How many of you haven't put their horses out because of the weather??

T_K

T_K

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...And how long have they been in for?

I've owned horses for 26 years and have been a little bit shocked since joining this forum. Maybe it's because I have natives that just cope but I've never even thought about keeping my horses in 24/7 because of the weather - they just go out, with hay if it's snowy/icy and rugs if it's pouring down. If the path to the field is icy then we do something about it, either dig the ice up or cover it with the muck heap, although in my experience 4 legged animals can cope much better on the ice than 2 legged ones!!

I understand that a lot of you are restricted by YOs but I don't understand the view of the YOs TBH, if you haven't got enough land for winter grazing then you have too many animals on livery and simply need to cut back so you can provide an adequate service.

I'm not sure I'd have the patience to keep my girls stuck in for so long, I don't know how you all do it and I can't begin to imagine how the horses must feel.

Sorry if this seems like a rant and you may all have your valid reasons, as I said I've always had natives and I know they are different animals to WBs. But I know that none of mine would entertain staying in any longer than overnight. Even if they just stand at the gate waiting for the next batch of hay to come - it is so much more mentally stimulating than being in the same place 24/7.
 
My riding horse has been in since the first lot of snowed thawed, then froze again as ice on top of the fields. She would have a job trotting across it without slipping straight over. I'm not about to invite an accident I can see coming a mile off thanks very much.
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Each to his own opinions I say but given the bad luck with random and unforeseen injuries we've had over recent years there's no way I'm turning out our fully clipped grade a for him to slip and slide about his 3 acre field with his field companion and then spend the rest of the day standing at the gate looking miserable and getting cold. Inside he is happy as larry and is quite content with ad lib hayand being extensively walked in hand.

As I said, each to his own and if the horses appear content..
 
Mine hasnt been out for ages, he already put his back out slipping (thank god it wasnt worse) on the ice and i could do without any more vet/physio bills. He prefers being in, when he goes out he has a hooley and then stands at the gate in this weather waiting to come in. Its not cruel, he goes on the walker 2X a day and gets worked in the school. For him its bliss, at his old yard he never went out at all so he has been used to it since he was a foal and is perfectly content.
 
Mine are arabs, so not hardy native types at all. They have been in at night and then have been turned out with hay late morning for up to 5 hours, so enough time for a run around and a roll, without getting too cold etc.

There have been a couple of occassions where they were left in, but we try to avoid this if we can, as I agree that they should be allowed to be horses and be out in a field! That said they are always eager to come in again! In fact after the first day we had to leave them in, we went and purchased grit, so that it wouldn't happen again.

I have to agree with the comments about winter grazing. No one would entertain the idea of keeping a dog in a fairly small dog crate all winter and just taking it out for walks, but somehow, it is ok to do this with horses????? I'd never let my horses live somewhere where they didn't get the option of turnout at least during the day 365 days a year. It's not fair.
 
My horses have gone out as usual every single day. They are TBs and WBs. They are all being ridden as I am riding every day so no different from any other days during the year. If I was in a situation where I felt I could not get my horses from stable to field then my girls would all be turned out 24/7 to eliminate that problem. Absolutely no way would I or could I keep mine inside for longer than overnight. They want to go out and they expect to go out, so they go out. Yes there is much more work clearing pathways but thats okay because a bit more work is worth it to me than having them stuck inside for a day.
 
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Mine hasnt been out for ages, he already put his back out slipping (thank god it wasnt worse) on the ice and i could do without any more vet/physio bills. He prefers being in, when he goes out he has a hooley and then stands at the gate in this weather waiting to come in. Its not cruel, he goes on the walker 2X a day and gets worked in the school. For him its bliss, at his old yard he never went out at all so he has been used to it since he was a foal and is perfectly content.

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And QR to all
TBH, I can understand if the horse is being exercised and actually gets out of the stable, it's the ones who are simply left in the stable that I don't understand.
 
As a YO I have placed no restrictions on turnout. However even my my two native crosses, who are normally happy to be turned out for at least 8 hrs a day in winter, and out 24/7 in the summer, have been asking to come in after a couple of hours.
I do not think it is your place to judge others on how they manage their horses, whether you agree with it or not....the last few weeks have been tough on everybody and we have just had to muddle through as our circumstances allow.
 
No one said anything about all winter. According to popular belief this is the worst winter we've had for 30 years and we have had at least a foot of snow and then ice for 4 weeks. So, I take precautions and walk out in hand (as they are quiet) or turn out for an hour in our sand play pen or the arena. This happens every day, and yes if it snows we clear and grit the yard. Over and over and over again. They couldn't get to the grass even if they were in the field and they have ad lib when they are in, and all are in no way stressed or unhappy.

Like I said, each to his own.
 
Ours are also all arabs, and have been in sometimes and out sometimes.

When snowy they are out in the day as it is soft and non slippy. They come in at nights though. When icy they are kept in. It's been about 7 days out of the last month since the first snow, but not all in one go.

Apart from the broodmares who live out 24/7 and so have no icy yard to contend with. They are more hardy though, and not only used to it but get very stressed when in.

