Leaving horses out overnight when they are normally stabled

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now_loves_mares

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I am in Scotland, and we have a good 2ft of snow. I am fairly hardcore about turning mine out every day, and this morning was no exception. However - my field is about half a mile from the stables. To get to it I have to walk through another field, and parts of this were thigh deep. The horses managed ok, but I nearly had a heart attack getting through it, leading two horses and carrying a haynet. Not to mention that my daft horses kept laying down to make snow-angel-horses in it :rolleyes:

The waterer in my field has a leak, which means water is constantly flowing. To this end, it hasn't frozen so far. They have a large shelter. Neither are clipped. However, one is a thin-skinned TB and really really hates being out when it's cold, and it's forecast to get quite chilly tonight.

Only thing is, I'd still have to get hay down to them which has to be done by hand (car can't get down road just now), but I could do this the long way down the road which would be a bit less heart-attack inducing.

Now I know lots of people believe all horses are capable of living out, but I'm not sure my TB will like it. Plus, they have been stabled overnight all of November. Is it really going to be a shock to them to suddenly stay out overnight?

Just musing really. Can't decide if it's a bit unfair on them, or indeed if it will be any easier. But even emptying the wheel barrow this morning was a feat requiring Super-Human strength :(

Thoughts? (BTW I love the snow, much rather this than mud, so not in any hurry for it to go LOL)
 
My WB is pretty overweight so currently only wearing a MW amigo, no neck. But she has a Wug I can put on her. TB is already wearing her 300g liner under her Duo, plus full neck during the day. Not sure she can carry any more rug weight :rolleyes:
 
I agree with Ted's Mum, as long as they are rugged up, have access to feed and water and I think you said they had a shelter avalible, they should be fine. They may not be very impressed if they are used to living in but as long as they are warm, dry and feed the should cope. Maybe put an extra rug on the TB.
 
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The last few days have been the coldest we have had and my TB was just clipped (literally that day)
I have one stable on a livery yard and my horse is stabled overnight and out in the day. We also have a pony at the yard who lives out....but injured his foot and had to be stabled. The only thing i could do was rug mine up really well and chuck him back out to use my own stable for the pony (no others free at the yard)
He was absolutely fine, I think he enjoyed it really! some people at the yard made a few little snipes about him being out and me being cruel but it would have been meaner putting ponio out with a very sore foot.
I really think any horse can live out and if i had the facilities- ie. shelter etc i would leave mine out all the time.
 
My mare and foal are coming in overnight but he nearly went down this morning on the one bit of concrete we have to cross so I am tempted to leave them out with the ponies. Trouble is my mare HATES being out too long, and all night would be the end of the world.
Still for yours it has to be better than a broken mummy, surely?
 
Broken mummy is right :o

Am wondering if I could persuade a friendly farmer to take 10 minutes away from tending to his own flock to take a large bale of haylage down on the tractor. Then I could just stay under the duvet and leave them to it ;):p
 
they'll be fine :) will keep themselves warm by eating and walking about :)
mine is out 24/7 fully clipped - and only natural shelter - and is getting fat as i can't ride at the mo :rolleyes: doh!

ETA - and i'm north of you i hasten to add ;)
 
Not sure how much walking about they are actually doing :rolleyes:. Judging by yesterday's tracks, they went to the waterer once and that's about it! Spent the rest of the time in or near the shelter eating hay.

The snow's a bit mental, isn't it? :cool:

I wonder what the actual temperature differential is between standing out vs standing in their stables?
 
we've had 17" fall - but only about 12" lying as its compacted now. it was -12 at 9am today - crazy!!

i tend to spread hay about so they have to keep walking to get it - also one of the horses always thinks the other pile is better so constantly walks and chases off the horses - so they all end up walking about quite a bit!!
 
The ponies I look after usually come in at night but last winter when the water in the yard froze up and walking to and from the field was slippery and scary, I decided to leave them out. They were absolutely fine, including my 30 year old pony. I just gave them all extra rugs and ad lib hay. Doing it again this time from tonight when my OH goes away and I'd have to get them to and from the field on my own. Its safer for me and them just leaving them there and bringing whatever they need to them.

ETA They were a lot happier than my riding horse at livery who was allowed little to no turnout at all during the freeze.
 
Have had ponies who love to do that when walking through streams, Not funny no matter how warm it is, not sure I would be keen on a roll in the snow!!!
 
I should stress they don't normally do it! But this morning it was hilarious, their knees just kept buckling. Although the first time, my TB was a bit shocked by how deep it was! She lay down, couldn't actually roll as she'd made a shelf, so just go back up and sort of shook in shock. The other one went down a few times, kept rubbing her head up and down in the snow, snuffling her nose in and tossing it about. Weirdo :rolleyes:

She is also close to doing a Dumb and Dumber moment, as she keeps licking the snow off the metal gate. As my OH says - he has no idea how horses survived natural selection :D:p
 
With adequate rugging, ad lib hay or haylage and the fact that you know they have access to water because of the broken waterer then yes, I'd definitely leave them out. Better that way than them ending up stuck inside if you can't get there for any reason and easier for you to not have quite such a difficult journey across to them.
 
They will be fine out I'm sure. Perhaps look a little baffled at the change in their routines but after a couple of days they'll be as happy as larry, specially if you get a bale of hay into the field. Mine is out 24/7 with a bib clip, two scoops of baileys lo cal and haylage put in the field twice a day. I skidded out to see her yesterday and she was calmly dosing away with the rest of her herd. I'd be more nervous if she was in a stable and ended up snowed in!
 
Well the good thing is that I have them at home, so can always manage to get to them!

I chickened out and took them in tonight. However the plough has been leaving an ever growing pile of snow right outside their gate, so the decision may well be taken out of my hands soon!
 
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