Horses living out, mine has had enough and are now stabled

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thatsmygirl

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I decided to winter 2 horses out this year as they both perfer to be out and hate being stabled, anyway they have to feeds a day and a bale off hay a day ( we haven't had snow) iv noticed they have been getting more depressed day after day and not their normal happy selfs. Today they had finally had enough and forced their way out the field damageing a lot off hedge, post and rail fencing alone the way. They are in a very large field with plenty off grass to nibble but eat their hay as well. So they are now back to being stabled at night and will be turned out by day. They look so pleased tonight with their big beds. Has anybody else had this problem? I was so hopeing to winter these 2 horses out and only stable the foals but not to be.
 
Yep know what you mean. Mine has developed into a real wuss. He used to be a trekking horse up on Dartmoor and would've lived out 24/7 there, but I've made a bit-of-a cluck out of him I must confess.

He's a bit tough lad, traddie cob, but hates hacking in the cold wind (so we don't!); plus when I turn him out in the morning he'll hang around the gate like he's trying to catch a cold, then by 3'ish he's miserable and asking to come in, so I have to bring him in. He's clipped coz if I left him he'd be like a mammoth, and I think the poor lad is feeling the cold at the mo.

I reckon his stable is where he feels happy and secure, its his refuge and he just can't wait to get back there! Big wuss.
 
Yes, its funny and really annoying at the same time, when they strongly express an opinion like this. My one just "hid" in his stable one afternoon, being so quiet I think he was planning that I would forget he was in there. His joy when I put on his stable rug was so obvious you could only laugh at his reaction.

Can't say as how I blame them in this weather though... Is there any chance you could try wintering out some foals instead?
 
I have had the opposite with my nag , before I owned him he lived out in summer and came in during the winter, but previous owner said he could live out 24/7. He is also an Arab and he came through last winter living out with a field shelter slightly too plumper then I would wish for! After 2yrs of owning him he is the fittest he has been living out 24/7!
 
my big wuss is stood by he gate at 3pm sharp every day - he trots down the lane to his stable lol
Hes a cob so should be ok but no - he loves to come in x
 
I tried to winter mine out this year but she looked awful and unhappy. Brought her in as of Monday and she has her sparkle back. She hates the cold....I should have known! Oh well, at least we tried!
 
At present we don't even try putting Cappy out! He simply plants his feet and refuses to leave the barn. My YO swears he has a smug grin on his face when Fany and her small herd go out. He is perfectly happy in his stable, luckily his legs don't swell and provided his bucket is managed properly he doesn't get frisky, he likes it warm and dry with his ad-lib haylage and lick . I think given his own way he would stay put to late spring, he will however be working this weekend in the indoor school, if it is not too icy. He first came in at the end of August. One whiff of rain and he brings himself in, often removing the gate at the time, so it pays to listen to what he wants, he has even been seen practising removing the gate.

Weird thing is that is Fany's idea of hell!

FDC
 
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Its my lots' first winter out. Each evening I bring them into their stables for a feed and check over. Some days they don't want really to come in at all, but when they do, its apparent they can't wait to get back out again. If they gave any indication that they would prefer to stay in, I'd be happy to let them, but they would rather wade through the snow and play with their mates.
Yesterday I put the M/W combo's on the 2 unclipped TBX's. This evening they were changed back to M/W's with no neck as they had both come out in heat lumps.
I thought they would like being out 24/7 but I'm surprised, taking into account the extreme weather, just how much they're enjoying their freedom.
 
Some of mine are breaking the gate down to get back in where as others love being out i have a sec b who last night jumped out of the paddock i had brought him in to with others with acess to barn and lots of hay to roam around in snow that is nearly up to his belly i was calling him a little ginger rat this morning as he is rapidly losing weight as doesnt really want the hay as he knows there is alot of grass under snow but you would need a bloody spade to dig it up so he is in tonight under lock and key haha happily eating now i have his wanderlust under control.

My youngsters like coming in and love a sleep in the stable and funnily so does my fell, sec d and coloured cob happy out my warmblood loved living out as well they are all different and will drive you mad in their own way, although we do have extreme snow here at the moment so this is affecting their opinions.
 
This is Toffees 8th winter out with me and Sambas first (She has always been stabled until I bought her in May) Jakes used to being on a tether.

But I swear even box walking stresshead Toffee wants to come in, they have a shelter but thats got snow in it, the thaw is gonna be horrible!!!!!! Jake hasnt left the shelter, and Samba is just sooooooo miserable. Toffee just basically has her butt to the wind and snow sulking it out :( I feel like such a mean mum.
 
all of mine is out 24/7, they are 1/2 mile away from my house on 20 acres of grass and get hay and feed and have a lick. but i have 2 at house as 1 is a yearling colt and the other is my riding gelding. they have 7 acres for the 2 of them and a yard to go into and a massive stable that we made extra big it is 3 stables in 1 for mares and foals if need be, so they can go in any time or stay out, there own choice, now my riding gelding is 18 yrs old and he wants to be out all the time he wants his food and a water out not in yard or stable, they yearling loves out all the time but will go in every so often for a nice soft bed of shavings and if raining but the other boy cant be bothered, no if i closed him in a stable he is fine, just prfers to be out 24/7. so they i have it this way so they can decide for themselves, they are very happy with there own routine.
 
Mine are still out 24/7. They come in for tea each night and can't wait to get back out again. One in particular is very expressive so would make his feelings very clear if he wanted in. I was going to leave them in the other night when the wind turned north easterly and it was bitter cold but no, they were straight out again. They have access to their stables but haven't used them once in this weather can you believe!
 
my boy 4 yo has lived out all his life my cob has as well cob is like a hairy yak and rugged up for some reason she goes and stands at the gate until you bring her in even though she s lived out my youngster is happy and loves to dig the snow hes like a child ,there is no hay put out in fields , cob is just lazy and cant be bothered , she knows she has a stable full of ad lib hay to eat, she dosnt get het up being in or puffy legs -my youngster is unrugged and fine coated you would think it would be the other way around
 
I love seeing my lot in their stables, all deep beds and cosy stable rugs (and Oh! I have so many nice and pretty stable rugs :eek::rolleyes:), but all four of the bobbers prefer to be out :rolleyes:, so out they are.

D and D1 and D2 are happy as it means no mucking out for them, but I quietly pine for the days of snuggly horses in cosy rugs and warm stables. Ah well. Will go cuddle a dog (they much prefer to be in lol).
 
Mine wintered out for the first time last year, and did fine, although the anglo (big boss man) got a bit narky after a while. So far this year, I've had to put makeshift doors on 2 shelters as the shetty had a close brush with lami a few weeks ago and one mare had yukky feet. They're out 24/7 right now in case I can't get there, with access to all shelters. Funny thing is, if the door is shut, the mare stands outside looking in, with a wistful look on her face, then gets moved on by the boss, who takes her place :) . So when the roads are safer and I know there'll be no issue getting there, I think they'll be taking turns at having nights in :D
 
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