Horses being rained on...

Jill Crewe

Jill Crewe

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Has anyone ever experienced any of the following when their horse has been left out in the rain?

1) Water seeps through their skin and drowns their internal organs
2) Rain washes horse away until there is nothing left
3) Horse commits suicide due to being left in such squalid conditions

Okay so I know this is a bit toungue-in-cheek/sarcastic and everyone's horses needs and personal scenarios are different...and it's not my place to judge what other people do. But I've come across quite a few people who will bring their horses in if it's raining and I personally find this quite suprising. I'd be interested to hear what everyone else does and what their feelings are about it. :)
 
Current horse will try to convince me of the truth of (1), (2) and possibly (3) using his special death stare while standing at the gate of his field in the pouring rain, however that doesn't get him very far.

Previous mare made it quite clear that she would rather be out in the worst rain than in her stable provided there was grass in the field.
 
None of the above but I have heard that they melt if you leave them in the rain. Scientific evidence one hears exists but its carefully filed away and hidden by rug companies.

Oh and I heard a cracker t'other day... snow makes horses feet swell!

I love Britain's crazies!!!!!
 
Our pony is out naked in the rain and I do feel guilty at night wen its pouring down outside lol and in the morning he looks like a large drowned rat but he Is fine :)
 
tallyho! said:
None of the above but I have heard that they melt if you leave them in the rain. Scientific evidence one hears exists but its carefully filed away and hidden by rug companies.

Oh and I heard a cracker t'other day... snow makes horses feet swell!

I love Britain's crazies!!!!!
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Love the idea of melting!! Why are people not more concerned about the wind and making sure there is protection from each direction. My two youngers who have been out all winter without rugs have lovely shinny coats, so I am a convert to nature, having rugged and kept in ponies and horses over night for years!
 
Call the RSPCA now then on me!

Not only did mine have to work in the rain this morning ( :eek: !!) He then proceeded to get chucked out in the field with only a light weight rug - only one of the other horses that (only 4 were turned out out of a possible 24 ) that had no neck cover and a lightweight on.

If it wasn't for the fact the rain was horizontal and it felt like a hurricane up at the field - he'd have gone out naked :D :eek:

Given that he lived wild quite successfully before I bought him, I feel rather like I'm molly coddling him - the other liveries I'm sure think I'm practically neglecting him!
 
Lol mine has never melted or drowned! However, last year on a lovely summers day we had a sudden downpour when he was out naked. :eek:

I went up there to find him standing by the gate, shivering like mad and giving me evil looks! I think he must have sulked for about a week about this, but then I do own a rather wimpish TB :rolleyes:

He stays out in the rain, but has to have a rug on otherwise I get the silent treatment...
 
Horses have evolved to stay in stables, hence why breathing issues, stiffness, temperament etc all do so much better if stabled 24/7 all year round. And also why they melt in the rain. My mare hates rain, hence she stays under trees, near hedges etc. No excuse for neurotic owners in general, but I do think sometimes the issue is when horses are kept in tiny flat postage stamp paddocks, divided with electric tape, with maybe 1 companion tops, they can't shelter from it in the way a group in a more varied field can. Hence they do get miserable in heavy rain.
 
Natural shelter - I hear so much about this! I have two sides of my field with massive mature trees and hedging - the other side its like a different country temp wise and a large field shelter and when it rains where do my naked horses stand? In the middle of the field :rolleyes:

Mine were out naked in the rain this morning, like they have been every other day, last time I brought a rug out the pair at them looked at me like id lost the plot and legged it :D proper horses!
 
We have to drag my WB out of the stable when it rains!:D she would be quite happy staying in and I get the look of death when I go up eight/nine hours later to get her and old mare in.


Old mare on the other hand as long as there is grass she doesn't care but I have to make sure she is rugged up warm enough or she shivers and gets colic.....it's happened a few times so now I just roll with it.
 
My cob hates being out naked in the rain - she just stands and is miserable. I put a rug on her and she's quite happy. This is why we have rugs - so they can go out happily in all weathers.
 
My hardy :o native believes that all three of the above points are the absolute truth, and will race to the stable at the hint of heavy rain. Her ancient standardbred companion will stay out getting soaked. :rolleyes:
 
I brought both of mine in early this afternoon because it was raining. I dont mind them getting wet but my field is a mud bath so I don't like the horses being out making it worse. On top of that my tb has got a nasty cut on his leg which I am trying to keep clean and from a selfish pov I was so cold and wet after riding that I couldn't face having to go out again just before dark to bring them in!

*Holds hands up and waits to be shot at*
 
Hear hear 3beasties,

It's got nothing to do with my horse melting, I've jut finished riding in the rain, and everything to do with quite fancying still having a paddock in April.
 
3Beasties said:
I brought both of mine in early this afternoon because it was raining. I dont mind them getting wet but my field is a mud bath so I don't like the horses being out making it worse. On top of that my tb has got a nasty cut on his leg which I am trying to keep clean and from a selfish pov I was so cold and wet after riding that I couldn't face having to go out again just before dark to bring them in!

*Holds hands up and waits to be shot at*
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I'm with you 3Beasties - field will again be a bog with no grass so don't see why they'd want to be out in the pissing down rain tbh!

I'm as sure as I can be that horses don't melt when left in the elements :rolleyes: but as the one who pays the bills, I reserve the right to pamper to my hearts content
 
No, dee was out in it, but as everyone else brought their horses in i didnt want her out alone as she carts and then jumps fences. So i brought her in, but she wasnt fazed by it at all. See, warmblood are tough :P
 
Can't quote on phone, but TeamChaser, your last sentence is an excellent one. I never have understood why people get so worked up about what others do/don't/have/haven't..... If there's no cruelty going on I hand on heart don't even notice how often or whatever other liveries turn out, ride, feed etcx
 
Llanali said:
Can't quote on phone, but TeamChaser, your last sentence is an excellent one. I never have understood why people get so worked up about what others do/don't/have/haven't..... If there's no cruelty going on I hand on heart don't even notice how often or whatever other liveries turn out, ride, feed etcx
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Yup - I'll care for mine as I see fit as they're my responsibility, what others choose to do with theirs is their business! :)
 
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