No field shelter, hot stables. In or out?!

[LittleBlueBird]

Planning won’t allow any type of field shelter which I think is awful, fields are open only a little shelter from trees along part of the fence in the afternoon. The stables get really hot and stuffy but out of the full sun. They’ve forecast 25 degrees today, if there’s a breeze fine if not would you bring in or leave out?

 

[Archangel]

I would leave out unless they are being eaten alive by horse flies. Shade in the afternoon is when they need it most and they can choose where they are.

 

[SEL]

Out. I've had the vet out for heat stroke for a horse left in a hot stable.

My friend has put a sail up in her paddock. Can't do very windy days but the horses do use it.

 

[LittleBlueBird]

I’ve suggested a sail, field owner is very reluctant. I worry a lot about them in the summer.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Out. My stables are stifling in the heat. At least outside there is a bit of breeze.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Is there someone around to wash them off a few times during the day, and then let them drip dry in the field?

My old stables were unusable in a heatwave as they got so hot, so the horses always had to be out.

25c isn't too bad. Are you likely to get hotter temps early next week like we are?

 

[Marigold4]

My stables are hot too but I have installed fans which helps a lot. I also spray water on the roof when it's really hot to it cool down. Not very environmentally friendly though!

 

[Tiddlypom]

People who've got fans, how do you set them up? We've got swallows in all the outbuildings, and I don't want the swallows to get chopped up by the fan blades or indeed cr@p all over the fans.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I’ve a horse with me at the moment who wears a PE extra light fly sheet which is marketed as being cool and reflective. I’m not a fan of PE rugs but the fly sheet is impressive, the horse is out full time and is cool under the rug.

It looks and feels like plastic compared to the traditional amigo rugs that I use. The horse is much cooler to the touch than the others in their amigo rugs.

 

[Highmileagecob]

If it's any help, we have a thick shelter belt on all four sides of the field, and there is always somewhere the horses can find shade or shelter. Where do they choose to be? Smack in the middle of the field, even on the hottest days.

 

[Dasher66]

it won’t help today, but plant a couple of trees and a short length of hedge with a corner to give future incumbents some shelter.

 

[SO1]

Can you give them a full clip which is what I did for my pony a few weeks ago.

It is going to be really hot next week 30C forna fee days and high 20s. Global warming may lead to hotter summers.

 

[Widgeon]

If it's any help, we have a thick shelter belt on all four sides of the field, and there is always somewhere the horses can find shade or shelter. Where do they choose to be? Smack in the middle of the field, even on the hottest days.

Same here. He could be under the shade of the trees, but no, he's right out in the middle of the field dozing and sweltering under the hot afternoon sun.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Out, they will find the most comfortable place to he for themselves. Could you put up some kind of awning/ overhang on the stables to provide extra shade?

 

[Hallo2012]

People who've got fans, how do you set them up? We've got swallows in all the outbuildings, and I don't want the swallows to get chopped up by the fan blades or indeed cr@p all over the fans.

we nailed two uprights of wood in corner, so we can slot the fan behind it and tilt it down on to horses, and then remove each night.

They are rechargeable ones, they wouldn't chop up a bird

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’d go with out.. however I’m lucky enough to have a safe gate I can leave open onto my yard and previous summers let them choose, one in particular was always in, often the others would choose to come in out of the flies or sun, even though my wooden boxes get hot.
I can’t do that now as the current little gang don’t get on well enough to stable share (they tend to crowd into one together!)
I have let trees grow up over the back of my stables and we cut “windows” out at the back. It’s made a massive difference into how useable they are in summer now. Realise not everyone can butcher their stables or grow trees but if you can I’d recommend!

 

[Goldenstar]

You have to let the horses tell you .
I used to have hot stables at top yard until we got it sorted by doing something to the roof
I had extra ventilation put in and use stall bars .
My experience is once the horse flys start the horses would rather be standing shaded inside even if it’s hot than out and hot and pestered .
I am lucky now the stables I have stables are fabulous in heat the horses can’t wait to get in .

 

[palo1]

If you can't modify the stables then a full clip, washing the horses down and leaving out would probably be best for them. If you can get hold of a cooling rug or two they may be worth trying. Perhaps a temporary sail would be acceptable for the land-owner too. Clipping my black horse and water cooling her in the late morning/early afternoon really seems to help too.