It's not worth risking life and limb for, i know horses can have accidents anywhere, but to me that just means i don't want to do anything to add to that chance.

Some grit was put down at one point, and snowed over after a day. Then i put bedding down and that got snowed over after 2 days. Then some sand has been put down but isn't really good enough to keep it clear. The yard has been cleared of ice twice (but was bringing up the concrete too) and each time lasted only a day or two before inches more snow or ice.
 
i have two competition horses who usually stay in at night out all day and one wee native that is out 24/7 all hairy but because of the weather theyve all had to be out 24/7 as stables are fooked burst pipes that have dripped all over the electrical boxes and driveway is like an icerink would rather keep them out than risk walking them down i mean the field is icy and i do worry but there horses i think theyll manage
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Mine has been turned out every day in the snow as this is what she prefers, she hates being kept in.

She's not been ridden in 5 weeks though, our manege is frozen solid and we can't hack on the icy lanes so turnout is the safest option for me.
 
Hello

I totally agree with you.

Ive got a 21month old welsh section d colt and hes lived out since i bought him when he was 6months old, hes a wooly bear now lol, healthy, looks happy, eats his hay and his tea nice and slow, loves watching people walk past, loves playing with the little 8month old colt thats keeping him company, can see the horses in the other field. I know there will be a time that i will put him on a stable yard but i do prefer for them to live out or have a good amount of turnout time, there horses at the end of the day and my horse even though its horrible weather at the min i think he prefers living out but saying that he doesnt know any different yet. Its good to know that even if he does live in a stable for say a couple of months i know that i can always go back to letting him live out because hes tough enough. xx
 
Ours were in initially for 11 days, then weather was okay for them to be turned out for the next 5 days and now they've been in again for two weeks. It was a case of snow, ice, snow, ice etc and everytime we went out to see if the ground was okay for them, we found that if the snow moved away, it was an ice-rink underneath so they've stayed in. We did attempt yesterday to turn them out - put our reliable sensible boy out with shoes on, who promptly slipped over as soon as he got into the paddock (and wasn't even running around - just plodded over to the pile of hay we'd put out for him). We then tried the oldest mare without shoes on and she did the same, so we decided it wasn't worth the risk of broken legs etc with the broodmares and youngsters. Thankfully they have all been excellent during the time kept in, and are kept amused by us being out on the yard most of the day and the dogs amusing them with their antics in the snow. Don't like keeping them in this long, especially when broodmares due to foal in about 6 weeks time, but would rather have a live horse at the end of it all. Usually in winter, they would get turned out during the day for a few hours but it would be every day.
 
In a perfect world my native cob x would be getting daily turnout instead of being stabled for 11 days. Instead he's getting daily walking in hand while other horses are going in the sand arena to run about for a bit. I'm on a livery yard. Yes he would go out if there was a safe route to the field instead of compacted ice and if that field was not frozen solid still with mud ruts about 8 inches deep. We also since before Xmas had a large frozen puddle inside the field gate making going in or coming out very hazardous - it will still be there under the snow. We've had 2 horses go over already, one in a field, one on the yard, thankfully no injuries. In a perfect world the field would also have running water instead of the water pipes to the troughs frozen solid too.

You are very fortunate OP to be able to manage your horses exactly how you wish to. It doesn't make the rest of us uncaring owners, just ones with very limited choices in such extreme conditions. As another poster has said, it's been the worst winter for decades, not one seen in the living memory of my YO since she's done livery at these premises. Luckily our thaw is well underway and my horse should be out by Saturday. (Excuse the tone of this, it's late and I'm very tired as can't sleep - it's not meant to be a grumpy reply!).
 
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Mine are arabs, so not hardy native types at all.

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Funny breed isn't it? Although I think it's an insult to the breed as a whole to say that they aren't hardy.

Most of mine have been as tough as old boots and thrived living out, I have a 19 year old now who has lived out all her life - unrugged. It is only in the last 4 years that she has ever been rugged and spoiled a bit. My last gelding hated even the rain, if he was out in the field he'd spend all his time in the shed hiding, and at times he'd refuse even to LEAVE his cosy stable. He was a real couch potato.

They are all individuals. I know plenty of natives that preferred staying indoors and did better with rug on too.
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As for turning out, or not, on the whole, this recent weather HAS been rather unusual and some people, especially those on yards, haven't had an awful lot of say in the matter regardless of what they'd prefer to do. If a YO says "No turnout" then that's that, ultimately it is their call, you either put up with it and do the best you can, or, you pack your bags and toddle off someplace else.
 
Fany suffers from mudfever and is staying in at the moment, because I don't want it aggravated as it is under control. She is totally unphased by having to stay in.

Cappy is in because he hates the cold, when put out he was put out he just stood at the gate waiting to brought back in. He gets exercised in the indoor school when it is accessible (icy path).

Certainly I won't risk either of them falling, we have a horse on our yard that has broken his pelvis falling on ice, which of course will result in longer periods of box rest.
 
