Not allowed to turn out in snow! WWYD?

I don't understand why YO make this rule. Horses are perfectly capable of getting around in snow. It's only snow for goodness sake. And they can get to the grass, they just dig around and move the snow out of the way. What if there is snow on the ground for weeks on end? I'd ask to put the horse out, or can you go onto 24/7 outdoor livery for a while?
 
It might be a bit slippy but for the last few days the route has been icy but the horses still turned out :/ just walk more on the grass than concrete

I'm just going to ask the reasons for no turnout and if its just about no grass, ask for her to be out for a little bit just let off some steam
 
I have had horses 25 years. And in that that time i have worked full time on three yards a hunt, a stud, and a competition yard. I my self have had 2 or 3 of my own in my care of them years. In all that time the only horse that has broken its leg was mine in the middle of summer turned out on his own!? I would not stay at a yard if my horse had to be in for a month at a time, i would also rather turn out every day no matter what weather than in for days only to have a mad hoon around when they do go out. I guess its all about choice but no horse of mine would be in 247 unless on box rest.
 
If your fields were muddy and rutted before the snow I wouldn't be turning out. Yes the snow looks fine, but the rock hard ice ruts aren't so forgiving.
 
Speak to the Y/O and ask if you can turn out for a short period.

If not, can you perhaps walk in hand or lunge?

Heavy snow is generally a rare occurrence for most of the UK - as frustrating as it is, I don't think it will do any harm if your horse has to stay in for a couple of days.

I prefer mine to be out in all weather but he's too lazy to dig for grass and tends to stand sulking at the gate until I throw him some hay or bring him in.
 
Ours have been in all week. The yard staff won't turn out if it is snowy or icy due to insurance issues. They do turn their own horses out though, sadly my girl struggles to understand this.
 
If there are others on grass livery out, then I dont understand why she's restricting your turnout! Unless the route to the field is iced over.

Mine has been in for a week now, I was actually hoping the fields would be re opened as its got a goodmkayer of snow on it.... But no such luck!
 
Just before it snowed a horse trashed all the fencing so the farmer has not been able to fix it yet, therefore we are on day 3 of horses staying in. Not good when I have an arthritic mare and now I can't get to the yard tonight either as the roads are awful.
 
Maybe before you moaned about your YO not allowing horses out, you should actually check the fields? Ours are all in today, will be walked in hand (done mine already) but I did walk down our fields to walk my dogs and check water and the fields are rock hard. No way I want mine out in that. Grass liveries are always moving about so the chance of them being idiots is pretty small, particularly if there is a lot of hay out for them. Its not the snow that is keeping ours in, its the ground. When it settles a bit and the ground isn't so hard then ours will all go out again.
 
Hi, sorry not read all the replies - hope you have got it sorted but if not....
i would speak to your YO, I am a YO who also have some that are out 24/7, then the stabled liveries turn out in the daytime during winter - our fields are still open and i would never dream of not allowing them to be used due to the snow. (my opinion is that they are better out for a few hours a day, rather than staying in a few days and then having a crazy run around when they finally do go back out), anyway, you could always poss ask if yours could maybe go out with the 24/7 horses just during the day? (assuming thats feasible, the horses know each other etc).
I really hope your YO is ok with it and doesnt chuck you off - i know what some can be like.
 
Ours will go out for a leg stretch whilst we muck out etc but they want to come in after about half an hour or so anyway. I think it's safer to turnout on new snow than in a few days when it will be icy and slippery. Our yard made the mistake two years ago of saying don't turn out on the first day of snow and of course it lasted two weeks so since then I make sure mine go out even if only for a short time until the track is too icy. They are happy enough staying in just make sure they have ad lib hay.
 
Luci07 said:
Maybe before you moaned about your YO not allowing horses out, you should actually check the fields? Ours are all in today, will be walked in hand (done mine already) but I did walk down our fields to walk my dogs and check water and the fields are rock hard. No way I want mine out in that. Grass liveries are always moving about so the chance of them being idiots is pretty small, particularly if there is a lot of hay out for them. Its not the snow that is keeping ours in, its the ground. When it settles a bit and the ground isn't so hard then ours will all go out again.
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I never moaned about it, was just querying how to handle it. And if you read my OP you would have seen I said I understand if I cant turnout because its too dangerous to, but the reason is cus they dont see a reason to turnout.

Anyways I've sorted it now :) she'll be going out for a few hours in morning just to stretch and walked out in the afternoon, until they can all be back out all day again.

I wouldnt complain about my YO, she's amazing really. Even with all this rain the horses have been allowed out with no restrictions at all. I was just worrying with this staying in because my horse gets really stiff and it will be very painful for her.
 
Mine goes out regardless..unless its a frozen storm. We put 4 haynets out for 3 horses..saves arguments. Though tbh all 3 want in as soon as haynets are done!!! Greedy beggars.
 
Mine are kept at home so make my own rules. My fields were pretty muddy before the snow, so very rutted. Also have to go across a large very icy yard to get to them. They are going out for a few hours a couple of times a week at the moment as the fields really are a bit dangerous as is the route to them. They come out every day while being mucked out etc and because of the stable set up, can all see each other.

Ad lib hay and grass bricks and all seem very happy and sane even the welsh d who for years would not be stabled. No stiffness or swelling even in the old lady. Rather they stay in than damage themselves on the ice to be honest. Maybe I'm lucky and don't have any head cases at the moment.
 
live2ride said:
I never moaned about it, was just querying how to handle it. And if you read my OP you would have seen I said I understand if I cant turnout because its too dangerous to, but the reason is cus they dont see a reason to turnout.

Anyways I've sorted it now :) she'll be going out for a few hours in morning just to stretch and walked out in the afternoon, until they can all be back out all day again.

I wouldnt complain about my YO, she's amazing really. Even with all this rain the horses have been allowed out with no restrictions at all. I was just worrying with this staying in because my horse gets really stiff and it will be very painful for her.
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Sorry my comment was not specifically aimed at you more everyone up in arms about no turn our. Our fields were like rock and I found it hard going walking over them. Our yard has had salt down for ages and they are pretty on top of clearing pathways. It's walking in hand, ad lib hay, and cut back on heating foods for now.
 
Mine have been in since tuesday now as all the snow froze then it snowed on top and i can barely stay upright keep taking him out for a leg stretch arenas has been snowed under for a week now aswell might turn him out for half hour tomorrow depending on the ground.
Agree though it should be your decision to a certain extent but glad you have sorted things out now!
Roll on spring!!
 
Poor you - you have my sympathy. My yard is the opposite - the horses are only allowed out in the winter when it IS snowy and frosty so you can imagine I am happy at the moment as he is getting out everyday for a couple of hours which as others have said, does just as much good for them mentally as it does physically.
 
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