Keeping in in bad weather

[Surbie]

Mine goes out every day - it's a half mile to his field, the yard isn't gritted and we go slow through the puddles that have ice at the bottom as well as the top. Thankfully when I had my accident I got my horse used to me using him to balance as I walked. His buddies live out 24/7 and they are all pretty sensible.

The RDA horses are also still out 18 hours a day.

My cousins have horses in Norway, and the yard rule is that they go out every day with hay, unless there is a full blizzard. The fields are snowy, the tracks are icy and definitely not flat, but it's manageable.

 

[Jellymoon]

I think the thing here is that some people are on livery yards and have to go along with what YO does and all the other liveries. The OP is riding her share horse, so I assume the owner decided to keep her in…not much you can do in that situation.

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have our own yards can do what the heck we want !! Personally, I love turning them out when the ground is frozen as they can’t churn up the fields and come on nice and clean! Never had any sort of injury from that.
And nothing more fabulous that seeing horses playing in the snow, wouldn’t give it a second thought, but then it’s my land, my rules.

I do feel for you guys on the livery yards, but what can you do? I’m sure the horses will survive a short time in, but just be careful when you get back on. I’d prob wait until they’ve had a few days out and weather looks like you can ride consistently. This stop start all the time is lethal. They never let down and never get properly worked.

When I had hunters who needed to be fit, we greased up the hooves and rode in the snow, and tried to pick our way round the icy roads. This was back in the 1800s though when there wasn’t much traffic.

I don’t hunt now though so don’t have to be bothered with that any more thank god. Remember the cold hands and feet.

 

[Muddywellies]

I don’t understand this at all, we’ve probably had considerably more snow than most people who write on here, had to properly dig out access to all doors, field gates etc, but horses do NOT damage frozen grassland in deep snow.
When it starts thawing is when they do the damage; like now, when people are saying their horses are allowed back out(?!); but if been turned out THROUGHOUT, the demented galloping nonsense doesn’t happen.
Ok, horses’ll always play and run some, and lovely to see them enjoying snow, but it’s when horses have been housed up they go stir crazy, start injuring things (including themselves!) on release.
It sounds more like yard staff don’t want the hassle of changing rugs, digging out gates, ensuring field water and trekking through snow, but if owners are able to do all that, what’s the problem?
I love riding in snow, always have, and much safer on a horse whose experience enables him to deal with it.

Exactly this! I'm at my wits end that my yard refuses to put horses out in anything other that perfect, still, dry, warm weather. It totally goes against providing the basic needs for horses and I wholly disagree with keeping them in. Never in my 40 odd years of having horses have I been on a yard that restricts turnout (this current yard didn't mention it when I joined ) and when I had them at home they went out regardless. Yes it's a pain in winter dealing with rugs and frozen troughs, but it is what it is. I truly cannot bear being at the mercy of the grooms who decide if they are going out and instead put them on the walker to walk round in a circle endlessly.

 

[Muddywellies]

What can be done when your yard makes absolutely no provision for the winter weather and refuses to put horses out

 

[Exasperated]

We have ice and snow from October to April and temperatures down to -30°, it's not a problem turning them out. To me it appears insane to keep horses in just because of a little ice and snow. Barefoot horses tolerate ice and snow pretty well, if really really icy you can always put on studded boots, if shoed we put on snow soles and studs. The only time they stay in is when there's a proper snow storm.

Absolutely agree.
our driving horses fitted with frost nails and ice studs, and just watch horses REALLY racing on ‘white turf’ in San Moritz!
We’ve a barefoot one with ice studded boots, will hold up across an ice sheet, but in deep snow they’re unnecessary. Balled up snow does knock out, particularly when faster than walk.

Not everyone wants to ride / drive, or has rideable horses; and today’s car drivers take some negotiating on snowy roads.
Not everyone has even some access to winter turnout; historically, many city horses never did - but they were working (read Black Beauty). Other than storm conditions, healthy horses need SOME activity outside their looseboxes, or expect problems.