My youngster has been in since before xmas - I bought her in with a touch of mud fever - got that cleared up and everywhere was sheet ice. I just didn't dare risk it after she had been in for a few days sorting the mud fever out. To be fair she has been an angel, not a hoof out of place,, and I think she is enjoying all the extra attention. She will however be going out as soon as its safe to do so.
 
Ours are out 24/7 thankfully. One in particular would be climbing the walls by now had he been stuck in endlessly. We all have to make the best of what's available to us under the circumstances. I think sadly there will be more injuries than usual once people start turning out after the horses being cooped up for so long. But hope I am wrong of course.
 
mine has been out about four times since 21 December 2009. Its fine to generalise and say 'all horses should go out come what may' but mine is on a yard where the lane to the turnout field is frozen solid as natural springs run down it, the people in the hamlet at the top of the lane only got dug out by a snow plough last weekend!

Our winterturnout is on fileds with quaries and are currently rather like ski slopes Id rather that my 20 year old pony doesnt break a leg.

its nice that OP has sufficient turnout to be smug about it, most horse owners work hard to keep horses at livery yards and often have limtied choice. Where I am I managed to get on one of only the handful of yards and most dont allow winter turnout so I am lucky that once the snow goes mine can go out again.
 
Ours are usually in all winter as our fields get waterlogged, so this has actually been a joy having snow as they have been out every day for 2-3 hours, that is all they want, some of them go out, roll and stand at the gate. However the rain has now started so no doubt today will be the last TO day for a while, but we have our horses in big pens, and they socialise over low walls, so they are happy
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Mine hasnt been out in his feild since the frost started as he pigs out on frozen grass and gets colic!!! he is 22 and really quite happy standing in his stable munching on his hay and playing with his treat ball so i am lucky in that way. And he goes up in the menage for a leg stretch twice a day, I would prefer him out but dont want the colic, obviously!
 
My TB has been in for three weeks minus three days when he made it out over Christmas. It's not because I'm an overprotective mother. I have a shaggy pony and a youngster who are still out and happy. Problem is we only have three small turn out fields on the yard where all the ponies who live out have been put for ease of watering/haying. The rest of our turn out is down the road. It's a tiny country lane and only a few mins walk but there's no way we could grit the entire yard and the road and all the tracks to the fields and so ours will be in until it thaws. Tbh they're all more than happy enough. They have huge stables (double standard size) and none are stressed. In an ideal world they'd be out but it's not possible and I like my horse with four legs.
 
My horse and all the other liveries are all in and have been since it started. Mine is a KWPN, clipped and was barn reared in Holland, although he's OK at going out in nice wather, I've tried to turn him out in this and the just stands there looking miserable and winnying. He also has a tendency to jump out and has cost me a fortune in electric fencing to double fence him in, so I'm not risking it. He gets excercise every day via loose lunging (playing) in the menage which is still 1 foot thick in snow so no riding as he does slip a bit in it. We have quite a walk to the fields and it's icy but some of the hardier ponies have been turned out with hay. I haven't done this with mine because our fields are very exposed and windy/cold, and if he has hay he is not roaming about but stood still and getting cold so he may as well be in. Each horse is different and they let you know if they're unhappy with the situation as you can see if you look around any yard. My main gripe and this is a really big one is that a large majority of the liveries on our yard seem to have abandoned their horses. They have put them on full livery which does not include excercise. The owners know that they are in but only come up at the weekend to walk the about the yard for 2 min. The groom who does the liveries is also furious but feels she can't do too much because if she turns them out or excercises them without the owners concent and they have an accident she will be to blame. One of the horses is really old and prone to lymphangitis so they have put stable bandages on her and leave them there all week!!!! They even came up on Sun, walked her around the yard in her stable bandages and then put her back without even re-doing them at all. We have been taking them off and redoing them but the owners don't know. We feel that we just can't leave her. Sorry it's a bit long but rant over!!
 
We had a lot of ice for a couple of weeks before xmas so I didn't risk turning Gilby out. Firstly because we have to cross a long car park and main road which was very slippy and secondly because there is a hill down from the gate into the field which the horses couldn't get up as it was so slippy. We then had some more snow at christmas which quickly turned to ice so we only got a few days of turnout between a xmas and new year. Then the snow last tuesday I thought would be our saving grace as it wasn't icy so we would at least be able to turn out for a few days! We were allowed to turn out on the tuesday for a few hours but then on wednesday turnout was cut and they haven't been out since
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its so frustrating as now its raining and were probably going to have sheet ice for about a week so won't be able to get to the field again. And I bought a new TO rug which I haven't been able to use yet!
 
Totally have to agree with you, have had horses over 20yrs, always had natives the same as you and always kepts them out 24/7 what ever the weather. I understand some people have to stable for weight reasons etc.. but like you I can't belive that some YO won't let people turn out. I have never been on a livery yard always privatly rented so always been able to do as I please but on the plot of land that Im on everybody keeps their horses out 24/7 from shetlands to WB and they are all very happy!!
 
our yard is one TB, one ISH, one shetland and one 13hh irish pony.
they have all been out every day,with hay- but as they are at home i can do as i wish re gritting/clearing snow etc.

i really feel for people who are at the mercy of YO's who wont allow turnout.
 
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