Have you turned out this morning?

[LeneHorse]

This is unusual but I kept them in this morning. It would have been dangerous to try and get them out in the storm force conditions we have (RED met office weather warning). There are trees down all over the place and roads closed. At the yard there was stuff flying around and I've just heard that the door to our indoor has blown off and peoples trailers have blown over. It would have been mad to try and turn out in the dark at 7am in those conditions - our field is a bit of a walk from the main yard.
Hopefully we will get them out for a couple of hours this afternoon when it is forecast to ease off. They were not at all distressed having to stay in

 

[superted1989]

Mine went out as normal 6.30. By 7, all of them were in a queue by the gate! I'm on yard bring in duty and will probably fetch them in an hour or two earlier

 

[Ladylina83]

No and they didn't seem to mind to be honest - the wind was that bad that it blew my wheelbarrow full of muck over, they were more interested in their haynets !

My field itself is pretty dry but the track to get to it is knee deep in mud and just yesterday I ended up on my hands and knees in it and having to drive home in just a thong and wellies !! .... oh and a jumper lol as I do mine on the way to work it was not a risk I was going to take today !

I know they need to go out - for the last 2 years they have lived out 24/7 and as soon as the weather improves they will return to this - but for now they will get turn out in the school morning and night while I muck out and do jobs and all day at the weekends when I can tackle the track in day light hours, it's bad enough when I can see nevermind in the dark !

 

[Smogul]

This is unusual but I kept them in this morning. It would have been dangerous to try and get them out in the storm force conditions we have (RED met office weather warning). There are trees down all over the place and roads closed. At the yard there was stuff flying around and I've just heard that the door to our indoor has blown off and peoples trailers have blown over. It would have been mad to try and turn out in the dark at 7am in those conditions - our field is a bit of a walk from the main yard.
Hopefully we will get them out for a couple of hours this afternoon when it is forecast to ease off. They were not at all distressed having to stay in

Agree horses need to be horses but what about people? Our yard texted to say horses were being kept in for safety of staff!

 

[hackedoff]

Mines in, he can only go out for 1/2 hour in the menegae as just coming of box rest for 6 months. There's stuff blowing every where and horse walker is spinning round like mad which he is scared of. Don't want to blow 7 months rehab for the sake of one day in.

 

[Natz88]

Mine have gone out as normal, but no doubt they are already standing at the gate. They will come in about 3.30/4ish

 

[flying solo]

I've got one pony out in the Feild because he'd have a heart attack if you tried to stable him. My Shetland is being kept in because his field has no shelter and since he's in a starvation paddock his hay would blow away! [he's got a full clip too] he doesn't mind staying in and being pampered for a day ;-)

 

[benson21]

So, this maybe a thick question, but if you turn out, but feel they would already be standing by the gate waiting to come in, why turn out in the first place?

 

[LeneHorse]

Agree horses need to be horses but what about people? Our yard texted to say horses were being kept in for safety of staff!

If I was a Yard Owner I would not have expected staff to turn out or bring in horses in the conditions we had this morning. As a DIY livery it is my choice and this morning I decided it was safer all round for my horse and her buddy to stay in. As i said above, this very rarely happens, but I'm not putting myself at risk of being hit by a tree branch or other debris just to drag an unwilling horse out to the field. Must be getting soft in my old age

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Mine went out this morning but are back in now. The only reason they have come back in is that we are on the edge of the Cairngorms and on a hill and their field has NO shelter as it would blow away (everything does) and no trees (as they have more sense than to grow here There are 80 mile an hour winds atm combined with horizontal heavy snow and they were getting very upset. Last time it did this it took me 40 mins to catch my Haffie as every time she turned to come to me the hail hit her on the bum and she thought I was smacking her!

In conditions short of this extreme they always go out for longer.

Even in 4 foot snow they go out as soon as muggins has dug a path to the field (which can take several days!).

If I could get a shelter to stay up they could stay out 24/7 but we cant do that here anyway as there is a very high grass sickness risk and so feel it's safer if they are in overnight. They do have a very nice mini barn set up and have external top doors to the outside as well as the internal doors. The external ones have a window in them so that if (as now) I have had to close the one on the westerly stable, my pony can still see out (well until it is all stuck with snow that is!)

 

[YasandCrystal]

Donovan is in. I dont really see that there is a definate right or wrong way with this one. Its more to do with what is right for the horse and the circumstances. If horse is happy in, doesnt stress, field waterlogged and getting trashed, then leave in. On the other hand, if the field is draining well, horse happier out, has shelter, then put out.

^^ agree with this.

 

[LaurenBay]

Rubys in. She hates the rain and wind. Since I am now back at work, knowone will be around to get her in, until I finish at 6. She would be turned out at 6am. I think 12 hours is a bit mean, not only would she be the only one out, the grass is poor and field very boggy. Of course I would give her access to hay. But she will still be very grumpy and would much rather eat her hay in a dry shelterd place, with the other Horses around her.

 

[Natz88]

So, this maybe a thick question, but if you turn out, but feel they would already be standing by the gate waiting to come in, why turn out in the first place?

They love coming in at night, but they would stress if left in during the day aswell, my mums cob & my yougnster ok it's my haffy that would stress so I would rather them stand at the gate under the trees then stood in getting stressed & in a state

 

[Ladydragon]

Ours are in today and I normally boot them out the door for the day... The whole yard is in though - they'd need flippers and a snorkle with some of the flooding in the field this morning...

Imagine that!! Flying horses!

News report: The A123 in Merthyr has been closed due to gusts of ponies. The met-office have issued a severe weather warning.

