In at night in winter vs out ?

[dominobrown]

Hmmm.. I am on the fence... I am in the north west and especially over night we get some hellish storms. Its not the cold but the 50mph winds and rain and horses just hide and are miserable. They also like to shelter under trees etc which may not be entirely safe so I bring in at night.
However.... if its a very cold winter, like those still clear but very cold nights I think horses are better out. They stay warmer being able to move around and they are not trespassing through mud etc, just make sure there is plenty of hay out. So very cold= out, stormy= in basically

 

[Miss_Millie]

My opinion has changed a bit since the hell that was last Winter. I'm not a fan of stabling at all, but think that overnight on a loafing area with space to move around is a good compromise. The horses can still interact and mooch about, but at least they've out of the mud. I'm hoping for less thrush and mud fever this year, although we're already off to a miserable start.

Winters are feeling increasingly impossible with horses in this country, it's quite depressing.

 

[meleeka]

My opinion has changed a bit since the hell that was last Winter. I'm not a fan of stabling at all, but think that overnight on a loafing area with space to move around is a good compromise. The horses can still interact and mooch about, but at least they've out of the mud. I'm hoping for less thrush and mud fever this year, although we're already off to a miserable start.

Winters are feeling increasingly impossible with horses in this country, it's quite depressing.

That would be my preference too but herd dynamics mean that my old mare prefers me to push her door closed. I don't bolt it, so she's free to come out if she wants which has only ever happened when I've been late for breakfast. The two minis have a large stable and the yard. I kept them out last winter, but my field still hasn't recovered, so it's a compromise.

 

[Kaylum]

We have loafing areas with shelters big enough for them to gallop around in. Many places don't so you have to gauge what your land is like. They are all brought in everyday and checked over. Rugs reset and looked for rubs, cuts, injuries. We always take their rugs off to check underneath.

The shelters have a bed in them and are mucked out everyday all year round.

Some come in at night in the winter and the donkeys have big barn they use and it's always open.

Many people I know don't have winter turnout. They are in for 5 months of the year. So if you can keep them out without problems then great but make sure they are properly checked everyday.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine mainly live out I don't have a massive field but they have hard standing with a slight over hang from stables where I hang hay nets, my field is not deep mud but it gets wet but holds up pretty well and mine get ad lib hay in winter.

If it's particularly torrential all night or freezing ice they come in at night.

If the set up is right it can work I find mine are happy with no real routine for coming in and as long as they are not hungry they prefer to be out.

I find horses only really tend to hang at gates and want in when they are hungry.

 

[Merrymoles]

I'm in a similar position as the OP - have moved yards to one that has field shelters and a number of horses who live out.

My horse is always stressed out for the first fortnight of coming in for winter - think sweated up and weaving so much that he wears through rubber matting. So while I am paying for a stable, I am planning to bed up the shelter and leave him out and see how he gets on. There won't be much grass but he'll have two haynets (or more if he needs them) a day.

Last winter he got terribly thin and colicked due to not getting enough fibre - no grass and rubbish hay on the last yard and I couldn't substitute with feed as he's a fussy eater and doesn't like chop etc - hence the move. He's now well covered going into winter and will be rugged as needed. So, while I'll feel guilty if the weather is foul, I think I know what he would prefer and will do that unless proved wrong.

 

[bonnysmum]

I'm tearing my hair out trying to find places in other parts of the country that allow horses to be out in a herd 24/7 (see my thread from today!). If you have it, embrace it!

Like many horses my mare hates being stabled. They can be much more frightened by bad weather, fireworks etc. when stuck in a stable unable to escape the noise. Out in a herd with natural shelter is the gold standard as far as I'm concerned, and not only because it helps preserve my own sanity in winter!

 

[Surbie]

LOL, all yous who have a choice. The privilege must be amazing. Many of us don’t.

This is the first yard I've been able to do this at. And only because my horse had to be moved away from his beloved rug ripping mates into the 'Old Gits' field. For the last 7 years my life has revolved around when other people are bringing in and the stress of having to meet their timetables around my working hours. It's really not easy!

 

[Pedantic]

My lad when young stayed out in winter, -7deg and lower, rack of different rugs to suit as he was clipped, always warm and fine, just frosty whiskers, we had no field shelter, that would have been a bonus, but wasn't needed, yard I have been at for over last 10 years now, they come in at night during winter