In or out in this heat?

P

pipper

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Can't decide which is better! Stable is ok for a while until the sun moves round but is dark and without the glare of the burning sum feild doesn't have any real shade, ponies out at night and in during day but the heat is set to rise today so I'm wondering what is best! Your votes please......
 
Mine live out, but have been moved to the field with the best shade (lots of low conifers to stand under). I'd never leave a horse out in this sun and heat without shade! Then again, I've always turned out overnight in the summer, when I had mine part stabled.
 
Mine get brought in during the day too at the moment. Have a couple of chubbies so it helps them, then we have two black ones who really don't like it, plus they get sunburn on their white noses.
 
I'm another bringing in. I get them in at lunch time until about 7.30.
It was originally to get out of the flies which I started doing before it got so hot as one of my stables really heats up but tbh the pony in it is still wanting to come in and I figure it's better being in and hit than out with no shade.
 
Here in Australia our horses are out 24/7 in 40+ degree heat or not..... My horses have shade but still prefer to spend most of the day in the blazing sun. I just put a fly mask on and a light flag rug and they stay cool and comfortable. Summers are long, hot and dry..... No one stables in summer during the day.
 
I'm another that stables during the day as the norm (and out overnight) for restricting grass intake more than anything.

I guess I'm fortunate that our block of livery stables are in the shadiest part of the yard and they are pretty cool during the daytime so quite pleasant to be in when the sun's burning during the day and the flies are out and about.

I remember when I first went to look round the yard one sunny day in May, with a view to moving on and the stables were one of the first things I noted, in that how cool they were when I entered the block. That was a big plus for my horse as his regime is out at night and in during the day in the Summertime. Knowing that he'd be nice and comfortable out of the heat of the day was a big positive and went a long way to making my decision to move there!
 
It depends on individual situations

mine will come in as there is no shelter in summer field and stables are cool and airy. Friend leaves hers out as they have shade and stables are stiffling hot
 
My horses all decided that they'd like to be in please this morning. Much to their, and my, disgust the builders have also decided that being out of the sun is the way to go and have parked all their gear in the barn.
 
All of mine are out the stables get every warm even in the shade. There is shade in all the fields yet they never use it and are loving sunning them selves
 
I switch to night turnout in the summer. Less flies, cooler and grass sugars lower.

Usually they go out about 7pm or a bit later but when they have gone out earlier or it is still hot they head straight for the trees and stand under them instead of grazing till it gets cooler.
 
It's not simply a matter of air temperature. A lot of people don't understand the effect of the relative humidity level of the air on animals. This is why the Australian horses mentioned are fine because the arid climate enables them to keep cool. A horse in bright sunlight in high humidity levels will have a lot more difficulty being able to regulate its body temperature. In still, humid air, a horse will appreciate being put in. In dry, breezy air it will be perfectly happy being out.
 
Out I think - stables can get quite stuffy. I bought an Aussie Allrounder for my cob, reflects the heat and she stays cool. Plus a full face mask to protect her eyes and muzzle from the sun.
 
Out - mine are 24/7 365 out in the field. They come in for meals, however at the the stables are sooo hot even by 8 in the morning (they face east so get the full benefit of the morning sun) that it's just not fair to keep them in even for eating, so they won't even come in for meals. Tie up in the shade a distance from each other and let them eat out as well. They're much better off under the trees where there is sometime a slight breeze.

Am using citronella tags and sudocrem to keep the flies off, and when the next avon order arrives skin so soft as well. Tags have been cunningly refilled by careful use of a hypodermic and syringe containing lavender oil (ran out of citronella). I know how my head aches with a hat on, so it's fly masks off when as hot as this.
 
In during the day - normally I am a summer out 24 7 person but the files are so bad this year that the horses are waiting to come in every morning. We have an open fronted barn with stables in it so they get the shade and relief from the flies but also any breeze that is floating about.
 
Ours are in during the day atm - mainly because the blue and white cob is hogged and can get sunburnt, but insists on grazing out in the blazing mid day sun.

The other also has a nasty fly bite which got infected, so easier to dress and keep the flies off it if in during the day.

If we didn't have these issues, they would be out as have plenty of natural shade, and as soon as the temps drop back down, will be back out.
 
Out. They have plenty of water, some shade and are both grey - they have both been sprayed with fly spray and we don't have horse flies where we are . . . they will be glad to come in later (well Kali will, Roger lives out), but they won't melt while they are out.

P
 
Mine is out 24/7 but the field is lovely and contains tonnes of shade, running water and some nice cool boggy mud patches. I was actually surprised at how cool the shady patches are, plus there is room for the whole herd in the shade so they can flick flies off each other.
 
Wherever's coolest. If your field has no shade and your stables stay quite cool and horse will settle in there I'd say in. (If there was shade in field they could get into I'd prob be saying out though so they can choose)
 
Out but I've had to open up a section of long grass so they can get to the field shelter. Hope they don't explode. Hoping it will cool down enough this evening to get them ridden!
 
In and out I leave the gate open and they do as they please. I have noticed they come in for an hour and have a nap then back out to graze for an hour. Spoilt or what!
 
Mine are out 24.7. I have just been let a new field which is full of grass and some shade. Unfortunately not as shadey as their lovely wooded area. They have access to the wooded area from the new field but choose to stay in the heat in the new field due to it having grass! However, I bring them back up to the overnight fields about 5pm so I can shower them etc. Silly horses, the lighter coloured one is litereally sweating when I bring her up for her shower. But I think the black one stays more in the shade as she seems to be more sensible.
 
I used to bring in in the heat of the day. Although in wooden stables out of direct sunlight. I did however have trailer chains across doorways to encourage airflow. I also used to damp yard with a hose in front of stables to cool the area. Pony tended to come in and go to bed to conserve energy for lots of eating at night, he was a good doer!
 
Mine are in during the day and out at night. Their paddock has no shade and it's horsefly season (and they go around in clouds it's awful, even have to ride in a flyrug). Their paddock also has no grass so both of them are quite happy to come in on a morning before it gets too hot for breakfast, hay and a lie down.

During the summer I often don't ride until after 8pm when it cools down to sensible levels (25C or below), so my mare is in and out of her field like a yoyo in the evening - fortunately she doesn't mind.
 
Mine are out with a 24ftx12 ft shelter to share... which they do and stay in for hours when its too warm. It has woodchip in it so is not too warm
 
My friend's two horses live in during the day and go out at night - less hot at night, and also helps avoid the flies. This is partly because they don't have much shade in the field regardless of where the sun is; however they do go out sometimes with fly rugs if it's not too hot. The coloured gets a bit sunburnt on pale bits esp. top of tail but he has a bit of sunblock on to counteract this - depends whether this is an issue for your or not. A thought is that you could put them out in the afternoon, after the midday heat, depends whether you want them to go out regularly or not.
 
Mine live out. They have trees and a double field shelter though. They have bug rugs and masks on and are covered in power Phazer. They tend to graze for a bit and then cool off in the shelter for a bit and then back for more grass!
 
In for now. She came in Tuesday burnt heels, bleached coat, generally tender on her back. She hates being bathed but let me hose her head to toe.

Can't put a fly rug on as she just rubs.

She has shade until about 1-2pm at this time of year. So bringing in at 1000 and turning out from 1800 onwards. 6 horses in during the day. She had just a stall guard is some airflow and a open window at back. She's much happier. She can come in on sunny days 25c plus I think
 
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