Out 24/7 in Winter....thoughts?

I have a pony very similar looking to yours but a new forest he lives out and loves it. I think it will depend on what sort of grazing you have - we have living hay as the winter fields are rested for 8 months a year. We don't have field shelters but do have natural shelter in the forms of some wooded areas and lots of hedges.

My pony only had hay in the field when it snowed and they could not access the grass that well but they did not get ad lib hay as they would have got fat just standing about and eating.

My pony is also clipped. Our winter grazing does look like this though

homeyfieldwinter001.jpg


I think what you are paying is reasonable for where you are and because you are on full grass livery with good facilities
 
why1040 said:
If it was down to me, mine would be out 24/7 all year round (preferrably with no rug, just allowed to grow his own hair out). My YO won't turn any of hers out 24/7 though, and as there's only me and one other livery, I'm a little stuffed (though actually he doesn't seem to mind being on his own).

Yours is a hardy type who'll grow plenty of lovely warm coat to keep him insulated from the cold. As long as he gets plenty of grass/hay to act as central heating, I'd imagine he'll do absolutely fine!

My only concern on a personal level would be not having access to a stable in case of injury or illness. If she's going to get so busy she couldn't let you have a stable later if something went wrong, it might be worth looking into having it anyway...but that's me and I can be a little OTT on the thinking ahead in case anything goes wrong thing :D
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This........all ours, including the TB and the warmbloods, live out all year round but we do have stables for emergencies.
 
Benefits of horses living out, they can constantly move around, the don't develop a winter cough from dust/hay/stables/straw/shavings, which for my boy also had a knock on effect of stopping spring allergies & itchyness due to his wind being so good, that and they get to live like horses!
 
Good god woman, buy a good rug and Turn him out! ;) My Sensitive TB lives out happily with very heavy (400grm) full neck turnout and full neck fleece cooler underneath (so i can wash it as she wears the rug 24/7) and long turnout socks for all 4 legs in the snow and ice. Plus I will be investing in a waterproof snuggy hood for this year as well (due to shoulder and mane rubbing) plenty of hay and 2 x feeds with hot water in when its frozen. Good luck.
 
Horses vary, and whilst mine may be fine out all winter, that does not mean that yours will be.

On saying that, providing you provide enough forage as either hay or haylege, there should be absolutely no reason not to keep him our 24/7/365. It is generally healthier for both body and mind of horses.
 
Mine live out all year round. No rugs either! But they do make use of any shelter they can find whether that's a gorse bush or a barn. Ponies are quite canny about that.
 
I used to be at a DIY yard that stipulated that all horses and ponies were stabled overnight ALL YEAR ROUND!! So this was what I was used to. My welsh cob was clipped and rugged as he was working 4 - 5 times a week.

Last summer I moved to a private place, and they have lived out ever since, all through last winter and the snow.

The welsh was roughed off over winter as there is no school and he wouldn;t hack alone at the time, I once tried to rug him but he sweated and rolled a lot so I took it off. He has always been a wimp about the cold and never grew much of a coat but I think its all down to conditioning - last year he was like a mammoth but I thinkits because he was out from summer on, and was allowed to 'naturalise'

There is natural shelter in the field from hedging and trees.

My elderly TB was also out all winter - as advised by the vet, due to stiffness etc. He managed remarkably well, and was in his own little paddock overnight with plenty of food, ad lib hay and a cosy shelter. He was also well rugged. I tried to bring him over night in during the worst of the weather and he caused merry hell so i put him out again.

I think £200 per month is a lot, although I guess you are gettign hay included.

Work wise you will save a lot of time havign them out, and this means more time for riding, grooming etc.
 
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