Horses in our out in bad weather?

I prefer out, HOWEVER, it does very much depend IMO, how much grass there is.

Our yard has NO grass, so much so, that two other liveries and I have rented a private small field. Mine started planting going out of the yard in the morning in protest to going to stand in a mud bath all day, but is now happy going out into the new paddock.

Having said that, grass clearly not growing because of temperature, and today when I arrived at 4pm to collect him, he galloped up the field to come in!! And that is from new paddock they have only been in for 6 weeks.

He absolutely would not be happy left out 24/7 even with hay in the field. He just LOVES a stable with haynets, feed and a big straw bed!!!

However, when there is grass he looks at me in that ' really, are you meaning me to be caught' fashion!!
 
We have a horse and a pony out on the same 3 acres 24/7 365 days a year. They have yet to be brought in at all in any weather, the field alway has natural shelter and as long as they have hay in the sheltered spots they are happy, it's actually a chore to bring my girl in for feeds, she's an ex racer but loves being out and I've never caught her hanging by the gate plus our field is coping ok.

After today's snow it looks like this around hay and gateways -

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But the rest of the field looked like this after snow had gone -

image-7_zps2c39fcbe.jpg
 
Mine go out whatever the weather, but one was shivering today in the snow he had a heavyweight turnout with a fleece underneath and I put hay out, so they came in a bit earlier today as it was horrible.
 
Actually walked Kal down to the field, watched him walk across the field and grow ice stilts in his hooves and brought him back in (having knocked the ice out of his feet) . . . sigh. I would much rather he was out, but his boxy/upright feet means he acccumulates ice and snow and that's just dangerous (to him).

Ground permitting, he'll be out tomorrow.

P
 
My tb is living out, brought him in today to check him over. He tolerated about an hour in the yard with a haynet then starting calling to his mates and making it very clear that he wanted to go back out.

I was considering switching to a rug with a neck but when I put my hand under he was boiling so I put him back out and left him to it.
 
Out , I don't have enough stables for a start, secondly I don't do mucking out on a grand scale - like 20! Thirdly, I hate being tied to a routine.

I have everything from babies to ancients out, they do just fine.
 
All out 24/7 all year long, but always with access to stables/shed as field shelter. To me this is the best way as if they want to stand in all day and night they can but they are not locked in (unless ill/injured). I appreciate we are lucky to have this choice though.

Our older pony goes into a separate but adjoining paddock at night with a separate shed to keep cosy in.
 
Mine are in. The yard we are at doesn't have enough grazing to allow much turnout during the winter unfortunately so they only go out when it is either quite dry (which has been a bit of a joke this winter!) or after there has been a frost and the ground is firm.
 
I say mine are 'out' 24/7, but today they have dry coats even though it has snowed all day, I did put hay out in very sheltered place in the field.

This afternoon they were both lying down in one stable watching the snow and having a nice afternoon rest! So I think they may spend most of tonight in a stable as well, its their choice as I leave doors open for them. When it is just cold and not this cutting wind they do choose to be out all the time.
 
Mine go out in most weather but the big lad is a complete an utter wuss in the snow... would rather stay in with a haynet and peek at it round the door (literally!)

The mare has more balls than that one... ;)
 
I am on heavy clay in a flood plain, so mine go out in the field when it is dry and had to have been dry for a good few days for the fields to be dry. This does mean they get very little turnout over the wetter months, but they therefore have plenty of grazing for 24/7turnout when the sun eventually comes out.

Thank god I'm well equipped for the wet - I have a rocky track around the edge of my land that they roam when it is damp, nibbling the grass and other plants growing on it and have access to the large yard where there is shelter and adlib hay. If it is very wet they are confined to this yard.

So mine are always out for around 12hours, but the weather dictates where they go. I do believe what I have is a barefooters heaven, but has evolved after discovering a small shower of rain can make my fields turn into a swamp if the horses are out.
 
All mine are out 24/7...got no choice as I have no stables!!

They do have a field shelter (never gets used tho!) some trees/hedges and plenty of grass.
 
I finally gave in today and put a rug on the unrugged two. I couldn't stop thinking about them in the cold and snow last night. So they will have rugs on till this horrible snow has gone. They did both look very happy.
 
Mine have stayed in today, it's blowing a freezing cold wind, and after the last few days of downpours, the ground is completely waterlogged. There is nothing for them to eat except moss and my mare will just mill around in the mud until you get her back in again, even with hay in the field. The two little ones, well, their paddock is even worse as they run around so I decided they would all be better off in on dry land with hay than standing in the freezing cold mud with hay. My mare tied up outside and then had a walk inhand. None of them are bothered in the least. They will go out tomorrow, it will all be frozen then, but it will probably only be for an hour or so. I can't ride as the yard at the top of the hill has a strangles outbreak so I'm holding off taking anything off my yard until I know the ongoing situation. Riding in the fields is not possible as they are too wet, and the school is on the main yard and I'm keeping separate from that as well, to be on the safe side.
I'm totally fed up, just want warm sunny days, long rides with warm toes, and some grass to keep the horses happy!
 
In summer out 24/7, but once we get to winter out during daylight hours and in over night.

However this snow is horrendous. Kept in on Friday as blizzards, pony was banging on door by Saturday morning, but still blizzards. This morning planned to put out, checked the field on way past (had to walk as can't get car out of snow drift) can't open field gate due to snow drift. We dug a path from the stables to the school and dug out the gate so all 3 have had a run around whilst did jobs, and will probably be more of the same tomorrow. I am getting fed up with this winter now.
 
I have no choice but to leave my 3 out 24/7. I would like to have them out during the day and in at night but I don't have that option so they just have to suck it up and get on with it, I'm afraid.
 
To be honest the grass where we are is better if they are left out 24/7 all year round as although it is short they dont charge around churning it up. It is sandy so drains well but I could never quite get my head round keeping horses of the grass then letting them tear about when the finally get on it. Mine go nuts when you change paddocks never mind keep them in.
I also dont really get the saving grass all winter to then muzzle or restrict the grazing all summer but then I suppose there is some logic if you have a poor doer Mine stay all year on the grass and rarely need restricting and I hate muzzles with a vengeance so I am happy they live on over grazed fields. I did have one have a 24 hour bout of lammie he now grazes all year in a smaller field
 
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