Preparing for winter 24/7 turnout - Mare & foal

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MarinaBay

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My mare & foal are at stud. Mare is 13 Section D with arthritis in her front fetlock joint, foal is 4 months old. They are in a herd environment 8 of them all together and foal seems very happy. My mare has never wintered out in the 7 years I have had her & is a real stable lover when it comes to cold dark winter.

They are in a large field with headging on 3 sides, a shelter & a large tree,

Any advice as to how to prepare her for the winter nights & keep both her & foally warm?

A massive massive part of me wants to bring them in at night.... but others say I should toughen up. Am I being soft??

Please either give me a kick up the backside or tell me to bring them in!
 
You may struggle with wintering such a young foal out 24/7. If it's dry and cold it should manage well. However, constant rain will drag it down.

Both will need access to ad lib hay, and you may have to look at feeding as well ( if not allready).

I'm assuming they're out at the stud........
 
I have a 16.1hh IDXTB with a foal at foot who was born on 5th July. They will be staying out 24/7 unless they look like they need to come in. Foal coats are incredibly dense and so long as you leave them to it horses will grow a coat for the weather. So long as you don't keep brushing out the grease in their coats they will remain waterproof. I live in Scotland and I am sure they will survive but there are stables ready for them if they need them. Just play it by ear. i brought them in th other night because it was torrential rain and really cold, the coldest it has been, but by the look on their faces and how eager they were to get out in the morning I think they would have been fine. They are sturdy things, but try not to just turf them out in the snow if they are used to being in, rough them off gradually, mine have been out pretty much 24/7 (unless flies are really bad, or they want to come in) so they are growing the right coat and it will not be a shock to their system. They come in some nights for a feed and proper check over then go out again, other times i just feed them outside and check them over. I like to bring the foal in to handle her and pick up feet etc. I think they will they will let me know when they want in and will be standing at the gate but so far they havnt been.
 
meant to add-even in the torrential rain I parted foalys coat and she was bone dry. I wouldl like a coat like hers. My mare is also used to being kept in at nights as she is usually clipped and in work but has been happy so far. She looks like a yeti, it will be nice to get her clipped and back into work after January!
 
Thanks for your replies. I have just been discussing with amymay in breeding as I naughtily posted this twice to get some advice.

I think what I will do is as you said play it by ear but I will ask the stud owner if they can come in December till the end of Feb obviously see how the weather is as to when they would start coming in etc.

mcrobbiena said:
meant to add-even in the torrential rain I parted foalys coat and she was bone dry. I wouldl like a coat like hers. My mare is also used to being kept in at nights as she is usually clipped and in work but has been happy so far. She looks like a yeti, it will be nice to get her clipped and back into work after January!
Click to expand...

^^ exactly I would love a foally coat! She is rugged already though as was a poor foal to start with. I can't wait to bring my mare back into work - just hope she stays sound!
 
If you haven't already done so, youy could maybe post this on the Breeding forum, lots of knowledgable people that do this constantly.
Personally I'm with the softies brigade, my mare doesn't live out, how would living out in the cold affect the arthritius in the mare?
 
Well last winter she was in at night & I made sure she had enough exercise / turnout to keep her moving plus a big stable!

I am catch 22 about this as well joint out in the cold but moving or in in the warm and still!!
 
I am sorry to hear she was a poor foal to start with, I too would be erring on the side of caution then. We were lucky the foaling was very textbook, and I had bought a CCTV camera so was watching everything from my bed with my BF,brother and mum, The BF must have thought it was the WEIRDEST situation. Its such an amazing moment though! She is HUGE now slightly worried she is doing a bit too well but is in proportion, I will try to take pics for CC so people can give me their advice but this is why I think she will be fine outside. I was so proud when the vet said she was the best foal he had seen :D
 
Aww sounds an ideal situation sat in bed watching! My mare just decided to have her in the field at 4.30 in the afternoon after no warning!! My mare wasn't the best mum hence why baby was a bit poor but she has caught up nicely now, just don't want her to dip again!! The vet has said she is a very nice foal my mare & the stallion seemed to have given her there best features.
Just winter to get through ahhhh!
 
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