Help me ease my guilt trip

[doodleberry]

Ok so i have a mare who is an old bat to catch so sometimes i think stuff you you can stay out!! she has a friend and a field shelter when she does this!! Last night she didn't want to come in so i said fine stay out then and fed her normal feed but no hay! she is a very good doer and i thought serve you right !! and also she had to come in this morning for the vet! So the vet came and diagnosed bone spavins and injected her hocks ok so then turned her out again in just a heavyweight rug (she is clipped but doesn't feel the cold that much) So tonight i went to get her in and she told me where to go i said fine as the more you move the better !! So now it is snowing!! i mean proper snowing settling everything!! i have fed her and she has hay in her field shelter ! I have just been out to see if she wants to come in she told me to bugger off so i gave them more hay!! do i try a bit harder or do i leave her out? i can get her in eventually as i will just get the other horse in but am thinking its beter she walks around because of her hocks but until i hear what you lot have to say i may not sleep! as i woke up this morning at 3 am when it was heaving with rain thinking i should go get them in!!Thoughts please?

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

She'll be fine, honestly!!! She's making it quite clear she would prefer to be out with her pals during snow, rain, hailstones and anything else the weather can throw at her. She'll find shelter if she gets cold, you've left out food, I bet she's as happy as Larry!

 

[Mike007]

They just love to make us feel guilty!I once drove around trip of 100 miles because I had forgotten to check the horses. They told me to++++off and wouldnt come near.. Ungratefull gits.

 

[Ancient Hacker]

I am sure our horses sometimes simply tell us what they need....stay out in the rain, do their own thing.

I'm fortunate in living in a warm climate. My horses do sleep in at night, and have turnout all day. However their idea of "day" is variable. I've given up on the idea of routine. When THEY decide it's time to come in, they come to the gate and snicker for me; luckily I can see and hear them through my office window. Sometimes it's 4pm, and the next day it could be 9 pm. So I just go with the flow, let them tell me when they're ready for bed. So long as there are not hosts of midges about or electric storms, I leave them to call me when they're ready for bed.
I might add that this horrifies all my friends, who go on about "routine", "discipline" etc. But the horses are happy and well.

I wouldn't feel guilty, OP. You obviously care for your horse very well - can't ask for more than that!

 

[Luci07]

Put yourself first. Yes I agree your mare will probably be fine.

However....if you are going to be up at three worrying....catch the old bat and have a good nights kip!