Should I winter my foal out? What do you think?

arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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I have a couple of options for my just weaned foal. She's WB xTB

a) Turn her out during the day with one other foal but bring her in at night. Advantages: everyday handling, close contact with her, less likely to be woolly beast come spring (I will be showing her in the summer.) Disadvantage: not really well away from mum - only one other companion - and an extra stable for me to muck out/bed down


b)Turn her out permanently for the winter with one other foal and two much older 'nanny' geldings. Field shelter/adlib haylage and checked/fed every day by YO. Advantages: More natural - lets her 'be a horse' (as close to a herd environment as I can get), less work for me. disadvantage - proper headcollar/leading handling only once a week, also she will need to be rugged unless I want her to turn into a Yak .


What do you all think? I am leaning towards option b) but am really concerned that this will be less handling and she'll go a bit wild.
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B.

None of my foals have gone "wild" on me because they live outside permanently. If you have instilled nice manners into the foal then I see no reason why she would become something other than what she is now.

Will you be having her on full livery if she is stabled? Otherwise I can't see why she wouldnt' have just as much halter training in a field as she would have if she were stabled?
 
I would go for option B. After I wean & halter break my youngsters they are turned out. The herd environment & older horses teach them lots of things. Also the playing with the others gives them great balance. I have no problems with handling etc.
 
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B.

None of my foals have gone "wild" on me because they live outside permanently. If you have instilled nice manners into the foal then I see no reason why she would become something other than what she is now.

Will you be having her on full livery if she is stabled? Otherwise I can't see why she wouldnt' have just as much halter training in a field as she would have if she were stabled?

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Thanks for the advice - If she were stabled I'd be turning her out then bringing her in and grooming her at night, so the handling/leading will be twice daily. Left in a field she will be checked every day but only be brought in once a week for handling.
 
Ah. Well that is different from my foals then, sorry. Mine all live outside permanently however I do groom them and handle them within the field every day so they do have full daily contact.
 
I'd go for A. My first foal went back in the field with his dam and an older gelding 3 weeks after weaning. They were brought in every night and stabled near each other no problems. The handling does them good and I feel that young foals can't handle the cold as easily as older horses. I don't like rugging up foals either so bringing in at night avoids the necessity to rug up
 
I'm an A person! I personally don't like or have the facilities to have weanlings live out near enough home and besides I'm a firm believer that their first winter is the most important and they deserve the best care you can give them. (that is not to say it is wrong to out winter weanlings or that you can't give them the care needed). I also have to say, that even if we did have a dry staying field, I would still like them in at night! As you say, they get the regular handling and you can keep a lot better eye on their condition if the only time you can see them is either end of the day when it's likely to be dark in the field. I'm also a softy because if we have a wet winter, they soon get drenched to the skin and can take chill easily if they have to stay out in it but if they come in at night, they get a nice feed and forage plus a nice warm bed to lay on; must be better than a cold wet field for them.
I can understand your dilemma but you could cut down a bit by semi deep littering the foal, just skipping out.
 
My WB X AngloArab foal is out 24/7 but I bring her into the yard twice a day for a feed during which time she has a quick groom and pick out feet. It's a good bit of leading practice with something nice (a feed) at the end of it. On the way back to the field we do a bit of "stand" and "back" and she's fine. She has a "mac"-type rug on as she doesn't "do" wet. She's got a long-ish but thin winter coat and doesn't seem to mind the cold but gets soaked to the skin when it rains. If the weather does turn absolutely horrendous I would bring her in at night but she's seems happy enough out. The field is pretty sheltered though and has lots of natural shelter with trees and bramble hedges and they have an endless supply of hay and haylage in the field.
 
hmmm... even with a field shelter that is bedded with straw?

Is not really a workload dilemma, as I have been fully prepared to do three horses all winter otherwise I would have sold her. It is more a bringing in dilemma. I work full time so would have to get someone else to bring her in as the other foal comes in at 3 and I wouldn't have her alone.


Aarrgh - Am confused now!
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Perhaps I could bring her in at the weekends? But then I guess that messes with her routine.
 
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hmmm... even with a field shelter that is bedded with straw?

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Mine have this set-up and none have dropped weight or lost their manners. And I know that my lot have to withstand waaaay colder temperatures and far harsher conditions than any British foal
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Not sure I actually agree with the person who says about giving the foals the best in their first winter....who is to say that them being stuck in a stable for hours on end is "best"? I don't believe it is "best" for my foals to be locked up.
 
Im afraid that Im from the school of thought that disagrees with over handling. I think they should learn to be horses 1st.

If it doesnt drop any weight and seems well enough then leave it out with its friends, its more natural and less likely to give you a stressy grown up in the long run.

Bring it in for a check each day, if you want to have the contact.
 
Well my two youngsters have always lived out...sometimes with a field shelter, sometimes without. I rug them (as they only have natural shelter at the moment) and feed them lots of forage for warmth.
A night in the stable, unable to move around, must be a long cold night for a youngster...far better out socialising, etc.
Throw your weanling out!
S
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Definitely b. My 2 are out 24/7, with no rugs and are very happy. I've just weaned one, and I go and see them a couple of times (they're at the back of my house) and handle them when I give them their feed. Only by giving them a pat, etc.
 
Ours is out, with no rugs, and is toasty warm. She has a coat that a yak would be proud of, and her tolerance of rain has improved - earlier this year she would kick at rain, but now she is resigned to it! She is chunky, and as for handling, well she doesn't have a headcollar on more than once a month I guess, but it's not a problem when she does, and she gets touched and played with, feet picked up, pushed back and over etc all in the field, in fact she's a nuisance because you doesn't leave you alone. She's pretty happy I hope in the herd of two geldings and her mother (weaning soon).
 
I think I would leave her out too, for reasons given above, but could you not bring her in on an evening for a feed and a groom? Then she would get the handling and there would be less work for you, you could just do it whenever you had time or even every day if you wanted.
 
Our two foals (weanling filly and colt) are out 24/7 with two others for company, one who is out permanently (i.e. not ridden or anything) and H who is ridden.

I would go with B. Ours are fine
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generally speaking lol! They are in front field with gate onto yard so we make sure we go over to the gate to make a fuss of them as often as possible, they come over to you once they notice you are there! Both very very very hairy though!
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I havent read all of the replies but i would go with B - if it doesnt work out - then you can consider bringing her in.
You also mention that if you went for option A - that would mean you relying on someone else to bring her in..... i wouldnt like this as would they handle her as you would? Could she gain bad manners for being led by the other person - ie dragging for grass or prehaps at the other end - they would be too harsh and strict with her compared to yourself?? I know in the past i havent let other liveries lead my youngsters on a regular basis and i dont think i ever will to be honest, not worth the risk they would undo my hard work.
Also - i think being more away from her dam, and getting chance to 'be a horse in a herd' would give her a fab start in life.
 
Id say B. I think its best for youngsters to be horses at the beginning. But Id try to handle it a bit more than once a week, even just little things like when putting hay out for them - go over and stroke him etc.
 
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