Leaving out overnight...

[MizElz]

Ellie's down to two rugs in the stable at the moment - a summer sheet and a lightweight stable quilt, although she doesnt have anything on through the day. Now her paddock is secure, I'm wondering whether it would be fair to her to leave her out overnight. It's so warm, and she's happier than she's been in the field in a long time. It wouldnt be a permanent thing - I'm not one of those people who thinks, right, now she's out, she's out! If the weather turns tomorrow, she will come back in overnight.

Just wondering if anyone else is leaving them out overnight already, and if so, are they rugged? I think I'm going to be guided by Ellie - if she looks to come in, I will bring her in, if not, she can stay out!

 

[teabiscuit]

out without rugs, but like you i'd bring them in again at night if the weather turned or they started looking sorry

 

[pedilia]

Mine have been out 24/7 since last weekend, my arab has been rug free since last year and my TB is now rugless and enjoying the sun on his back!

 

[soph21]

omg

She's wearing stable rugs?
And quilt under a turnout rug?

You are barmy!!

Mine have been naked 24/7 for nearly 3 weeks and bears clipped!!!

Sophie

 

[HayleyUK]

out & naked!

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
omg

She's wearing stable rugs?
And quilt under a turnout rug?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nooooooo she's not got anything on in the field, it's just in the stable she still has rugs on! I always have a summer sheet on her anyway when she's in, but she got decidedly chilly the minute I suggested taking her quilt (a very lightweight Masta) off last week!

She does feel the cold very easily; it was only two weeks ago that she was warm enough for me to take off her fleece!

She's toasty out there in the sun now

 

[mattilda]

My mare is out 24/7 and naked although if it turns cold she will come in for the odd night. The boys are out naked during the day although if it's wet and cold they are rugged. At night they are in and naked since Monday night. Whisk is clipped.

 

[cobden99]

Yes I changed mine over at the weekend so they are out at night naked and in during the day. They hate the flies so like to come in and sleep when its warm

 

[0ldmare]

Lord mine would cook in rugs at the moment! They are out 24 x 7 (it would take a lot for me to get them in now!)

 

[reddie]

My TB is out 24/7 and rugless. He's much happier now he's out and is a hardy creature. if the weather turns he won't be in, but i would consider putting a rug on him again.

 

[gembob]

m arab x is out 24/7 nakey too he loves it he scowled at me tday when i brought him up to hose him off!

 

[westernriderH]

out without rugs but they're tough little guys and hate rugs anyway

if it started raining they'd come in at night.

 

[sevenoceans]

Mine's TB, Clipped, living out Naked, on a Hill... will have rain sheet if wet/cold..... I am a mean Mummy!

 

[asbo]

out 24/7 but still in rugs at night

 

[JoBo]

Bodey is out and naked, and he is clipped! Certainly wasn’t cold when he came in this morning. He will stay out over night but if the weather turns he will just get a rug on.

 

[wonkey_donkey]

Although a stable sheet keeps them clean for us, horses love to be naked so they can scratch, roll and lie down without the restrictions of any sort of rug.
Make good use of this lovely weather and whip everything off and allow your horse some real freedom - he will thank you for it!

 

[hallarider]

Out at night and in daytime - been naked for about 2 weeks now and one is fully clipped.

 

[muffinino]

I'm one of those people who think "Now he's out, he's out!"

Titan is a pikey pony and likes nothing moe than a good roll in the mud and rain. Rugs came off around 3 weeks ago, they went out 24/7 Monday and the outdoor rugs will be washed, proofed and stored ready for winter. Once they're off, they're off. I will put a breathable fleece designed to wick moisture away on during the night if he comes in for a show but that's because I don't want him getting too dirty! Don't put it on just because it's purple and makes him look like a giant Ribenaberry, no, not in any way

 

[scotsmare]

My guys are all out without rugs during the day, but still rugged at night (it's chilly in NE Scotland!) That said, I'm starting to wean them off them now but if the weather turns they'll be back in.

 

[Donkeymad]

Ours are always out 24/7 and have been naked day and night for a month now.

 

[piaffe]

[ QUOTE ]
omg

She's wearing stable rugs?
And quilt under a turnout rug?

You are barmy!!

Mine have been naked 24/7 for nearly 3 weeks and bears clipped!!!

Sophie

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, I have to agree there, unless, of course, you live at the North Pole. All of mine have been out 24/7 for 3 weeks now without a thing on.

 

[Skhosu]

There are lots of people who thing its ok to rug all summer..
with the recent temps I feel very sorry for their horses!!
Of course different areas have diff temps, our two fine haired horses are out 24/7 w/out rugs as of this week.

 

[sandr]

Yep, even my clipped TB is naked 24/7 now

 

[Sam1985]

Nakey with their ding dongs on show for everyone to see !! And they're loving it!

 

[SecretSquirrell379]

mine is out 24/7 and last night was her first night out naked and she was lovely and warm this morning, so she is out naked again tonight and I'm sure that she will be fine. Leave her out, she'll love you for it

 

[Puppy]

Both mine are out 24/7 naked now.

YAY!

 

[asbo]

as you say, different areas have different temps, was pretty chilly at 5am here this am, and JJ is such a flower i know he would be shivering

 

[MizElz]

[ QUOTE ]
as you say, different areas have different temps, was pretty chilly at 5am here this am, and JJ is such a flower i know he would be shivering

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree Asbo, there is no WAY I could leave Elz without anything on in the stable at the moment

Believe me I have tried, and she just shivers! I think as well as allowing for different areas, you have to allow for different horses' likes and needs - Ellie is very thin skinned and feels the cold only too easily!

That said, I just want to reiterate that she is NAKED in the field - it is only in the stable overnight that she has a rug on. Some replies seem to suggest that she is out with a NZ and a quilt - NOT TRUE, I promise!

That, I agree, would be bonkers!

ETS She did come in last night....she was asking to, and we all know how much I like to pander to her

 

[ladyt25]

Chuck 'em out that's what i say, mine are all out 24/7 now and mine was fully clipped 2nd time in Jan! They're horses at the end of the day not humans. At the moment the temperature at night rarely drops below 10 degrees so that is not cold.

How do you know your horse is cold anyway? What does she do? A horse will get colder stood in the stable anyway, turn them out they are generally on the move most of the time so don't get so cold. I think most of us are far to soft these days and forget horses are built to live out!

 

[Abbeygale]

Due to limited grazing my guys always are on a half day in half day out system - so they are in over night in the winter, but will be in during the day out of the worst of the flies in the summer. We have quite a bit of water just near us and tend to get a lot of nasty little midges - so my guys just have their fly sheets on over night in the field - and no clothes on during the day.
The pony feels the cold and so has had a lightweight T/O rug on over night recently

In a lot of ways would love to be able to do 24/7 turnout - but all my guys do love coming in for a kip in their houses in the mornings. I am always greeted by a queue of pricked ears when I go to the field in the morning.