how many of u keep your horses out 24/7?

As many have said, horses do fine in the cold out - but hate the wet, for that reason I try to keep rugs off anything staying out 24/7 - a constantly wet NZ is not much fun! Usually if one keeps a rug off, then they grow a wonderfully thick coat - I have a small TB out at the moment - who looks like a bear - and is doing well on just hay. Just watch out for mud fever etc. Having said that I don't keep anything out 24/7 that I want to ride.....far too much hard work scraping off all the mud. lol.
 
Ive got too many to mention (10) but they all live out 24/7
from tb's to welshies
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only my fave's have rugs on
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my 2 x IDxTBs, 1 WB, 1 Hafflinger and 1 Welsh D all live out 24/7. they have access to the stables to come and go as they please. They love it and are a lot more chilled than they were when being stabled
 
Youngsters are out unrugged but with large field shelters. They do come in during the day for a couple of hours to be checked over and hayed and fed.

Older horses are in during the day for riding, etc but are out at night with appropriate rugs on. Keeps the nutty warmblood much calmer!
 
QR one lusitano clipped and rugged (he would rather be in Portugal I think
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but is saner and fitter out) and 2 exmoors, unrugged and one chaser clipped. It's harder work having them out I think as I have 2 acres and therefore have to pooh pick. they have a really large but snug shelter. mud fever not a problem even with luso who has 3 pink heels (lusos are pretty tough)-I leave wet mud well alone as much as possible.
 
All mine are out - 17yr IDxTB, 21yr old pony, 18yr old welsh and 30yr old donkey. All except the welsh have rugs on (but she is cushingoid and has more than enough coat!) but only MW. The IDxTB and the 21yr old do have an array of HW fullneck rugs, but both seem plenty warm enough even in this weather - I may regret it come spring though, when I have to take two hairy beasts to competitions. The donkey has a foal rug to keep him toastie.
 
3 arabs, 1 anglo-arab and 1 TBX all out 27/7/365 with rainsheets (the 2 mares are both in their late 20s, the 3 boys are in work but not clipped as I only get to ride at weekends). I have 2 stables but haven't used them in the 3 years I've been renting my place. Yes, I know I can be biased, but I honestly believe they're far happier and healthier for it and I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
I have never left mine out, when at 3pm they are at the gate waiting to come in, and dont come back out when you open the stable door. I guess that means they prefer home comforts in their stable. As it happens I have only 1 now and he is new to me but he is in 21 hours a day just backed and doesnt like mud anyhow! He didnt like being out in September never mind December.
I did have a mare last winter who hated the stable but she got used to it. I also think mucking out in winter helps keep the weight off, me not the horse!
 
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I have never left mine out, when at 3pm they are at the gate waiting to come in, and dont come back out when you open the stable door. I guess that means they prefer home comforts in their stable.

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I had a horse who would hang around the gate at teatime but once he worked out no-one was coming to catch him he soon wandered off. He would be back to the gate like a shot if he saw someone. It was just a habit with him as his previous owner had him in at night. I used to keep an eye on him and as long as he didn't see anyone he would always be off happily grazing with his field mates. Now he doesn't gate hang as he knows he isn't coming in.

One of the things I like about having them out 24/7 is that there is argy bargy at the gate at "coming in time" so far fewer scrapes and minor injuries.
 
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Mine are for the first time this year and I really don't know why I didn't do it sooner! I have stables and when I have brought them in for an hour or so on an afternoon when its been very wet, they have just wanted to be back outside again!

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Another ditto
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all 4 of mine out 24/7 inlcuding my 30yo PBA. It's the best thing I've ever done, they seem so much happier and content, not to mention the less stressed, less smelly owner
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I am incredibly lucky that we have a really large field with natural shelter (plus a small field shelter- that they never use). This field also has a hardcore track and large hardstanding area which they can access and where I can put their hay. This gives their feet chance to dry out too
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Absolutely loving having them living out, wish I'd done it years ago!
 
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