im half tempted just to chuck them out in the field for the next 2 months

china

china

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Looking at my two today they are bored pooless! They havnt been in work since october and they are in small winter turnout pens during the day and the boy is stabled at night. The mare is in the same pen 24/7. its not massive but she can have a buck and a fart. I cant see this freezing weather giving in any time soon so was thinking of finding a local field to turn them out in 24/7 so they can just doss about till the end of feb. I have a few options so just have to speak to a few people. (my yard doesnt have winter field turnout) Both of them have full winter coats. the mare is still in a medium weight. Prince is rugged up to the eye balls.
Has anyone else done this?
 
Hi

I have not ridden for a few months due to accident so mine are turned out 24/7 in a field with hay given twice a day due to grass being covered with snow. They are really happy even though they are out of work.

x
 
Mine have been out for the last 4 weeks and will be for a few more. They are happy and fat!!:D Took shoes off and they have warm rugs and plenty to eat.
 
Our two are out 24/7, 365 and there are plenty around us the same. Many are natives, but there is a TB and a couple of TBx's and all are doing fine.

Typically, my lad is managing to maintain a bigger crest than he went into the winter with. That'll be my softie OH putting him in a LW rug, just to keep him and his best buddy mud apart. I'll worry about the crest in the spring, for now I am just happy to have two very contented ponies in their field.
 
Yep. If I were in your situation and had the option of turning them out safely, then I would. But I'm biased because mine live out 24/7/365 anyway, so there's never any need for me to worry about them getting bored, frustrated or short of exercise.
 
a girl at work was telling me today its too cold for the horses @ her yard so theyre kept in stable 24/7 until the snow melts/cold snap finishes.

She looked down on me as mine is out 24/7/365 grazing.

I'd say i've got the happier horse in the most natural environment possible. Before we were around horses didn't have stables!
 
I've given up thoughts of riding again until the Feb half term when I will have time to bring him back into work properly. Hopefully things will have thawed out by then too! Mine is out by day and in at night, but seems happy enough getting fat and furry!
 
I think il have some happier ponies if i turn them out. will make some phonecalls i think. The tb isnt crazy about being stabled overnight but he does enjoy coming in when its miserable.
 
I've got one stabled and 2 living out 24/7.

The stabled one is barely getting out as its to dangerous to turn out - she's a miserable grumpy mare and understandably so.

The two that are living out I can't get in as its a long road to the barn and again to dangerous, they are happy as can be. Have cosy rugs, big round bales of haylage, loads of trees to hide under, me and my friend check on them morning and evening and break water etc, they dont even hassle us to come in anymore, its more like what u doing here? lol
One's a gypsey cob, the other a Welsh cob, so they are plenty hardy enough to live out in this.

Its been this way coming up 5 weeks now, and I expect it to go to 2 months, so yes, if you have the option, turn them away until the weather buggers off and we can all get going again. They will definitely be happier for it after a few days, and those that think its mean need a reality check, apart from the odd exception, most horses would prefer to be out than stuck in a stable or small space for weeks on end doing nothing x
 
CobSunshine said:
a girl at work was telling me today its too cold for the horses @ her yard so theyre kept in stable 24/7 until the snow melts/cold snap finishes.

I bet they'd be a lot warmer if they could walk about in a field - standing still in a stable is going to be a lot colder - unless the stables are heated of course! Honestly some people have such a strange view of how to keep horses healthy and happy.

OP go for it if you can - they'll be very grateful
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