Full clip, out 24/7

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SouthWestWhippet

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Does anyone else do this? It isn't too cold down here yet (minimum about 3 degrees at midnight). Pony is hunter clipped in a heavy weight rug with a neck.

PROs:
> Pony dislikes being stabled and the fields will shut soon and she'll be in all winter. Want her to enjoy t/o for as long as possible. this is my primary reason.
> I hate mucking out plus it is cheaper for me - these are the selfish reasons(!)
> Pony is well covered, hardy WelshxTB type, fit and being hard fed every day.
> Pony didn't have much coat to start with so hasn't lost a lot
&gt; Because she is out 24/7, Pony is out in Riding School mares' field which is likely to 'shut for winter' <u>after </u> the livery mares' field so she will therefore get more weeks turnout than if I start bringing her in

CONs:
&gt; tradition and BHS says full clipped horses should be in at night
&gt; am the only person at the yard doing this - all other clipped horses are in at night (although I was the only one whose pony went out 24/7 all summer as well, most people brought theirs in when it was really wet which I personally didn't agree with)
&gt; Pony was chaser clipped before in a medium weight with no neck so although I've taken a fair bit of hair off, I haven't added a great deal more rug weight.

My thinking is to leave her out and keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't dropping any weight, if she does I'll bring her in. Am I being resonable?
 
I'm in the South West too where it has been alot drier than normal this Autumn. I have just hunter clipped my 2 horses and they are out 24/7 in heavy weight rugs with necks at the moment. They are usually in at night by now but it has been so dry and mild that I have left them out. They do have free access to their stables and haylage. They will come in at night when it turns really wet but the old horse won't like this - she is a real 'out' girl. They are TB's.
 
Rugs are so good these days, my horses live out as much as possible all year, clipped or not clipped. I do have one eventer who hates being out for more than an hour a day but all the others prefer the natural habitat of being in the fields. Most of my horses are too the TB type. They all look really well, clipped and living out.
 
All mine are out, two TB are hunter clipped, rugged in medium combo's and happy to be out 24/7, other two are out in just standard neck medium rugs.........
 
i've done this before, using Fal Goliath and Viking rugs with neck covers, and had no problems at all. happy horses, toasty warm underneath. if it gets really cold, i.e. subzero/snowy, i put belly-pads on too, on a fully clipped horse.
 
Thanks all, there have been a few "bitchy" whispers on the yard about the way I choose to manage Pollyanna. Mostly coming from a single source who has been out to 'stick the knife in' since she arrived. . She likes to complain to everyone about everyone else and I know she especially enjoys the chance to drag my name through the mud as my horse once chased her horse away when she went to catch in and she has never forgiven me.

Personally, I'm a real "out out out" person with horses. The only reason to keep them overnight in is if you are too lazy to get up early on a Sunday before a competition and catch in/scrape mud off LOL! Unfortunately at my yard, almost everyone else belongs to the school of " my horse will die if (s)he gets wet " so my methods tend to get viewed with disaproval. I tend to ignore it mostly TBH but its nice to get a vote of confidence on here as well!!
 
I have 2 hunter clipped horses just now - a Welsh D who will be wearing a WB Orican STANDARD (doesnt like necks) all winter and a woosy TB x Lusitano in a Rambo Duo. Both live out 24/7 with permanent access to shelters / stables. Also had a hunter clipped Bavarian WB and anglo arab in the past who were all fine out during winter.

Just make sure he gets lots of hay, good feed and is well rugged and he'll be absolutely fine. People are just too woosy nowadays! Modern rugs are SO cosy that I believe any horse can live out clipped.
 
I'll do a full clip and leave out 24/7, but not in the really cold months in the middle of winter. Although saying that, there's little rhyme or reason as to which months those are these days is there?!
But anyway, I'll do full clip now, then another one towards the end of the winter, with blanket or chaser clip in between.
 
I've got my boy out 24/7 in a medium combo and he's toasty warm. He's very happy. And fully clipped out, everything went except his leg hair!
I shouldn't worry about what other people say, just do what you want to do, let'm gossip!
 
I think that well rugged they are fine left out, but would usually leave leg hair on. Moving around foraging is much warmer than standing in a stable. Once it gets really cold and wet (don't mind cold and dry!) I usually bring them in, but that's only so I don't lie in bed at night feeling guilty for being dry and warm!
 
Yep, my cob and WB are fully clipped, out 24/7 with HW rugs on
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Both mine are clipped and out 24/7 I think its fine until it rains. Once the rain comes it will not stop so that is when they will come in as we are on clay where it does not soak away. Both of mine have bellies so cannot be doing too badly on it.
 
thanks everyone! Went out yesterday to feed her and she trotted across the field to see me with her ears forward (ok, she trotted across the field to see her feed bucket but I can pretend, right?).

She is obviously happy and healthy and not cold at all. Much better than stabling her and having to deal with moody horse pushing and barging all the time. Once the fields shut she'll come in but until then, at least I am giving the b*tches something to talk about
smile.gif
 
just ignore them, its all too easy to forget they are horses who generally happily live out as long as kept warm and well fed, with shelter from rugs/stables/trees
Some horses do like to come in
My girl has an irish clip and is living out all winter, her rugs will change in accordance with the weather, its been so mild so far that i have not worried about her being cold
I noticed just last week how it was colder in my stable block then it was outside! i think my girl would be worse off stood still, getting stiff and that in her stable, i am really pleased about having the 24/7 option all year round
i am sure some people probably thinking i am 'cruel' in some way, but there are a handful on my yard that live out 24/7, including the yard owners two horses, she never has hers in
just keep your neds well rugged and well fed and they should be fine out all winter clipped or not
smile.gif
 
My TB is also out, I've only had him 8 weeks though, and I'm worried about him dropping weight, but apprently has lived out for 2 years rugged. He's rugged up with me, no need for a clip (yet) as he's still got a fine, almost summer coat!
 
My horse is and ID x TB and last winter I fully clipped him and left him out for the first time, he was always keeped in at night.

For the first time ever I didn't struggle to keep weight on him
confused.gif
I can only put it down to the fact that he was happier being out, he had a Rambo supereme on and was very toasty and warm, with haylage in the field and one feed a day of basic mix and chaff.

I think rugs these days are so far advanced that our horses are keeped much warmer than the old days of the canvas NZ rug.
 
mine's been full clipped and out 24/7 last few years - he hates being stabled and loves being out and gets his best competition results in winter - says it all really.
 
I am in Berkshire, my large lad is fully clipped, Lives out and is currently wearing, medium weight turnout with fleece underneath.

just keep any eye and it will be fine
 
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