Horses out in this heat?

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Berkeley

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Hey guys, just a general question: are your horses out all day? even those without shade? What about fly sheets?

Mine are out 24/7 - both have some shade but its still hot. I am in two minds whether to bring them in during the day for some relief or whether being in a stable might be just as uncomfortable. I know my youngster would cause destruction if he was in all day.
 
Mine is out 24/7 with no shelter...fly sheets on and face masks, fly sprayed to death...

She hates the stable and would get herself all worked up if I put her in...she is happiest outside.

TBH all the sun reflecting of the concrete on the yard means that the yard temp is higher than the field temp.
 
The section A's are out in the paddock during the day, this only has natural shelter. They come in for about an hour before we ride though. At night they are in a starvation patch.

The two big horses are out 24/7 but prefer to stand in the barn that is in their field for most of the day.
 
Mine are out, two in fly rugs, and the third naked as she feels the heat more.
They have some shade from trees, but don't seem to use it.
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mine are out with lots of water and fly cream / spray. they have a bit of shade at the bottom but still prefer to stand out in the sun. Brought them in yesterday lunch time and one was so stressed and the other still too hot so put them back out and trying not to worry about them
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Mine is in during the hottest part of the day. She has no shade in her paddock.
Being in does give her relief from the sun and from the flies.
I always think if the UV rays are bad for us, they cant be much good for horses either-maybe I'm being stupid here!!!
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The flies are more of a problem for mine than the heat. We seem to be plagued with blood sucking flies this year, and my mare seems to be allergic to them and comes up in huge lumps when bitten, so I have been bringing mine in during the day and turning out at night. They all seem happy whilst in, and often have a nap, our stables don't get too hot either, but you have to do what suits the individual horse.
 
Ours currently have 8 hours turnout per day, only a few are in fly rugs, because right now they aren't too bad. While kept inside, the barns have air con, and good ventilation, as does our indoor school, so all of our horses are happy right now =]
 
Mine are out at night, in during the day - they sweat up in the field (ltd shelter) and with fly rugs on. They have an American barn which seems to get a little draught through - it's warm in there but sheltered from the direct burning sunlight. One is in overnight but goes out in grazing pen 1st and last thing - before and after the worst of the heat. They seem happy!
 
Mine are out 24/7 except for a couple of hours when they come in to be worked, they have a large field shelter, but don't really use it and they have Derby House Tego rugs on which seem to keep them cool during the day and warm at night, they don't seem to be bothered whether they are in or out, they have some shade in their field but not a lot and can normally be found during the day in the middle of the field munching or asleep.
 
out, no shade but stables are a complete sun trap the yard is baking so they definitely wouldn't want to be in. Have silver fly rugs on and will just sleep for most of the day.
 
All ours are out 24/7 in summer, they have a large field shelter, trees, bushes etc so if they want the shade they can have it. As per ester, the sun is on our stables so would be worse them being in and quite frankly it's much more natural for them to be out.

I like my horses to be horses for as much time as possible and allow them the choice of shelter or sun.
Mind you, mine will more than likely be getting clipped this weekend to make it more comfortable for him when competing!
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My fields are cooler than my stables. Horses are out from 7.30am til 3.30pm, they come in to stop them getting too fat & also to allow the dairy cows onto their field for the night!

Mine go out naked but wear fly rugs in the stable as it can be quite midgey at dawn & dusk.

We are right next to the sea, which accounts for the cool fields which get a nice sea breeze.
 
We to having serious problems with the flies, have two ID/TB's and a TB and all are at the gate dancing to come in by 7am, never had such bad flies before - one is a grey and he has trickles of blood marks where they keep getting him, gits.
 
Our three Shetland share a largish 2-3 acre paddock and I've been interested to observe their behaviour during the hot spells. The paddock gets extremely hot but there are a line of large trees along one side and these give shade where the temp is several degrees lower. All the ponies spend their whole day in this strip, making no attempt to wander or graze in the other part of the field. We have a field shelter on the other side of the paddock but they don' go near that. It is stifling and I think they are being very sensible.

The ponies share the paddock with a dozen ex battery hens and the hens, even though they've only been here a few days, have already clicked that it is more comfortable in the shade. They spend the day fluffing themselves in dust baths beneath the trees and only return to their coop as evening draws in.
 
Mine are out, fly repellant on all 3, and one in a face mask (the appaloosa as the flies LOVE the sclera on the eyes and wont leave her alone otherwise, plus she gets burnt on the pink patches on her head!). IMO I dont see the point in fly rugs unless something has sweet itch - horses have coped fine for thousands of years before they were invented....and in this heat I certainly wouldn't want to wear a jacket!!

They do have shade in the way of trees, but as others have said they dont seem to use it - would rather lie flat out and sun themselvse or carry on eating. Definately would not bring in at all when its so hot (even at night) - the barn is stifling in this weather - much better outside where there is a breeze and they can do what they like to make themselves comfortable.
 
Our are out at night and when I ran to the yard earlier to hang up his washed fly sheet to dry Buck was flat out! Poor chap HAS to be rugged 24/7 as he has sweet itch
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so a light cotton sheet with neck cover in the stable!
 
Out 24/7 with fly rugs and face masks to try and protect them from clegs and midges. 2 areas of shade in the field but they don't seem to use it.

My wee retired mare gets stiff and coughs if I bring them in during the day. The farmer at my place is clearing out one of the byres so once that is done on hot days will bring them all in so they are cool, fly free and still able to walk about.

Who'd have thought I'd actually be missing winter! Ok, maybe not winter but autumn!
 
Mine is in during the day, out at night as the paddock has no shelter.

It is the flies which are the real problem, poor horse is a horsefly magnet, so I have invested in a fly rug and use lots of fly spray even at night.

Stable is very cool during the day so he is much happier in than out
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Mine are out. They'd be a right grumpy pair if I brought them in, especially Star. Because they're out in the fens there's a bit of a breeze where they are
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and I'm not sure why, but the flies aren't really a problem for us at the moment
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Lots of sunblock on Be's nose though
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When I worked full-time my horses were out 24/7 during the summer. It was only after I retired I realised what a misery their lives were. Scotland had hot summers 1997/8 they were at the gate every morning by 10.00am asking to come in.

Here in France everything is in bar two mares with foals who have a field shelter each and a huge lime tree to enjoy. I should do a photo a la Stubbs 'Mares and Foals'. The ones who are in want to be in their stables.
 
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