in or out during wet & windy weather?

[Jericho]

My horses live out all year round but have access to big field shelter and stables if do want to bring in. Today the weather is horrendous, sheeting rain, very very windy. I just want to bring them in, put a dry rug on, let their feet dry out on deep beds of straw, big pile of hay and yet they are both wet, muddy but warm with rug and neck covers on. My gut actually says they are better off outside because they know where to position themselves against wind and wind rattles around the stables a bit so could be quite scary for them. They dont mind being in but would rather be out anyway I feel - I just cant help attributing them with human feelings of being warm and cosy!!!

Who else brings in when windy and rainy or do you think they are better off out anyway? (Its a lot less work!)

 

[Ranyhyn]

Our horses stay out here year round, as do the horses on the neighbouring land, regardless of weather. They are hayed have plenty of natural shelter. Pretty sure one of theirs is 20 odd

 

[Doncella]

Our horses stay out here year round, as do the horses on the neighbouring land, regardless of weather. They are hayed have plenty of natural shelter. Pretty sure one of theirs is 20 odd

My 21year old mare (rugged) her 9 month old 7/8tb filly (unrugged) as above.

 

[touchstone]

If they are both warm and happy they don't need to come in.

 

[doodleberry]

My horses live out all year round but have access to big field shelter and stables if do want to bring in. Today the weather is horrendous, sheeting rain, very very windy. I just want to bring them in, put a dry rug on, let their feet dry out on deep beds of straw, big pile of hay and yet they are both wet, muddy but warm with rug and neck covers on. My gut actually says they are better off outside because they know where to position themselves against wind and wind rattles around the stables a bit so could be quite scary for them. They dont mind being in but would rather be out anyway I feel - I just cant help attributing them with human feelings of being warm and cosy!!!

Who else brings in when windy and rainy or do you think they are better off out anyway? (Its a lot less work!)

i have a mare in foal who is supposed to be living out! we got her a nice field shelter which she wont go in!!! i got her in the other night as horrible weather i just wanted her to have a few hours rest from the wind !! she now stands at the gate at 5 pm waiting too come in!! so in she comes and out first thing. I think they let you know when they want to come in . i thought she would hate standing in all night but she loves it so maybe just bring them in in torrential weather even if its so you can have peace of mind .it wont hurt them either way

 

[canteron]

Definitely out.

I think horses dont mind being cold or wet, its just both together that it bad, so if they have shelter they will be fine.

I think that what must be really awful for a horse is to be in a wooden stable in high winds, they tend to rattle a lot which must scare the whatsits out of the horse, and I have seen stable roofs take off in high winds. So IMO no contest, out!

 

[Ibblebibble]

out i've got a little cob youngster who is a bit of a houdini, every night he comes into a little pen which i've made outside the stable, stable door is pinned open so he can go in and out as he pleases, on the last few very windy nights all his poo has been around the doorway just inside the stable, on ordinary nights it's at the back of the stable! he obviously feels safer by the doorway in bad weather, easier to escape if the roof falls off

 

[claireandnadia]

Mine will go out in the day but they have to come in at night but when I go to get them in they are already waiting and mums shettie drags me back down to the yard for his tea.

 

[FairyLights]

mine came in at night only on Monday this week due to wet and windy weather. Its good for them to get dry and be out of the wind, and be able to lie down on a deep dry bed. They have hedges in the fields and a field shelter with a good straw bed if they want to use that during the day. They are not rugged. I find,in nearly 50 years of horse ownership,that once they get wet for a prolonged time they get cold,some quicker than others. Its good for them to dry off and also for their legs and hooves to dry too,prevents mud fever and so on. Yes,they can live out,but so can people in doorways sleeping in a cardboard box, that doesnt make it right.

 

[MissChaos]

Yes,they can live out,but so can people in doorways sleeping in a cardboard box, that doesnt make it right.

Difference being that humans aren't designed to...

Now, if someone could please just explain this to my Connie, who is frankly pathetic and just about jet-skiied poor Christmas Cake from gate to stable when she went to get him in in the middle of last night (as in 3:45pm)...

 

[Piglet]

Mine goes out wind, rain, hail or snow during the day, providing the YO is happy with that, am sure it is better for their welfare, if it us really horrendous then I will bring him in a bit earlier simmy to stop him standing at the gate in the mud. The other horses in the field are treated the same by their owners, at the end of the day the modern rugs are more than adequate and for goodness sake THEY ARE ANIMALS at the end of the day and we tend humanize them!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

I bring mine in when it is torrential wind and rain - mainly because they come and stand at the gate asking to be brought in! Also the field is pretty poor at the moment and incredibly muddy!

 

[Janah]

I was intending to keep my boy out this winter. Yep, you guessed it, I wimped out. He is in at night and he loves coming in, waiting at the gate. Yes, I know, probably habit but I feel happier with him in.

I must add although he has a lightweight rug on, there is no shelter of anykind in his field and the wind whistles through on ordinary breezy days. He does go out everyday though.

