Horse stood in mud/rain 24/7

[poiuytrewq]

I’m very lucky in that a neighbour has my retired horse at hers as a companion.
Original plan was only 6 months whilst he was turned away to see if some physical issues rectified, they didn’t and so he stayed.
She likes having him there, he gets on well with her horse (bar the fact her horse tears my rugs!)
I, however am concerned about him being stood out constantly in this awful weather, she doesn’t have endless fields and it’s a sea of mud. They do have drier areas but everytime I see him he’s just caked in mud and imo looking a bit “eugh”
She does the main care and I just see him up close every couple of weeks, I cringed at the mud last time and it’s rained solidly since.
I know it will dry up and don’t want to offend her by bringing him home or upset both little sets of horses as hers and mine are happy as they are.
I get regular updates saying how happy/warm/dry under his rug he is but when I’m bringing my guys in and stripping wet rugs off the guilt is huge!
I do feel like if this weather doesn’t change soon I have to bring him home so he gets to dry out and just have time in.
I also know many horse owners would kill for their horse to be allowed out at all forget about 24/7
How can I un-offensively broach this subject just incase

The other thing I guess is that with another horse my fields may end up looking exactly the same as hers and so they will all be stood in mud anyway

 

[webble]

My concern would be for feet. Could you suggest some mud mats or similar?

 

[meleeka]

I think everybody is suffering with muddy fields atm. Does he have a dry area so he can lay down and does he have somewhere to shelter from the wind/rain? Those two things are essential and everything else is just for our benefit I think. I very much doubt he cares whether he’s muddy, but he probably does appreciate living out with his friend.

 

[rextherobber]

I'm lucky in having sloping, well draining fields, my horses are out in all but the most vile weather. The fields are dry enough to walk in trainers, apart from high traffic areas. They stand in the mud! There's hay, shelter etc in other areas. Why?!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Does he have a sheltered area with hardstanding to stand and chill out of the mud if he wants to?

If not, could you suggest that your friend creates one?

 

[ihatework]

Well mud is unfortunately pretty much everywhere at the moment.

So I suppose it depends on how muddy is muddy and is this the entire field or just patches?

I wouldn’t want any horse out 24/7 in proper mud with no respite from it. But if there is a hard standing area that they can have hay on etc and a hedge windbreak or something then I wouldn’t be too concerned

 

[setterlover]

I feel your pain this year is a bummer.My horses are at home out 24/7 but have a huge pole barn 75 ft long and 30 ft deep bedded down and loads of haylege.I get them in for a couple of hours every morning and put them back out around 11am.Haylege is topped up for overnight and the pole barn is open to a 6 acre field that has plenty of grass on it (only 3 horses) I still feel guilty as they are often stood out in it when i look out rather than in the pole barn.I nearly caved in and got them in overnight a couple of days ago but my husband persuaded me not to.
The weather is forecast better after today and dry after Saturday .
Mine aren't rugged as they have ample bedded down shelter and wet heavy rugs must be heavy and uncomfortable but I do feel guilty even though they are never shivering or cold.
I'm hoping the weather will start improving soon.

 

[SEL]

It's due to dry up after this storm has gone through so perhaps pop over at the weekend and take a look at him.

My field only has mud at the gateway and by the hedge they use as shelter but it's totally saturated. Farrier tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see what he says about their feet. Soggy frogs on the littlest cob.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s a bad winter my horses just don’t to be living out they want in .
I would not be happy to have an old horses out in these conditions with no respite .
Mine have a dry ( ish ) area at the top of field and they are using it , an old horse really needs somewhere lie .

 

[poiuytrewq]

I did just go poo pick my field and nearly cried at the state of it!
Mine spend are in a fair bit though and get a deep straw bed to dry legs and dry rugs on.

They have a good hedge on all sides, it’s split with a track round the edge (used in summer) now the middle bits are open. The track is deep liquid mud, but of course they don’t have to stand in it. The middle bits are not great but drier.
Feet were my worry but I got him in for a trim a few days before Christmas and the farrier said that although it’s one of the muddiest places he visits that my horses feet are coping incredibly well. In fact they look the best I’ve seen them weirdly.
He’s not old, just 12 and healthy, good weight, rugged etc.

 

[Nicnac]

If there are drier areas and he's not going to them, then not much you can do. I leave t/o rugs on overnight as they dry off and horses are dry and warm underneath them. Everyone is struggling with mud this (and seems like every!) year especially those of us on clay.

If he's a good weight and rugged then he's fine. I think we overthink things sometimes. Forecast does look better new few days so fingers crossed (for us all!)

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I would say don't worry. Apart from the mud he is being well cared for so far luckier than many others. We had a winter when we had too many horses and it was very wet. It was our first year on the land and we hadn't realised how wet it would get. The whole field got ploughed up because we tried to hay them on a new bit of ground everyday. That was a 14 acre field. All the horses survived as did we. If the farrier is happy with his feet and he is dry under his rug and in good condition then he will be fine.