Full time stabling of increasingly fretful horses, whose owners have increasing difficulty handling them, becoming nervous about prospect of riding - because ‘snow is dangerous’ - and then turning those horses into slushy paddocks to run off a week of accumulated steam - which seems to be quite common experience - sorry, cannot see the logic.

 

[KC31]

Just keep putting her in the field!
unless been housed up and become excitable at the very thought of liberty, she’ll sort herself out and tread with appropriate speed.
Anyway, if your ice is cleared, at least will be able to go for a good long ride first, get the tickle out of her toes before turning out now, because freshly thawed slush is exceptionally slippery for fresh horses to turn into, and I would say far more of a risk to them - let alone damage to the grassland. Enjoy!

That is not always the best decision. I am lucky have my own yard and am not limited to rules that a livery yard owner/manager makes. My old boy went out every day even just for a couple of hours, he lets me know when he wants to come in. My young lad, who loves to gallop round his field, stayed in. I do not want a damaged leg, back or worse. He was very happy hand walked four times a day and eating his way through is ad lib hay and haylage. They are my horses and i know what is best for them. But young or old i would not advocate turning out on rutted frozen ground.

 

[YourValentine]

Just musing - do people adjust feed when horses are stuck in for what ever reason? I.e. immediately cut hard feed and up hay? To help with behaviour.

Yards not gritting is just lazy and dangerous inviting an accident. It does not take much grit/ salt spread the night before a freeze to keep ground ice free and regular top ups (if you read manufacturers guidance far less than most people use). The business liability for human falls, before you even bring horses into the equation, is not insightficant becayse slips on ice landing on concrete etc. can cause very serious breaks and dislocations. With my work hat on a customer fall on ice resulting in an ambulance call or needing to go to hospital would be reported H&S England (or what ever they are called these days).

I've turned out all through the freeze, yes some of the field is rutted but they just pick their way carefully across it. Infact they have been very sensible even the playing has been limited to "you bite my face I'll bite yours".

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

But young or old i would not advocate turning out on rutted frozen ground.

I have great sympathy for those who cannot make their own decisions for their horses due to being on a yard or inadequate acreage etc. I have to say KC31's point above is what I would be very worried about with hole'ing horses in during bad weather. If they are always out 24/7 they tend to go with the weather and automatically adjust their footing and exuberance as the weather worsens. But if they are always in its the opposite, almost always a grand hooley when they eventually get out and often the ground is far more dangerous by then, wet, deep mud, very slippery and accidents can and do happen. Obviously field injuries can happen to any horse at any time no matter what, but the likelihood of injury after being deprived of liberty for more than a couple of days, in a fit horse, is very worrying IMO.

 

[Exasperated]

What can be done when your yard makes absolutely no provision for the winter weather and refuses to put horses out

I don’t think anyone can tell you what to do, other than leave, and that’s probably easier said than done.

If it is their place and rules.... unless you have a contract indicating provision was otherwise? I guess insurance issues may drive some of this.
In the 1960s and 1970s, local riding schools’ ponies were all stabled winter months, some in stalls. A pony dropped and rolled on me in snow once, obviously missing liberty! Luckily deep snow and small pony, or wouldn’t be writing this....
But they ‘went out’ every single day, if not organised hacks (maneges waterlogged until spring), the proprietors & grooms riding and leading two each. Hunt yards the same. One bad winter, 1963?, no lessons for several weeks, but had set up a manure ring and been lunging twice daily. They had to, or animals would have been unrideable for their clients.
If you can safely stud / boot yours up against ice, I’d just hack out on my own, but no idea how busy your roads are. Also, fewer car drivers have much snow experience, so that might affect choices?
Sawdust / shavings/ straw manure make a pretty good track across an icy yard, probably you’d have to sweep up afterwards. Try and find somewhere happier for next year? I think farm type liveries would be less constricting, but fewer facilities.
Good luck!

 

[Fieldlife]

What can be done when your yard makes absolutely no provision for the winter weather and refuses to put horses out

Not a lot, unless you want to move yards.

