Horses being rained on...

Oh crikey... Does this mean when I go to fetch mine in later I may infact find five blobs of jelly like stuff or they may spontaneously equine combust !
That would be just my luck after having large amount of hay & straw delivered today !
 
Delicious_D said:
Agreed. I have no idea why people seem to like to make little digs about another persons management.

:)
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I'm not a particularly frequent visitor/poster and that is one thing that gets my goat a bit on this forum sometimes! I SHOULD turn my horses out 24/7, I SHOULD have my horses barefoot, I SHOULD practice NH (it's the only way surely?? ;)) I SHOULDN'T pamper my horses - horses don't need rugs ..... And if I choose not to follow this well meant advice, ridicule and/or criticism follow - I'm either an idiot or cruel :D


Hey they're mine, I pay the bills, I can do as I please .... and why should anyone else give a monkey's anyway??! :D
 
My horse is haveing a year out with her shoes on as she has suffered with weak hoof walls and the farrier isnt happy for her to be barefoot yet. Shes rugged as shes a warmblood and was cold unrugged, plus, it protects her against the rain and she is in overnight atm as she will only get up to mischeif and probably not relax in the field. :)
 
Hedgewitch13 said:
Didn't you know - some people think they are made of sugar and will melt in the rain...
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Quite the opposite for me... I can't go out in the rain as my hair turns into candy floss. Honestly it does!!

I look like a chocolate fizzbomb!
 
Mine have split personalities when it comes to the rain.. they will all be raring to go out in the field, whatever the weather. But if it's raining, and I walk past the gate 15 minutes after they are turned out, they all lollop hopefully up and plead to come in again. This includes my American Curly, who is meant to be one of the hardiest breeds in the world. :)
 
I don't like to brag... But mine live with me by the fire when it's precipitating outdoors...

Wth hot chocolates and marshmallows is how we like to unwind and dry out.

Each has her own merino wool blanket and sheepskin slippers. Pipes optional of course but a few of the girls do like a toot on the ol' hookah... Apple flavoured of course although sometimes mint flavour goes down rather well.

The cat may be allowed a corner, however she likes to watch from above as, the ladies, despite wearing no shoes are rather clumsy with their frogs! It upsets her so if her tail were to be accidentally squished. Her squeal really goes through you.

Stables are rather plebeian if you ask me, warming the hearth on Shetland rugs is where your horses belong. Those plastic rug things are not what one should be seen in. Rather embarrassing fashion faux pas.

All this about horses can live out on the moors is rubbish!! They have caves they retire to in the event of light showers, or indeed heavy ones, lit by roaring flames with enough space to dance in lines if the piper should show up!

:)
 
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Not 1. , 2. or 3... But I have heard that their colour runs? That's why you get grey and dun horses. Lots of them started off black and bay :eek::D

I also keeping hoping if I leave him out long enough that my 17hh horse will shrink down to a more manageable 15.2hh. I live in hope :D

So far, however, he's neither faded, shrunk nor dissolved. And he's standing out in more West of Scotland March special today :D

Funny, ours all live out, so they wait by the gate when I arrive with the hay, and then all walk off into the middle of the field to the hay feeding stations - the waiting at the gate thing isn't "pleeeeese bring me into the warm and dry", it's "why have you taken so long with the dinner, slave?" ;)
 
Brightbay said:
Not 1. , 2. or 3... But I have heard that their colour runs? That's why you get grey and dun horses. Lots of them started off black and bay :eek::D

Funny, ours all live out, so they wait by the gate when I arrive with the hay, and then all walk off into the middle of the field to the hay feeding stations - the waiting at the gate thing isn't "pleeeeese bring me into the warm and dry", it's "why have you taken so long with the dinner, slave?" ;)
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I thought that was just a rumour!!!?? Oh no, don't let my girls hear that... They'll be so upset. The glowing red look took a long time to perfect for a couple of them.

I so know that face though...
 
Wow it is absolutely chucking it down out there now and blowing a gale .... so glad my delicate boys are in the dry tucking in to their tea and then massive hay nets with their nice warm, dry rugs on ... :D

As am I, watching the rugby - come on England!! Without the massive hay net though ...
 
Financial crisis!!!!

I turned out a 16.2 ID and have brought in a 12.2 bagage of loose fur with an elephantine head and huge feet.... what do I do the 6'9" rugs do not fit and the saddle is dragging on the floor....

Should I put the other one in one of these plactic domes?

Simples - large tumble dryer!
 
They don't shrink and the dye don't run!

Having said that I turned my boy out in a rug with a small amount of filling as i didn't want him dirty and wet as I wanted to ride.
 
Dovorian said:
Financial crisis!!!!