 

[irishdraft]

I must admit my horses live out 24/7 but although it's fairly well drained they have no shelter. I have been bringing them in every day for hay & and feed & last night had their first night in. The fields are absolutely saturated at the moment but if we get a few dry days it's surprising how quickly they seem to drain. I wouldn't be happy with mine standing in mud 24/7 but can see your dilemma, it looks like it's due to dry up in a few days so maybe reassess then and check the long range forcast before potentially upsetting your friend.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ok maybe I’ll give it a little longer before making any rash decisions!

I know I’m lucky to have a genuine retirement place where he is safe and looked after. I also know if I pull him out they will need to find alternative company as soon as possible so I’ll loose the place. It’s not going to be forever I don’t think so quite like to make the most of it.

I think I’d be more concerned if he were stabled with no turn out, like many local yards seem to be at the moment.

 

[Goldenstar]

Unless the gods grant us a massive improvement in the weather mine are coming in after I get back from visiting the in-laws next week
It’s just too much now and it will easier to just bring them in.
They will get a few hours turn out most days and longer if they don’t get worked.
They don’t want to go out now.

 

[Melody Grey]

Mine have been going out every other day due to our fields being clay and flooded- were due to go out for a few hours today but gateways are so deep and flooded, it would be dangerous for me to get them through them and rain is torrential (again!).

On the plus side, they don’t seem too bothered at being in, though I’ve really had enough of mucking out now!!

 

[Squeak]

If the entire field is deep mud and there's no where for him to go to get out of it, then I'd be a bit worried but it's really hard to find good homes for a retired horse, everyone's fields are completely saturated and if yours would potentially be the same if you bought him back then you've got nothing to gain but everything to lose by bringing home. As long as he seems happy and healthy I'd leave it be but keep a close eye. This winter is just horrible tbh, really hope we get those couple of dry days that have been forecast.

 

[AmyMay]

Does he look well under his rug and is it being changed regularly?

I remember observing a horse (many, many years ago) that wintered out one very wet winter. Despite having good access to hay and shelter they came out of winter looking absolutely appalling.

 

[IrishMilo]

Is there a field shelter and is there a dry place for him to lie down? I wouldn't want any horse out in a field with no overhead shelter 24/7 with no place to lie down in this weather... it's really important for them to be able to lie down to sleep properly and it's not fair for them to have to do that in a muddy puddle.

 

[mustardsmum]

I wouldn’t worry, if he’s settled and looks happy, I would just trust your friend. Sadly this winter it’s been relentless- but it’s also been mild. You say he has drier areas so he can get out if the mud if he wants too. It’s so much better for them to be out than cooped up. Everyone’s in the same boat (almost literally in some parts ...). Our mare loves being caked it mud, it dries and protects her - I think we are just all a bit conditioned into wanted to see clean horses! Which I get if your riding each day but as a companion he won’t care.

 

[Kaylum]

Does he look well under his rug and is it being changed regularly?

I remember observing a horse (many, many years ago) that wintered out one very wet winter. Despite having good access to hay and shelter they came out of winter looking absolutely appalling.

Agree with this rugs need taking off so you can access their condition and replace/reset them. They might be rubbing or wet through and losing weight.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes he gets his rugs removed and checked as he is prone to rubbing.
He has a liner and I high neck Rhino on as it’s light and the shape suits his withers which is where he’s prone to rub.

No there is no proper shelter, just the hedges, I’m not massively worried by that side of it though as we did at home and he never went in it, I also used to leave the stable doors open sometimes with access and he’d never have been one to bring himself in.
They do go and stand at the hedge when it’s windy.
There is no hard standing accessible from the field. The track is a sea of mud, the middle paddocks are not. It’s in these that they are hayed and fed etc. I think really the only reason the track is still open is so firstly it’s easier to get them in and out and secondly when friends horse is ridden mine can go and stand next to a pony who is fenced off in another area if he wants too, and he always does.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Only you know your horse. If he is a horse that likes to come in and have a break from the bad weather then I’d bring him home regardless of what anybody thinks. The fact you are questioning it means you probably think he does need to.

 

[Annagain]

Our winter field has a steep slope and is on bedrock so all the water drains to the bottom which means the bottom 20m is horrific but the rest of the field is pretty decent. They have lots of trees and hedges for shelter, including one little corner that is almost completely surrounded by hedges and really sheltered - it has a narrow path in then about a 30m circle of grass with a big tree providing lots of cover in one part of it. It would seem like the perfect sport for them in this weather. Do they spend any time there? Do they hell. They're in the really wet muddy bit at the bottom with no shelter for about 80% of the time they're out!

Given that you're getting quite a good deal with your friend doing most of the care, could you offer something to help both horses like mud control mats, a lorry load of hardcore to create a hard standing area for them or a field shelter?

 

[dorsetladette]

I met my now best friend by offering a dry corner of my fields to her when hers were in deep mud. She didn't take me up on it at the time.

Could you offer both horses a bit of rest bite from the weather and mud? even if it means alternating stables, having one lot in at night and the other lot in during the day for a short while. That way ponies stay together and the lady doesn't need to think about another companion.

Even if its just short term. it would be more work and a bit of a faff swapping horses over, but maybe you and the other lady could do jobs between you.