I used to arrange my time, and work my horses pretty hard (long hack ideally) whilst the over-fresh horses that had been in were turned out after however long in from bad weather. The turn mine out tired, after the others had tired of being idiots in the field. But not easy!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

If the weather was bad mine would point blank refuse to go out, especially if it was icy (not sure if the cold head collar or them crunching along the yard to get him set him off) he'd go spinning round the stable like a whirling dervish and they couldn't get near him, so he'd stay in happily munching his haynet. (No aggression just speed whirling where you couldn't get near his head) I'd usually fish him out to muck out etc. He'd do it on days it was especially windy or wet too, so we told staff to not even bother trying as it was a waste of everyone's time because he'd do it and wouldn't be for catching.

He never got silly when turned out or ridden after, just carried on mooching along as normal

He was the "hysterical" type of Welsh...

Yard used to put old bedding onto the concrete if it was due to ice, but it was an rs so had to continue as usual where possible

 

[Hallo2012]

mine have been out every day (worst rutted corner fenced off)and ridden even if only in walk nearly every day and hence are not stupidly fresh in the field or to be ridden.

 

[Gloi]

I've great sympathy for what our YO has been going through this week. 30 horses which are normally on automatic waterers have been having to be watered by bucket from the one tap which has not frozen up, as well as pulling the barrows through deep snow and ice.

 

[scats]

Our fields were frozen and rutted but the girls went out every day bar one. I just put tonnes of hay out for them. There were sensible enough to just potter about slowly (but today, now it’s thawed, they’ve been idiots!)

 

[Tiddlypom]

Mine are sensible when it’s frozen and they just mince around cautiously, but as soon as the ground thaws I know that they will be having a mad 20 minutes of zoomies, dragon snorts and handbrake turns to celebrate not having to be sensible any more .

 

[scats]

Mine are sensible when it’s frozen and they just mince around cautiously, but as soon as the ground thaws I know that they will be having a mad 20 minutes of zoomies, dragon snorts and handbrake turns to celebrate not having to be sensible any more .

That’s exactly what mine have done today. Electric fencing (inner border to keep them off the main fencing) is down in several places and they’d escaped into the front section that I always fence off to keep them away from the gate.

 

[cauda equina]

Mine are sensible when it’s frozen and they just mince around cautiously, but as soon as the ground thaws I know that they will be having a mad 20 minutes of zoomies, dragon snorts and handbrake turns to celebrate not having to be sensible any more .

Your poor field, I can't watch when mine are carrying on like that

 

[Muddywellies]

Your poor field, I can't watch when mine are carrying on like that

Fields recover with a bit of tlc in spring. I used to worry about the field till a farmer friend constantly told me that the fields will recover. Now I don't worry about them.

 

[Elno]

My cousins have horses in Norway, and the yard rule is that they go out every day with hay, unless there is a full blizzard. The fields are snowy, the tracks are icy and definitely not flat, but it's manageable.

I live in Sweden, it's exactly the same here. No one would leave their horses in during winter, not even riding school horses or competition horses. I board my horse in a private yard. Ours were in just one day a couple of weeks ago when it snowed over 50 mm that day with winds blowing up to 25 m/sec.

Attached a picture of a snowy northern Sweden and my Swedish coldblooded trotter mare

 

[humblepie]

Ours can go out if you want to turn out as diy but yard very icy and do not grit. Some of us liveries put a bit of salt down where we walk but can’t do the whole yard. Some stayed in totally, some went out all day and some managed a bit of hand walking in the little bit that was okay. Ours can go out 24 hours a day much of the year and we have all year daytime turnout so it comes down to individual choices re a particular horse, age, any issues etc.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Your poor field, I can't watch when mine are carrying on like that

It’s not the field that I’m worrying about .

Wonky mare is wonky (her right hip is 3” lower than her left hip) because of an unseen splat in the field right at the start of lockdown in March ‘20. Couldn’t even get a vet out to her for months due to lockdown.

By the time she got scanned internally at horsepital months later the vets still couldn’t be sure what she’d done, but said whatever it is is ‘big’. Mix of boney and soft tissue trauma.