 

[Benlot]

Mine are in at night but out during the day whatever the weather. I am sure that the welshie companion pony would jump out of her stable if I tried to keep them in anyway! Their normal day is out at 7am and in at 5.30pm, always waiting to come in for their tea - habit I know but I just would not sllep at night if they were out overnight in the winter, I struggle enough when they are out 24/7 during the summer

 

[Bertolie]

Mine have been coming in at night for the past week or so as it is quite wet and muddy in their paddock. Had to resort to leaving them in today as the paddock is under about 2" of standing water at the moment. My cob was fine with staying in as long as he has his haynets but daughters horse is a creature of routine and it takes a while for him to get used to something different so he was a bit unhappy about not going out this morning. I normally like them to be out 24/7 but the weather is so crap at the moment that the paddock is not going to see us through the winter if they are out 24 hours a day.

 

[stencilface]

Two oldies and a youngster out, 2 more in work horses in at night.

I don't think ours are bothered by it too much, they tuck behind a hedge or go in the shelter. They have hay etc. Thing that miffs the ones out is that I have had to section off an area of hard standing next to their favourite bit of hedge for my horses restricted turnout paddock - they are not happy with this arrangement.

Benefit is, I'm the human, and I make the decisions, honestly I do, and I never give them more hay in their 6 acre field for the 3 of them when they look pleadingly at me (honest, never, well - maybe sometimes.....)

 

[giddyupalfie]

My 3 live out all year. Both my boys are rugged up nice and warm but not my Miniature...as she wears her natural coat

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

My two are a pair of woosies and both come in at night.

Little mare has a touch of arthritis and is better kept in and warm; and Himself always asks at the gate to come in for his supper! He's a big traddie cob but just doesn't do wind, rain or cold; likes home comforts.

Personally I like them in at night; and it does give their feet a chance to dry out as well.

 

[debsg]

Mine are wintering out 24/7 this year, for the first time. I am fighting my wimpy side to leave them out when the weather is horrible, but they are in a herd and very happy, despite having no shelter (they are rugged).

 

[Mlini]

This morning I went to the yard (it was raining) and saw the muddy horrible field that my horse has been allocated, I thought 'poor horse having to go out in that'.. Pondered on the idea of keeping him in, but chucked him out anyway! The fresh air will do him good

 

[Kenzo]

Nope, they go out what ever the wearther, only time they have stopped in (think it was one day last December) it was just too slippy for them to walk out of the stable across the yard as everything had gone to ice but had rained so extra extra slippy, other than that, they go out every day through winter no matter what the weather throws at us, if they are warm and dry with some hay and water, they are happy.

 

[Marydoll]

This is always going to be a"to each his own topic"
My guys go out in all weathers, but i always bring them in at night, my horses dont object, and neither do i.
As for others, they can do what they feel is right for their horses,

 

[Enfys]

Out.

I actually have no choice because I have only 10 stalls and today almost 30 horses (natives, minis, Tb's, arabians, couple of very dumb-bloods) They don't care, I had to go looking for the mares this morning +12C very, very windy, peeing down with rain, fields are flooded, on Sunday they were so well frozen that we skating on them! found them all tucked up in the depths of a pine wood out of the wind.

Even if I had the choice unless a horse was paying to stay in, was old/ill etc then I'd still keep them out, I have better things to do with my time than muck out endlessly, clockwatch and be ruled by stabled horses needing to come in, go out.

 

[anuvb]

A bit of a lone voice here but mine's in if the weather gets too bad.

Mainly because we have to bring in over night, and he's an absolute wuss and loses weight very quickly if he doesn't get enough forage. We're very exposed to the wind where we are and no shelter, and we're not allowed to put hay out in the fields. When the weather is hideous he will not move from the gate, or eat - he zones out. The only way I can ensure he gets food inside him is to keep him tucked up for most of the day (if I can get him out for an hour I will do otherwise he just gets exercised) nicely rugged and warm.

The thing is - if the weather is bad, he doesn't want to go out - will plant his feet and refuse so I figure I will go with whatever he wants.

 

[Daisy2]

Out and unrugged, plenty of natural shelter and food. They are just enjoying the sun at the moment but snow due tonight!

 

[Janette]

Yard rule. In at night. And if the weather really deteriorates, in during the day as well to stop the fields getting trashed.
It is a working beef farm, and the grazing is paramount.

 

[tallyho!]

Wet

Windy

indoors, by the fire, next to the dog and the cat on top!!!!

Thats how you keep an 'orse in winter!!!

 

[monkeybum13]

Wet

Windy

indoors, by the fire, next to the dog and the cat on top!!!!

Thats how you keep an 'orse in winter!!!

You forgot knitted booties

 

[tallyho!]

You forgot knitted booties

tsk.... CASHMERE dahhling!!!!! knitted is soooooo peasant.....

 

[monkeybum13]

tsk.... CASHMERE dahhling!!!!! knitted is soooooo peasant.....

You don't approve of the burberry scarves then?
Its a neck rug that doesn't rub the mane out