Pro's and con's wintering tbs out

[pinklilly]

Trying to weigh up my options, I rent a 4 and a quarter field on a yearly basis and have the option of renting 2 stables and a small field at home. The stables are around the going rate for DIY, without the benefits, I would need to buy in my own haylage and bedding, get feed bins, mucking out equipment etc and do most of the maintenance.

Anyway, I was considering wintering my 2 tb geldings out, they'll get ad-lib haylage and whatever rugs and feed they need.

I haven't wintered horses out before, how do you manage mud fever in horses that stay out? All horses I have worked with or owned have been stabled at least at night during winter.

Anything else I'd need to consider?

 

[cob&onion]

I am planning on wintering out my TB this winter. I always winter out the 2 natives rugless and without hard feed. Fingers crossed no mud-fever. The TB will be well rugged and have hard feed and ad-lib hay, shes not prone to mud fever so should be oksy on that front. However my field gets very wet and boggy so will be on the look out to move them december time depending on the weather.
Last winter we got one of those large round hays and left it out for them in the snow, all coped fine.
Alot easier IMO to be out 24/7, no mucking out to do and the horses seem less stressed and calmer.

 

[pinklilly]

I think I'll give it a go, they can always come in at a later date if necessary.