 

[Jacksie]

Mine were turned out for the full duration of the bad weather as per their usual routine. I had to be creative as some fields couldn’t be accessed safely (icy paths, deep rutted ground) but the frozen ground allowed me to turn out on fields I can’t usually use at this time of year. Despite their regular turnout, it still wasn’t fun getting back on board as they hadn’t been ridden for a week and were wired. I’m not a fair weather rider, in fact I’ll ride in most but it just wasn’t possible here

 

[pistolpete]

I was in a years where my first boy was kept in for days. His legs filled. Not healthy.

 

[cauda equina]

Fields recover with a bit of tlc in spring. I used to worry about the field till a farmer friend constantly told me that the fields will recover. Now I don't worry about them.

I know they do
I just don't like looking at them

 

[Muddywellies]

I

I know they do
I just don't like looking at them

I'd rather have a happy healthy horse than a pretty field

 

[maya2008]

My ‘been out every day despite the weather but couldn’t run around due to frozen ground’ pony decided to do airs above the ground when I took her for an in hand walk today! Not looking forward to getting back on that tomorrow. No way to lunge her, nowhere to turn her out in a bigger area where she won’t hurt herself (the big winter field is on a steep hill and she is the most accident prone pony ever). Going to stick to roads and surfaced tracks and hope!!!

 

[southerncomfort]

I managed to keep my two oldies mostly out during the freeze. However, my land, although frozen solid, wasn’t unduly dangerous to turn out on.

It’s rather rich for the militant ‘horses must be turned out in all weathers’ brigade to try to bully those who have made different decisions when they have no knowledge of local conditions .

Part of my yard was sloping solid ice, however we could avoid that part. Had it been in the field it would have been lethal.

Yep, my two decided that being out in a field of snow up to the top of my wellies, that had frozen solid, was not fun at all. They couldn't dig for grass, and the snow was up to the mini shetlands armpits.

I'm a 24/7 turnout out person, but if it's not safe, it's not safe. Mine were in for 24 hours before I managed to dig them a path to the school (also with several inches of snow) where they stood in the corner looking miserable.

We can only do our best.

 

[Barklands]

There seems to be a holier than thou attitude from those who were able to turn out. Our yard was like an ice rink - we also have standing water in the fields which also turned into solid ice. Ground was also rutted and frozen solid. Would I have liked to turn my horses out rather than keeping them in for a week? Absolutely. Do I think one week in is better than 6 months box rest if they were to do serious damage or break a leg? Absolutely. Did I spend every day hand walking them round and round the barn instead? Yes.

As perfectly summarised above - we can only do our best.

 

[AdorableAlice]

There seems to be a holier than thou attitude from those who were able to turn out. Our yard was like an ice rink - we also have standing water in the fields which also turned into solid ice. Ground was also rutted and frozen solid. Would I have liked to turn my horses out rather than keeping them in for a week? Absolutely. Do I think one week in is better than 6 months box rest if they were to do serious damage or break a leg? Absolutely. Did I spend every day hand walking them round and round the barn instead? Yes.

As perfectly summarised above - we can only do our best.

Well said, the vets will be busy dealing with turn out related injuries now. Plenty of horses with soft tissue injury, bruised feet etc etc and of course the unfortunate broken leg. We can only do our best with whatever facilities we have.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Ours are kept in when there is a storm (maybe 4 days for the whole of winter) as we have no shelter in the field and its exposed on the side of a valley so the bad weather whips straight through it. However they have been out every day in this ice, thankfully we have a salted yard and sandy soil so no deep ruts, without fail though they are all waiting by the gates by 12:30/1pm when usual bring in time in winter is closer to 4pm. That being said Dex still bronced a lap of the school with me during his saddle fitting....

Hacking on the other hand I haven't been able to do in weeks, from our yard you can access endless hacking either by going up the lane (quite the camber and very slippery), through a twitten (unuseable all winter as it gets deep mud) or up one of two chalk paths (death trap in the icy conditions).. so whilst we are usually very lucky, the freeze is a no-go. I have been feeling quite bad about that but have pretty much just given up riding until it all thaws out, its no fun anyway when you're cold.