebean

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Ok, I have been reading about fair weather riders but does anyone have a fair weather horse? I believe in giving a horse regular turn out but I now believe this should be done only on the sayso of the horse! I have learnt a rather expensive lesson this year :(:rolleyes:
My gelding was put on box rest on the 17th December and will be on it until the end of Feb at least. Anyway, I have never seen him so happy :rolleyes: His eyes are beaming and his character is has become a lot more friendly and less stressed then when he is was being turned out. :eek:
I think he is the type of horse you keep in over November- March otherwise you'll have huge vet bills as a result of him trying to stay boxed for the winter months :o
Does anyone elses horses prefer to live in during winter?
 
No, mine are the opposite and much prefer being out. Someone we know has a horse who won't go out if its raining, snowing or anything else. And by won't go out he will plant, rear, bounce, do anything to avoid going out in those conditions. If he's out and the weather changed all hell is let loose as he goes frantic to be brought in.
 
hahaha yes!

We have 2.

Pony A will not go in a stable and loves to be outside.

Pony B doesn't like wind, rain, snow, ice, too hot or too cold. It's only when it's warm and slightly sunny he likes being ridden really!
 
one of ours hates the wind and rain,has to come in before dark and would be more than happy to be in if exercised daily ,unfortunayley she has to go out with the others.
 
mine will go out but my big lad is very much happier being in than out, in any weather! he likes to 'dictate' what food he gets and expects a clean bed at all times!
 
I wish mine could have told me or at least shown me he didn't go out! But no, he went out happily and then tried a few times, his behaviour getting worse until he did his superficial tendon :( Now walks round his stable practically glowing and beaming from ear to ear lol
I have made a mental note that in bad weather and December through March will probably stay in! Much prefer that then high vet bills :D
 
I turned my boy out today (not raining but very windy) and he was horrified! He stood by the gate for an hour until I gave in and got him back in! He hates out unless the weather is perfect so he just goes out for a roll and jump and kick twice a week while I muck out!
 
mine prefers to be in if its raining and windy, if its snowing he likes to go out for half an hour, he is in by dark or spooks at everything. When he was ridden he would have happily had that instead of turnout. He doesnt even like to be out in summer after dark although he does like it to sunbathe when baking hot!!He likes to have food at easy supply and not have to forage and also likes to lie down on his nice straw bed!
 
We have one on our yard who is definately a fair weather horse. She's TBx and was stabled 24/7 in winter as a youngster (before current owner got her), As soon as it starts raining she's yelling to come in.

My boy on the other hand is pretty weather resistant. When it's too wet to go in the fields the horses have access to a bit of yard outside their stable, mine is the only one who has to have a decent turnout rug on in those circumstances because he spends so much time out in the rain.
 
Both mine like to go out in all weathers. However, they also seem to have an alarm clock which means 1/2 day only please.. and both will let you know in no uncertain terms when they want to come in.
 
laura_nash said:
We have one on our yard who is definately a fair weather horse. She's TBx and was stabled 24/7 in winter as a youngster (before current owner got her), As soon as it starts raining she's yelling to come in.

My boy on the other hand is pretty weather resistant. When it's too wet to go in the fields the horses have access to a bit of yard outside their stable, mine is the only one who has to have a decent turnout rug on in those circumstances because he spends so much time out in the rain.
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Yeah mine is an ex racer! I assume that is where this is all coming from. :o
 
Mines a strange one!

If she's out and it's raining she can't wait to be in her stable.
If she's in and it's raining she stands in her stable with a smug look on her face.

BUT she couldn't care less what the weather is like when she's being ridden.. she is a mad mare.
 
Embarassingly, I have a native who prefers to be in in inclement weather.

She is out 4/7, but with access to a stable all the time and can be found in there more often than not if it is wet or too hot.

Saying that she doesn't 'do' box rest either!
 
If I put Mick out he just stands at the gate waiting to come back in. Last week I put them both out all day and they nearly killed me dragging me back to the stables at night. Mick was snorting and clearly not happy.

I have before had a headcollar on him in the stable trying to pull him out and he wont move. The rest of the yard can be out and he doesn't bother.
 
Oh yes, mine is an indoor horse over the winter! She doesn't like mud, rain, ice, snow, frozen ground, wine, cold weather.... She has been known to rear and back up all the way to her stable to avoid being turned out. She now stays in on very wet days, or if there's snow on the ground, or if it's icy/very frozen. She just stands in, tucks into her hay, snoozes in a corner and looks generally content. By contrast, if she's out, she will pace the field, hoon round, rear, buck, leap, run at you, and drag you back to the yard when you catch her. She's just turned 30 and has always stayed in if the weather is bad. Guess it can't be doing her much harm?!
 
Rana said:
Oh yes, mine is an indoor horse over the winter! She doesn't like mud, rain, ice, snow, frozen ground, wine, cold weather.... She has been known to rear and back up all the way to her stable to avoid being turned out. She now stays in on very wet days, or if there's snow on the ground, or if it's icy/very frozen. She just stands in, tucks into her hay, snoozes in a corner and looks generally content. By contrast, if she's out, she will pace the field, hoon round, rear, buck, leap, run at you, and drag you back to the yard when you catch her. She's just turned 30 and has always stayed in if the weather is bad. Guess it can't be doing her much harm?!
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OMG, you have just described my horse except he's rising 3 not 30!!!!
 
My 5 year old would much rather stay in at the moment. She has been out about 3 days (for about a hour each time tops) in the last 8 weeks. She doesnt mind going out for a roll and a buck but then will come back to the gate and wait to come back in. She is perfectly happy inside munching her hay. I do work her most days as think it would be boring for her. She isnt anti working in the rain and shes calm and sensible to ride (considering shes a ex racehorse) Shes just calm and content being in. Same thing as someone else said, you could leave her door open and she wouldnt leave!! No doubt the "they must be out in all weather" folks will frown upon this but I think its up to the horse.
 
I have an ex racer and one that I sold but he has stayed at the same yard and its these two and the little native ponies that we have that are the ones out grazing in all weathers - rain,sleet,snow - mad bunch :D while the rest of the field are argueing for space in the field shelter - this bunch include a h/w piebald gypsy cob, an irsih draft cross and a welsh sec d cross
 
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