 

[palo1]

You have to let the horses tell you .
I used to have hot stables at top yard until we got it sorted by doing something to the roof
I had extra ventilation put in and use stall bars .
My experience is once the horse flys start the horses would rather be standing shaded inside even if it’s hot than out and hot and pestered .
I am lucky now the stables I have stables are fabulous in heat the horses can’t wait to get in .

Yes, ours will spend hours in the barn in hot, fly-ridden weather - they can come and go freely but barely venture out of the barn for ages at a time!

 

[Marigold4]

People who've got fans, how do you set them up? We've got swallows in all the outbuildings, and I don't want the swallows to get chopped up by the fan blades or indeed cr@p all over the fans.

People who've got fans, how do you set them up? We've got swallows in all the outbuildings, and I don't want the swallows to get chopped up by the fan blades or indeed cr@p all over the fans.

My fans have a cage in front so my birds (doves) aren't injured. Baby swallows might though but you could put chicken wire in front? My husband fixed the fans quite high up inside on stable wall and we've angled them down on to the horses. They love them and stand directly under the airflow. Keeps flies away too.

 

[Sealine]

Do those of you who choose to clip in summer find the horses attract more flies? Apologies if that sounds odd but I bought my horse (many years ago) in August he had been clipped out. I would find him literally covered in hundreds of flies and bitten to buggery so I had to use a fly rug. I've never clipped him in summer and never had to use a fly rug again so I assumed it was the clipping that caused the fly problem.

 

[MagicMelon]

Out. Theres no way its too hot for horses no matter how warm our country gets. Im sure they are out (often working) in far hotter in other countries. Outside they at least have a breeze perhaps, much less risky than putting in a hot stable which IMO is no different to leaving a dog in a hot car

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s not in any way the same as dogs in cars ,horses thermoregulate extremely well dogs can’t .
Flys and biting insects make horses lives misery in hot weather .

 

[Widgeon]

It’s not in any way the same as dogs in cars ,horses thermoregulate extremely well dogs can’t .
Flys and biting insects make horses lives misery in hot weather .

I assume that MM was meaning that it is similar in that "The stables get really hot and stuffy". So the OP is not choosing between out in the sun and the flies and in in a nice cool, well ventilated stable - instead it's more about the lesser of two evils. I don't think anyone would claim that a well built and ventilated stable is in any way similar to a hot car.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Do those of you who choose to clip in summer find the horses attract more flies? Apologies if that sounds odd but I bought my horse (many years ago) in August he had been clipped out. I would find him literally covered in hundreds of flies and bitten to buggery so I had to use a fly rug. I've never clipped him in summer and never had to use a fly rug again so I assumed it was the clipping that caused the fly problem.

It isn’t odd. I thought the same when I had a cob that needed clipping out all year round. I’m not sure he attracted them more but assume the small amount of hair they have gives a little natural protection. If we take it away they can bite or even just irritate the skin easier perhaps?
I too used a a good fly sheet.

 

[Antw23uk]

Mine will be in, he has a bar across his stable door so its open to a breeze and i took the top half of the front away a few years ago to allow more light and air. He will be monitored and hosed down a few times and he likes to just stand in and snooze!

 

[Leandy]

Out. I would not clip either, they are more exposed that way to sun and flies. They have fur for a reason!

 

[milliepops]

It’s not in any way the same as dogs in cars ,horses thermoregulate extremely well dogs can’t .
Flys and biting insects make horses lives misery in hot weather .

yeah. my stables on the yard are hot in the morning (cooler in the afternoon but still warmer than where i used to be with lovely airy barns )

the horses are still better off inside than out in the exposed fields where the flies plague them. it's hot everywhere so they may as well be hot and fly-free.

 

[Auslander]

My mares field has 3 hedge lines, one of which is made up of large trees. The girls are all standing in a huddle in the middle of the field, snoozing happily

 

[Jellymoon]

I think out is always better than a boiling hot stable.

And personally, I wouldn’t clip, I would leave für on to protect them from flies. But I don’t have very hairy natives.