It's blowing a gale out there! In or out?

kellybee

kellybee

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Given the high winds - high enough that it's howling down the chimney and the plastic greenhouse is on next door's back lawn, I was wondering do you keep your horses in in this weather or leave them out? My grazing is still naf so mine are all in at night, but my BF has just said the horses were pretty skittish when he left work and he hopes they don't do themselves an injury being in during this weather!

Now I don't know whether to go let them out or not, if I let them out the hay will be over/under the hedge in no time as the shelter only protects them from the north wind!
 
My tb is out no matter what the weather. We are lucky to have a very naturally sheltered field. When its very windy the horses will choose the hedge line with the most shelter, we will tie Haynets and put hay on the floor there for them, it won't blow away as its so sheltered.. Do you have any similar hedge lines?
 
Am debating the same thing! Mine have been out at night for the last week, but forecast is saying 50 mph winds during the night.

I am sure they would be happy out, but for the sake of a good nights sleep, think I will be getting mine in before dark.
 
Well we have hedges but they're on the north and east sides of the field and the wind is coming from the south west. I'm not worried about them being cold, but if I put hay out there's nowhere to shelter and even if it was in haynets, the trees are in the place with the least shelter.

I think I'll leave them in and just check them before bed, they have big stables and deep beds. Just having one of those moments where I flap when I probably don't need to at all. If BF hadn't suggested them hurting themselves I wouldn't have thought twice about it.
 
Out, ever since our stable roofs blew off several years ago, the horses would have been killed or seriously injured if I'd left them in. :(
 
Out.
The moment my field was dry enough I had my lot out, they are great stabled in bad weather - they dont like the cold, frost, snow, or rain and stand waiting to go in their stables - but the moment they sniff the spring air they go stir crazy in stables even if out by day in at night - I tend to read what my horses tell me what they want to do and I listen to them xxx
 
We had a sheet blow off our stable roof in a sudden gust a few years ago.

Current two youngsters are out, and I did put some hay in the shelter of the barn for them, but only a little as I think some grass is coming through. When I looked a few minutes ago they were on the far side of the field in the shelter of a wood to the west.

I am on top of hill so gusts are quite extreme, feel happier that ponies are out, had too many things blown away and around over the years!
 
I'm on the top of a hill too and I'm strongly contemplating leaving mine out tonight. My barn roof was making some alarming cracking noises earlier and the wind is to get worse later. It's too spooky indoors, nothing to harm them outside (I hope)
 
Mine are out, although I didn't realize quite how windy it was going to be! They live on top of a hill in the Peak District and it's very exposed, with no natural shelter, just dry stone walls to hide behind. It's much milder than it has been though, so I'm sure they'll be fine. They certainly seem to prefer being out!
 
Boys are in, girls are you, and we are only 10 minutes up the road from your yard Kelly.
If they're in, leave them in, I'm sure they will settle soon enough.
 
Mine are in because

a) although there is a hedgeline for shelter there is nowhere to put hay without it being blown away and I don't like putting haynets in the field (or stable!)

b) one of them is a complete doof and will wind the others up something stupid which will most likely result in me being greeted by an injury or two in the morning

c) there are three of them, one of which is an old girl who much prefers the comforts of her stable when the weather is really bad, and since I can't leave her in on her own they all have to stay together!
 
Mine are happier out even in storm force winds than in a stable. Being confined must spook them.
They're actually pretty sensible and graze with their bums to the wind or use the natural dips and hedge lines.

At least if some branches come down, they'll move sharpish long before I've even realised there's a problem.
Confining them to a stable leaves them vunerable and unable to use their survival instincts.
 
in as usual at night, thats after I had been riding on the beach :eek: it was pretty damn windy lol but my boy was a star!
 
Out!!! I feel much happier with them out in windy weather as they can move if something falls down etc, where they can't if they're in the stable.
 
Mine are in. They wanted to come in so they are in. I can't feed hay in the field as my old girl will attack the other 2 if they go near it so not worth the risk :(. They have plennty in the stable, probably why they want in.
 
Out!! It's warm here, despite the wind (for Scotland I mean... it was 7 degrees when I left the yard tonight! Positively tropical...), and they're rugged up so much better for them to be out... our metal agri barn where the stables are makes scary noises in the wind!! The only time our lot come in is when it is windy, rainy/snowy AND cold... if it's only two out of three, then they're ok outside as long as they're rugged. And that's a TB and two ISHs, so not exactly hardy types either, but they're just happier out there!
 
Just been down to check them - our stables are on the side of a builders' yard and I was totally paranoid about sheets of corrugated metal blowing into the barn or tarpaulins or something. Turns out the whole place is sheltered from the wind, barely a draught over the doors. They looked kind of surprised to see me, but no dramas at all, in fact Ollie was flat out on his bed.
 
My geldings in, but he is every night. hes a big baby and stands there sulking until i get him in if im late! needs the bulk feed as well at night as theres still no grass :O he loses weight so easily! grr why did i get a tb?! id have my cob back anyday!
 
Out. Been out 24/7 since last weekend. I do feel guilty though as they have been in at night over winter but its mild and they have nightime hay in the field.

The new minis are out too and I have visions of them being blown away! There is natural shelter though so hopefully they'll tuck themselves away a bit!
 
horserider said:
Mine are happier out even in storm force winds than in a stable. Being confined must spook them.
They're actually pretty sensible and graze with their bums to the wind or use the natural dips and hedge lines.

At least if some branches come down, they'll move sharpish long before I've even realised there's a problem.
Confining them to a stable leaves them vunerable and unable to use their survival instincts.
Click to expand...

I hoping mine have sense to keep out of the way of flying branches!! The trees in the NT wood that borders our field are old and some trees come down every time there is a gale. At least it is still warm out there tonight. I have noticed that they do keep away from the edge of the field when their is wind, but find the best shelter, it amazes meevery time how they know the right place to be.

The cats however are objecting to being in the utility room with cat flap being blown open they are finding it too cool!
 
Fuzznugget said:
All are in. The pony got blown into the garden earlier (little miss Houdini noticed a rail down and made most of it), guess the TB & hackney were too heavy to move!
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Hi there, Just decided to leave my IDX and Welsh sec d out in 50mph winds tonight and hoping all will be well, I figured they'd come and stand by the gate if they wanted in and have acres of field and a wood to graze - only it is still Feb??
Sure they'll be fine, they are too fresh if they're in too much!!
 
One out, one in. The one that's out is always out, without a rug and has been since March last year! The other comes in every night all year round so she'll come in tonight as normal. It was blowing a gale when I was riding at 8.45-9.30pm last night and she went in after.
 
Out- too gusty to risk the walk to bring them in- 15 minutes and with by baby in a sling. As they are on edge and then prone to be idiots to lead in! Plus they are in together in a barn so get on top of each other if they spook.

They were grazing happily when I left & have light weight rugs as wind protection!
 
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