horses don't want to be out anymore!? shall I just leave them in

Hardly any of mine go out (they are warmblood show jumpers either young or in work) - I am lucky to have a walker, two small sand turnout corrals and we ride everything that is rideable every day. However my 23 year old retired mare does go out. When she has had enough she returns to the field gate and if we do not notice her quickly enough she opens the gate and comes in on her own! It usually depends on the weather as to how long she will stay out - tops 3 hours in sunshine, 1/2 hour in rain. I guess she knows what is best for her and even if it not exactly what is best, at her age she has the right to choose what she wants to do!!
 
Mine have a five acre field and free access to a large barn and a round bale of hay. If its nice and the grass is growing they tend to go and graze, if its windy they will stand outside with their backs against the barn. Last night they must have decided enough is enough and this morning they were all laid down in side and only got up to go and a drink in the large pond that has appeared.
I have another barn with some brood mares who are in all the time because their turnout is waterlogged. A week or so ago they got cabin fever so I turned them out for a couple of days, they where then glad to come in. As long they have plenty to eat most of the time they are not bothered.
 
I also have the opposite problem in that I have to wade through the mud to extract the horse from the field and into his stable. I then get dragged out to the field in the morning like it's the best place in the world. Amazing what ad-lib hay will do to motivate a greedy native (small holed haynets just don't have the same attraction)
 
It depends really. My horses kept at home have some of the driest fields available (on a sand bank), they go out everyday, but due to weather/ mud etc some times they will get turned out just until lunch time and brought in.
The ones on livery have a lot wetter paddocks which are not mine to wreck so are in a lot more. However they do go 'out' in the indoor school together while I muck out so they can have a roll, a play and socialise. They are also in work. I know its the minimum but if the horse at least gets out of the box for a bit everyday.
 
Mine are out and naked. They have natural shelter and plenty of grass. I'm only considering bringing one in at nights because his feet really suffer in the constant wet. However they all seem perfectly happy in the rain, just turn their bums to it and carry on grazing. The gateway is a bit muddy but no more so than can be expected in winter. If I had access to a barn and yard area I'd have them in but I don't and I don't like them standing in stables if it's not absolutely necessary
 
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