I turned out a 16.2 ID and have brought in a 12.2 bagage of loose fur with an elephantine head and huge feet.... what do I do the 6'9" rugs do not fit and the saddle is dragging on the floor....

Should I put the other one in one of these plactic domes?

Simples - large tumble dryer!
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You is a genius! I was going to say hair dryer and straighteners but tumble dryer is simply stunning!

:D
 
It started raining yesterday and my horse made it quite clear she wanted in!! Manic fence running in mud is not the best of ideas!! She stays out in the rain in the summer though, just think they have had enough of the cold stuff at the mo.
 
Janah said:
They don't shrink and the dye don't run!

Having said that I turned my boy out in a rug with a small amount of filling as i didn't want him dirty and wet as I wanted to ride.
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Ride???!!!!! In the RAIN?!?!!???

We have here a madwoman and she must be seen to by some sort of qualified person!!!

:D
 
Dee is in, with a stable rug on, ad lib hay, forage block and feed in a rubber feed bowl that isnt pink and doesnt match her pink water bucket.

yeah, thats rightm its not matching!!!! I like to live dangerously!

:D
 
I think it is great that everyone does the best thing for their own horse/pony, it is a lifestyle and financial choice how anyone keeps their horse, having said that I have given in as it is sheeting down so put hay undercover tonight and ponies tucking in!

Hens are the funniest, as soon as the heavy rain starts, they run with legs going out sidewards for cover! The really do not seem to like to get wet.
 
I agree with the comments about leaving people to do what they want to do with their own horses and it's nobody elses business. I was just interested to see people's views. As I said, my old pony lived out 24/7/365 but I'm now on a livery yard and seeing lots of other ways of doing things and I've started questioning my own practices (which I guess is usual in a group scenario) And on occasion, what other people choose to do does affect me - because if my horse is left out on his own it's yard policy for him to be brought in. This doesn't really bother me as it's a lovely yard and everyone is great.
 
I have to agree with Teamchaser & the likes. My horses, my money, my choice.
Mine seemed fed up stood in the mud & seemed happy enough yo come in early....although one then was ridden but he seemed pretty jolly about that :D
I don't get them in for every drop of rain that falls but at the moment where they are stood in a mud bath I sometimes choose to bring them in early
 
Jill Crewe said:
I agree with the comments about leaving people to do what they want to do with their own horses and it's nobody elses business. I was just interested to see people's views. As I said, my old pony lived out 24/7/365 but I'm now on a livery yard and seeing lots of other ways of doing things and I've started questioning my own practices (which I guess is usual in a group scenario) And on occasion, what other people choose to do does affect me - because if my horse is left out on his own it's yard policy for him to be brought in. This doesn't really bother me as it's a lovely yard and everyone is great.
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I wouldnt be happy with mine missing out on TO time just because of a bit of rain tbh. Theyre designed to move and graze all the time not stand still in isolation boxes - maybe start bringing others round to your way of thinking would be better!
 
TigerTail said:
I wouldnt be happy with mine missing out on TO time just because of a bit of rain tbh. Theyre designed to move and graze all the time not stand still in isolation boxes - maybe start bringing others round to your way of thinking would be better!
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At the moment I think it's more a case of the field's being so muddy. This has been a terrible Winter so I am just going with the flow this year and hopefully it won't be so bad next year :) (this is my first Winter with new horse and at the yard)
 
My horese stayed in today and will stay in tomorrow. Its misserable, the fields are drenched and muddy with hardly any grass and its my horse and my decision :p
 
But if you don't let them out, how do they get to play pooh sticks in the flooded field or hunt the last blade of grass in the mud?

My pony came off the forest last October. TBH the 11/2 weeks I had her stabled this winter seemed to suit her much better.
Lost count of the number of times I've found her shivering in the rain, snow's no problem though.

It's been difficult to keep weight on her, finally we seemed to be turning the corner the week before last.
Today she was just miserable, wet and cold.
 
Littlelegs said:
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.
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I agree with second part - given good natural shelter and good grass and rugged if necessary I don't think horses mind the rain particularly. I do however think that the current system of modern livery yards of large fields divided into small individual paddocks exposes animals to the elements with no protection and therefore I can understand why they might prefer their stables. Horses seem very good at selecting given the choice where to shelter based on prevailing winds. I generally find my horses go where their food is regardless of weather and rest where it's the least exposed. (based on having my 2 horses out 24/7 with access to field shelter with hay and 4 acres of grazing and open stables)
 
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:(

Just been out to get the horses in and found 2 rugs on the ground and a few hairs.

I am the wicked witch from wizard of Oz as they've melted after a day out in the rain :(:(

Gosh - think how rich I'm going to be :D:D
 
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