I don't know whether to be annoyed or thrilled

[Dexter]

this is all a bit tongue in cheek, but I've got a mare and weanling living out 24/7. I spend pretty much all my waking hours stressing about whether they have enough hay/access to water/are cold etc, etc. Since the snow got really bad here I've been giving them ad lib hay, huge trugs of hifi and readigrass, taking warm water up in buckets etc, etc. Getting 2 buses and walking 1/2 a mile in knee deep snow to get up there when the roads are to bad to drive and the little sods couldn't care less!

There is a stream in the field and they are breaking the ice and drinking from that, they eat the trugs as food in buckets is always eaten They pretty much ignore the hay as there is grass, somewhere, under about a foot of snow, so its obviously better to dig for that. My field is full of frozen lumps of ignored hay! They are both toasty warm despite temps dropping as low as -16degrees! So I'm bankrupting myself buying small bales of hay at £5 a go, breaking my back lugging water buckets and trugs of feed and freezing to death at numerous bus stops. They are having a fabulous time.

My new years resolution is going to be to worry less!

 

[MrsMozart]

Sounds like a good plan (the worrying less!).

 

[thinlizzy]

dosnt matter how you keep horses think you worry about this and that mine was out last year and i worried about him not being in a nice warm stable ..this year im worrying im not there on time to put out/bring in ........

 

[suzysparkle]

Yes do worry less!!

Mine copes with deep snow for 3-4 months every year, and he's clipped and lives out 24/7. He's fine, loves the snow and I don't worry at all!! Better out than in of you ask me. Stables really aren't any warmer and far more likely to injure themselves being shut in then turned out.

 

[Storminateacup]

this is all a bit tongue in cheek, but I've got a mare and weanling living out 24/7. I spend pretty much all my waking hours stressing about whether they have enough hay/access to water/are cold etc, etc. Since the snow got really bad here I've been giving them ad lib hay, huge trugs of hifi and readigrass, taking warm water up in buckets etc, etc. Getting 2 buses and walking 1/2 a mile in knee deep snow to get up there when the roads are to bad to drive and the little sods couldn't care less!

There is a stream in the field and they are breaking the ice and drinking from that, they eat the trugs as food in buckets is always eaten They pretty much ignore the hay as there is grass, somewhere, under about a foot of snow, so its obviously better to dig for that. My field is full of frozen lumps of ignored hay! They are both toasty warm despite temps dropping as low as -16degrees! So I'm bankrupting myself buying small bales of hay at £5 a go, breaking my back lugging water buckets and trugs of feed and freezing to death at numerous bus stops. They are having a fabulous time.

My new years resolution is going to be to worry less!

I am pretty much doing the same, without the bus bit, taking the 4WD over a mountain road to get to them, lugging hot water in containers from home. - Mine look fine whenever I arrive, but I am sick with anxiety when we turn to go up the drive, imagining I will find them dead and frozen in the field. - i am a terrible worrier though - about everything!

 

[Daisy2]

Oh I do feel for you, I can see myself in your post at other times of the year, but for now I am rather relaxed as they live out 24/7 and get some haylage and dig around for grass under the snow, and all I can think of is, you two are gonna lose some weight now without any effort and stress and worry from me!

I would not worry too much about the hay because if they are prefering grass then half the amount and let them dig for grass if you have plenty, then if they do eat all the hay you can up it, but sounds like at the moment they are rather spoilt for choice. If they are in good condition and seem happy then go off and enjoy Xmas Spring is round the corner!

 

[pottamus]

Yes I worry less than I used to but still worry. Yesterday we were out all day visiting and it is always hard to get away at a reasonable time when visiting...dont want to appear rude! And we had an hours drive to get home too. So I was worried that my lad would be fed and put to bed later than normal and whether he would have enough food to last him...he is strip grazed over the snowy field each day and I cant give him access to loads as he is a lami risk. So I gave him a smidge more grass to eat and left him a big haynet to cover the extra time when I would be later than normal...but still worried about him running out and getting stressed!
When I got to him later he was still digging for bits of grass and had only eaten half his net!!! He was fine and dandy as ever!

 

[Mabel98]

We aren't allowed to put hay in the field and I have been really worried that my horse would be starving when she comes in about 4pm. Last night her and the other 3 were happily eating grass under the snow and weren't at all fussed about coming in........my new year's resolution is definitely to chill out and stop worrying!