Keeping horses in?

[mulledwhine]

After reading a post about the wind I was wondering how you keep them amused when kept in?

I am thinking about brining my boy in at about 1300 today as the wind is really picking up and he looks very unhappy.

Heis normally out until about 1600, and then gets brought in.

Isit just a case of filling a couple if haynets to keep him going?

Sorry if this seems a silly post, but my old TB lived out 24/7, his choice as hated being stabled.

Advice please

 

[Vetwrap]

My boys are in at the moment - and were in yesterday. We are lucky that we have an indoor school and a horsewalker, so they are walkered or have a hooley in the school at either end of the day.

During the day, they seem happy to devour their haynets and snooze. When they are out in bad weather all they do is jostle at the gate to try and get in first or stand with bums to the hedge looking hacked off. It also saves the field from getting too trashed.

 

[traceyann]

Mine came in at ten this morning only been out two hours they had enough allready i just give them hay nets seem happy enough all mine are such babys when weather becomes bad

 

[pinkypug1]

My lot are out 24/7 with no option to bring them in, but they dont seem to mind the bad weather, they've been out since may 2010 through it all so well used... I just have visions of my little foal being lifted off her feet and flown through the air... they are grazing by the sea & when it blows a gale it really blows a gale... mite have to tie her down lol!

 

[mulledwhine]

Might just fill a couple of haynets then, he is such a big baby my old TB was out most if his life and never seemed bothered as long ad he was warm and fed

The biggest thing is current pony has access to his stable all day but has not got the sense to use it, just stands and looks miserable lol

 

[Welshie Squisher]

Mine rarely have to be in all day due to weather but if they are, I have snack balls for them. They also have 2 types of licks. They definitely make a difference as they hop between their hay net, licks and ball and are rarely stood doing nothing

 

[StormyMoments]

missy is happy to stand there all day with a haynet, taz however gets very stressy and tries to climb the door so he has to be kept amused with a treat ball, likits and a swede

 

[-Sj-]

They've just closed the forth bridge, reporting winds of 84mph

 

[Vetwrap]

Crikey! Hope you've got everything well tied down up there!

 

[rhino]

They've just closed the forth bridge, reporting winds of 84mph

Yes, schools and colleges shutting at 12 here.

 

[Jesstickle]

Mine are usually happy as long as they have hay and each other. That said, it has to be really grotty for me to bring in. Nitty also has a snack ball which she likes but empties in about 5 minutes.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My 2 are in at present, we have an indoor school to exercise in. But they are staying tucked up in their stables in the barn. Too wet, cold and windy to go anywhere today.
FDC

 

[mulledwhine]

That sounds horrendous that they are closing schools.

Batten down the hatches close the doors and curtains ad get cozy.

My family are in fife so I hope they tucked up warm

 

[rhino]

That sounds horrendous that they are closing schools.

Batten down the hatches close the doors and curtains ad get cozy.

My family are in fife so I hope they tucked up warm

The worst of the gales (~90/100mph, highest level of 'alert' warning) is due between 3 and 6 so they don't want it to coincide with schools finishing for the day. Horse is tucked up in his stable with enough hay to last, and YO is on site if it isn't safe to travel later.

The snow has gone though

 

[ThePony]

Ours will come in this pm when the rain is due to set in. Wind or rain I'll leave them to it, but both together is a bit rotten! If they are in then they get walked inhand twice a day to keep everything moving and to give a change of scene to help with their sanity!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Mine are in with haynets and snak balls - both had had a leg stretch - one lunged, the other walked in hand. Mine both normally kick the door to go out after breakfast, but this morning, they were just standing there looking at me as if to say "No way am I going out in THAT!" They were both happily eating their nets when I left.

 

[-Sj-]

We've got tops of tree's off already out the back! My other half works over in Bathgate so he'll be taking the long way home tonight!
YO brings Jake in at 2.30-3 just now anyway so he'll be in before it gets really bad.

Sometimes I think they are better left outside rather than in rattling buildings - at least out they can make sense of it.

 

[rhino]

Hmm, now being told not to travel between 2 and 9 and 130+mph hour winds recorded up North

Oh, and lots more snow forecast

 

[joeanne]

Its windy down here too.....have now brought wimpy in as she was stood by the gate looking like someone was about to eat her alive.
Everyone else has taken refuge in the shelters but seem happy enough to be out. Might bring Little Stig in if it gets much stronger.....dont want him blowing away!

 

[Mince Pie]

Bugger that I'm staying down south!

Ours never had a problem with really high winds last winter and they were out 24/7 at the top of the North Downs. Is rather they were out anyway as a barn roof collapsed last year whilst the horses were in luckily no injuries but at least if they are out they can avoid falling debris.

 

[-Sj-]

Really high winds and snow..... braw!! not!

It wasn't meant to be this bad untill after 3, hence why they opened schools in the morning. I kept my lo's off, we're having a pj day!

Thinking of all our livery yard owner friends in their static caravans at this time!! Be safe!

 

[Mince Pie]

Statics are stronger than they look, although there have been times when I thought mine would blow away!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

i will bring in 98% as normal around 3pm

 

[-Sj-]

We have 3 friends in statics while waiting on their houses getting built or permissions for one.

The things we put up with for horses! lol

 

[Wagtail]

All of ours are in except for three hours turnout a day plus riding/lunging at the moment, and unless we get an exceptionally dry spell, that will be it until March/April. They all seem utterly contented with that. I think I'm lucky in that I have never had a horse here that doesn't like being stabled, but then people know about our winter regime before they bring their horses here. Having an all weather turnout has meant that the horses have never spent a whole day in, except if on box rest. We were the only yard that my farrier had visited that still managed to get the horses out every day during the snow last winter.

 

[-Sj-]

Thats them closing kincardine bridge now due to hurricanebawbag - sucks if you live in fife but work in edinburgh! or cross either way to get home

 

[hessy12]

Haven't horses survived very well for thousands of years in winds? Might not the stable blow down and crush the horse? I know of this happening, if the horse had been out, it would not have died. Horrid but just thought I'd mention it. My horses are out and will stay out in the gales we have here. They are 100% fine.

 

[Jazzy B]

out and will go out everyday (even for a few hours in the snow with hay) unless physically cannot get to the field i.e. the yard is frozen and slippery. Only keep mine in if they are on box rest!

 

[Zimzim]

Mine are both in just with haynets. Since there in a barn style stabling, they both just watch everything thats going on and have a good snooze. Hoping to turn them out for a leg stretch after work.

 

[milesjess]

Not as bad here for us in NW. Wind highs of 45mph and rain. My horse has been out all night and will be all day until 7pm... He's does live out but he'll come in for one night per week-ish to have a break from the weather as its been raining here every day.

He's seems happy enough and gives the field a rest too.

I think most horses would rather be out once their used to the elements.