Seriously wet fields, do you leave out anyway?

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poiuytrewq

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I've been pondering this! I've two horses one that wind sucks and one that weaves so I prefer them to be out as much as possible. Last winter they didn't come in til Christmas and then they stayed out some nights if it was dry.
My field isn't huge and has heavy clay soil which is currently already waterlogged. By the gate they are almost knee deep. Further up the field it's very watery but not so muddy. I'm not overly worried about trashing the field as it will always come back in the spring. But I do wonder how just standing in wet and mud can be good for them and which is the lesser of two evils? Stabling two horses who prefer not to or leaving two grouchy looking horses in the mud?
The other slight issue is I've bought in hay but hadnt really budgeted on them being in so soon.
What's everyone else doing?
 
Mine are out since I have no stables. I am lucky to be on free draining land and plenty of it too. When I was horse hunting I saw some turnout pens with wood chip. Considered building something like this for late in the winter. Don't get more than hoof deep mud here luckily.
 
I'm struggling with this one too, I don't like mine standing knee deep in mud either and the ground is much worse for this time of year than I can remember. I have been trying to manage mine by taping off the worst areas and moving them round more than usual. It just gives the poached bits a chance to recover. I'd prefer them to be out in a smaller area than standing in for too long.
 
I've got heavy, wet clay fields as well :-(

Two come in overnight & the other four are out at night but come in to have hay & dry legs off for 7-8 hours during the day. I can't bare to see them standing, miserable in the mud. At least after they've been in they are keen to be out again & happy to move around in search of grass.

Could you bring in during the day? They would still be out for 14-16 hours.
 
My land gets very wet, not knee deep yet fortunately, I bring in during the day in the summer and autumn, I feel this gives them time to dry out, gets some hay inside them and I continue with this routine until I have no choice but to bring them in overnight and turnout during the day. If the weather is nice they are happy to get breakfast out and stay out all day or get put out early but I feel it is good for them to have a chance to dry out and I can check their legs and feet are ok each day.
 
I love the chip all weather turn out idea. My field is rented though so I don't want to spend much more in it! Mainly due to the fact if something comes up in a dryer area I will move.
I'm not sure I'd even have anywhere dry enough to do it without the whole lot turning to mulch!
It's a nightmare isn't it!
 
I generally leave mine out. There are usually dry areas. It's just the gateways that get really bad and the odd lake also appears! If it is really bad I bring them into the area around the stables which has hardcore down and just give them hay.
 
I had this problem last year, but then I bought the rubber mats for in the field and since I have put them in, I haven't had a muddy patch in front of the gate. I usually cut some branches from the trees and throw them into the field, keeps them happy!
 
I have been bringing my two in overnight if I feel the paddock is getting a bit muddy. It gives them a chance to dry off and have some hay. If I feel the paddock isn't too bad I will leave them out so they don't necessarily come in every night. As there isn't a great deal of grass in the paddock they are quite happy to come in for the night and munch on some hay.
 
I'm having the same dilemma - this weather has been so awful the field is all soggy already and i was hoping to leave my 2 out until at least Christmas!

I kept mine in for the past 48hrs as the rain was so bad, and put them out this morning, and i think this is what i'll end up doing - keep them in when it's very wet, then back out when not - hopefully this will avoid poaching when the ground is very wet??

I am looking into getting some woodchip for the gateway too... does anyone have any experience of using this??
 
Ours were left out until the end of November last year but they are all coming in for the night for winter as of tonight.

We too have very wet heavy clay fields and it is just so wet! Its almost knee deep in mud! Rather than having nabsolutely no grazing for the winter (if any horses does more than a walk they churn the fields up) and having to feed hay outside aswell as in the stable they are all coming in.

Its gutting as the clocks haven't even changed yet but we need to try and save the land. (I am on a yard and we have 9 horses out on about 20 acres and its just not sustaining them at the moment, the fields just haven't had chance to dry off this summer!)

ETA due to the cr@p summer the grass has been nowhere near as good and trying to turn horses out at night is a nightmare as they are all kicking off wanting in because they are hungry due to the cr@p grass!
 
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