Not a day for my husband to visit family then... I'd want the car back without hoof prints...

 

[Jingleballs]

We've had over 90mph winds here -many my neighbours fences have blown away and a lot of fencing at the yard damaged.

Ours are in - our stable blocks are solid and not going anywhere but as our fields are surrounded by forestry I don't want to risk him out in it just in case there is debris flying about.

 

[Firewell]

I think that's the point, it's not just windy it's blimin gales and storming!! I'm actually worried to drive to the yard later down the densely wooded lanes.
If the fencing at my yard is still standing it will be a miracle and I can't imagine the debris flying around. Luckily my horses stable is solid brick with a brand new roof so he will at least be safe inside.
At my old yard in a similar storm the gales actually blew the fencing over and the field shelters! They were old ones made out of corrugated iron and there was sheets of the stuff flying across the fields complete with strands of electric fence like White snakes!

 

[EnduroRider]

In!

One is on box rest anyway but put the other two out as normal at 6.30am. Arab mare spent two hours doing a whirling jig at the gate and generally got herself in a tis, TB gelding didn't leave the gate and stood stock still with his head down looking miserable. So at 8.30 am they both came back in and are all happily munching hay and listening to Classic FM!

 

[hobgoblin]

Put mine out but hubby going home at lunchtime to get them in because I'm at work

 

[tonitot]

I'm hoping Ethels out, I'm not doing her at the mo cause I'm injured so my friends doing her. Won't be too impressed if she's not out, she hates being stuck in and starts weaving!

 

[MyBoyChe]

My TB is in with his little welsh friend in the next door box, the other 4 natives are out but I have to admit they all look distinctly miserable. Their hay is blowing all over the place and although they do have a hedge its a bit exposed without its foliage. Today is the first time in over a year Che has stood in, I dont ride through Dec-Feb and feel he is much better out in the day to mooch about but he hates rain and today it really is storm force with torrential rain so just one day wont do too much harm. Have just been back down to check hay and water, I opened his stable door and he wandered out in to the barn but wouldnt set hoof outside so Im reasonably happy I made the right decision for him today. As someone else said, theres no hard and fast rule, you just have to make a judgment call in the morning, on the best for your horse.

 

[monkeybum13]

Donovan is in. I dont really see that there is a definate right or wrong way with this one. Its more to do with what is right for the horse and the circumstances. If horse is happy in, doesnt stress, field waterlogged and getting trashed, then leave in. On the other hand, if the field is draining well, horse happier out, has shelter, then put out.

Yes exactly.

Last year someone sent me a horrible PM saying how horrid I was because my horse is kept in if the ground is wet (YO's rule!). They do not know my horse and my own horse will happily stay in her stable and would much prefer to be in her stable that out in the pi55ing rain.
Do whatever makes your own horse happy.

 

[sjmcc]

mine and the whole yard is in he may go out in a bit to stretch his legs but he,s soft and would just stand with his bum to the wind so he,s tucked up cosy

 

[Always Henesy]

Well mine are out 24/7
However - I had to bring them into the barn this morning as the Arab was using my 17.1 TB as a shelter and the TB was not amused. Both were standing knee deep in mud in the gateway.
My Arab jumped over me to get to the barn!
The power is off, trees are down and altogether it is quite dangerous out there.
I feel quite happy that my 2 very obviously wanted to come in.

 

[flower08]

Mine are in today. Normally they're out at around 7.00am but their field is very exposed & wind swept. When it's like today they just yomp around, trashing the paddock, divots & skid marks everywhere. When I get back to the yard they are fence walking & waiting to come in. This is the weather when injuries occur in the paddock so I just skip out their stables, leave them plenty of hay & they'll be riden tonight to exercise them.

If mine weren't as highly strung I would probably turn them out but with them it's just asking for trouble .

i agree with this, its not just a little windy up here but blowing a gale, it does look like its dropping now in which case i'll pop back to yard and put them out for an hour, failing that i'll let them wander around the yard (which is sheltered and inclosed) while i do eve stables later.
as a rule i dont like mine to stand in all day

 

[Kirwil]

Ours are in because the trees they shelter under in bad weather have a tendancy to shed branches in wind like this. They're happy with haynets

 

[TheBayMonkey]

The two I'm looking after went out at 11 when the rain stopped. One is 23 though and doesn't do well in such weather. Its now really sunny here so they will be out until about 4.30-5

 

[katastrophykat]

Mine are out but I had to shove them through the gate!! That was 6.15, it was wet but breezy- now its gales and sun... They have no shelter, but do have their rugs with big tail flaps and leg straps on!

 

[ReggiePerrin]

Mine is usually out 24/7 with a friends horse but we do occassionally bring in if it looks horrid, probably mostly for our sanity! They were out last night and I was due to bring them in at 6am for a bit of respite with my friend chucking them back out at 11ish once they'd stuffed their faces and dried out.

That said, I woke up at 3am with the sound of the wind howling through my chimney and the rain lashing on the window. The logical part of my brain told me they'd be fine but the Mum in me couldn't get back to sleep. At 4am I gave up and went and fetched them in and then went back to sleep happily for 2 hours!

 

[ellis9905]

my boy usually lives out 24/7- and was out last night, normally im pretty tough , however this morn the rain was sideways and wind nearly took me off my feet- so he came in this morn at 9am and will go bacdk out in next half hour or so. just a chance for him to dry off

 

[coen]

YO told us yesterday that the fields would be closed today due to weather and the weather was terrible this morning and it would have been dangerous to put out anyway.
That being said it cleared up an hour ago so it would have been great to get mine out for a while instead of being cooped up all day. Trust that to happen on my first day back at work.