Need reassurance! Usually stabled horse had to be turned out

[feisty_filly]

My veteran pony has always lived out until this year when his arthritis got worse and he got retired and started being brought in at night. With this snow our van is snowed under and I can't get up to Te yard so he has had to be put in the field with the horses that live out. I feel awful! There's hay in the field and he has 2 heavy weight rugs on so he should be warm but the other liveries keep ringing me to say he's at the gate. I would rather him out in the field than stuck in his stable all day. Am I right? Realt sorry I'm rambling but I'm a bit panicked ( asking people to do him for me isn't an option)

 

[flyingfeet]

When brought in was he given buckets of hard feed? If so that's probably why he is wistfully standing at the gate!

Horses are designed to live out, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[xxRachelxx]

He is prob standing by the gate because the other people are there. I expect when they are go home he will go and eat the hay etc. The other night I went up to yard to get the horses in. They were happily grazing then as soon as they saw my car galloped to the gate and stayed there looking sorry for themsleves! He will be fine. Try not to worry too much. and tell the others to stop ringing an upsetting you!!!

 

[Pedantic]

Food, water, dry, rugged, he will be fine, most likely be healthier for it, if his routine is to come in, that's why he's at the gate, he will go back to his mates when your not there.

 

[solly3066]

Hi there,

Please don't worry! Im sure everything will be fine My 3 are all out 24/7 and are absolutely fine; they're well rugged, loads of hay in the field and fed well.

They all come to the gate when they see me as it usually means breakfast, dinners or snack but happily go and mooch about again when there's nothing on offer!

As previous post.......horses and ponies are designed to live outside

 

[eggs]

With his arthritis I think it is much better for him to be out where he can keep moving than stuck in a stable.

One of my old retired boys is arthritic and although they all come in for a couple of hours during the day for a feed and checkover he is noticeably worse if he stands in for too long.

 

[ISHmad]

Agree with the other posters OP. He'll be fine, think he's just having a look to see if there's any nice nom nom nom feed available!