Just to make you all jealous....!

L

L&M

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We are very lucky to have well draining land, so last night the stabled horses were left out! They are still in the winter fields but if the weather holds until the weekend, we will then move them onto their summer ones.

It was bliss this morning not to have muck out and the horses all seemed very content, (however I am not going to tempt fate by clearing their beds out yet, as it will probably snow this time next week!).
 
Take it back! Shhhhhhhhh!!!

Repeat after me... "It's going to be lovely and sunny from now on" and keep that smile permanently on your face!
 
We're on clay, so the horses have to swim through the bog to get to the grass. The fields are pretty good after the first few metres but it's still a sea of mud past the gates.
However the sun is shining again and spring is on its way, thank goodness, but unless we are sure of a complete weather change it'll be a few weeks before they are out 24/7.
I've forgotten what's it's like not to have to muck out, but the good thing is that I can eat what I like and not put on weight due to endless muck shovelling.
Hope your horses enjoyed their new found freedom, Sidney. :)
 
I'm moving mine into the summer field at the weekend. It's sandy soil so looks perfect! They've managed to stay out 24/7 all winter and field still has grass. My new field shelter arrived last week, YO is building me a post and rail paddock for the one who doesn't need too much grass and the sun is shining. Feeling very happy! Horses all rugless today and enjoying some sun in their backs.
 
Jeez, our yard are still in. I think it would be a better option to sell the horses and replace them with bowling balls. We are now all mighty fed up and I suspect at least 50% of the yard will make a concerted effort to find alternative accommodation over the summer.
 
Sidney said:
We are very lucky to have well draining land, so last night the stabled horses were left out! They are still in the winter fields but if the weather holds until the weekend, we will then move them onto their summer ones.

It was bliss this morning not to have muck out and the horses all seemed very content, (however I am not going to tempt fate by clearing their beds out yet, as it will probably snow this time next week!).
Click to expand...

Yes you are right i am jealous!
 
Mine will be out tonight for the first time this year also. It may not last but I'm going to enjoy it for a few days!
 
Mine also stayed out last night - they came in for 'tea' & CF had a rug change & then I popped them out in the small paddock with hay in the shelter.
Also thinking they will be out 24/7 fully by end of the week, tho stables on standby if we get more wet chucked at us as i dont want to wreck the ground too much yet
 
Lucky ponies Sidney! :)

Ours usually go out in early April, weather dependent. We've been so lucky with turnout, I must admit, compared to a lot of yards. We haven't had a blanket ban on turnout. The worst was maybe 2 weeks where they only went out for an couple of hours a day, because the fields were almost knee deep in water, it was hurricane weather with howling wind and sideways rain. They hated being out and either stood around looking miserable, or just fought all the time, breaking fences, cantering up and down the fence line asking to come in... so they had a couple of weeks of just getting a leg stretch. Now they are out 8am to 5pm every day, grass is coming through (mine is eating half the amount of hay overnight now compared to even a month ago), and fields are looking loads better :)
 
Mine are still in 24/7 too although if it stays dry they will go out during the day in the next 48 hours hopefully.
 
2 of ours live out, the other two got kicked out of the stables last weekend. It is bliss not having to muck out, and to not come home stinking of horse wee every time I go down. Mini sf was obliging and slept in the car this morning at feed time so the neddy got a 'treat' and got to come in for a good groom, mane tidy and tail wash :)
 
This winter was the first being in my own field alone with a stable, I must say it has been BLISS not to be dictated to by a YO on when they can go out and when they HAVE to be in...

I used to tear home after work as I knew my mare would be last to come in pacing up and down in the mud creating havoc and making the field worse.. but this winter and forever more I have my own field she can stay out on the hardstanding area which is just under half an acre until the grass grows...

The stress has gone and unlike the yard we were NEVER aloud to leave the horses out in winter, I used to arrive to coughing mucus over the door, dribbling nose, box walked stable... NOT anymore relief plus my girly loves to be out snuggled in a warm rug with a big haynet...

OUT is the way forward (if you can of course) - Mine only comes in if its absolutely throwing it down and needs a dry off.
 
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mine have been lucky enough to be out 14/7/365. we have the odd area of mud but the grass is already growing and this morning wa gorgeous. roll on summer though!
 
I'm glad to say we are moving yards in 29 days (not that I'm counting!) And although I have loved this yard, turnout has always been limited, meaning this winter mine didn't see a blade of grass in 4 months! New yard you have your own field to do with as you wish - mine are going to live out over the summer and I am beyond excited!
 
At 1pm today, it was 15 degrees in the sun (11 in the shade of the trees) and my 2 were having a lovely time.

TF having a happy wriggly roll as her coat is really shedding (and will be for the next 2 months now), CF pottering about exploring all corners of the fields, just to lovely to watch them doing their own fuzzy things in the sun :)

Not shed loads of grass, but enough to produce green at the other end of the last 3 days ;)
 
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