Snowy fields

[lucythomas]

HOw is everybodys horses coping with snow covered fields? Weve had snow covered fields for 3 weeks now. Not a blade of grass to be seen. My horse hates being in but will happily come in at 2.30 due to no food & nothing to do. Shes arthritic & elderly so would like her to be out & moving about instead of in & still. YO wont put hay out in the fields, which I dont mind as we are a huge yard. Grrr hating this weather!!! rant over!!!!!

 

[Enfys]

Mine have no choice, we haven't had much snow yet, unusual. Often from November through to the end of March we have snow on the ground, no grass at all (then in summer until last cut in September they are hay fed too because my grass is too lush for them to graze, I'd have a bunch of foundered horses, I grow grass for hay not grazing)

The horses cope just fine, they don't actually have a choice, I don't stable healthy horses. They are rugged, have food, water and shelter, their choice as to what they do with it.

I think if no feed was allowed in fields that would be a different matter, I'd probably only turn out for a couple of hours as well. The hard ground can be tough on old bones/delicate legs too, especially if the ground is rutted. Bit of a Catch 22 isn't it?

 

[hairymolly]

We are in the same situation at my yard. Horses are pretty fed up to be honest but dont suppose there is much we can do about it though unless anyone has a really big hairdryer!

 

[now_loves_mares]

Yip we're the same. Horses have been out every day, but then I do put hay out for them. They are a bit fed up though as my youngster in particular likes to have a daily blast about, she finally decided to do it yesterday in foot deep snow

It was kind of amazing and pretty to watch, though heart-in-mouth stuff too. Still, she has no-one to blame but herself if she hurts herself, it's not like I've kept her cooped up

 

[AMW]

my 2 are fed up with it, they are usually out all day and in at night. Yesterday morning they were put out whilst I mucked out, I hadnt shut thegate whilst going to the muck heap and the 2 of them put themselves back in their stables.
I have so much grass under all that snow lol

 

[rlhnlk]

Mine are doing ok - they are out from about 9am to 7.30pm with ad lib haylage, they have also discovered how to dig for buried haylage and how to break their trough. As they are full and warm they are quite happy to be out. I only bring them in overnight to give them somewhere warmer to sleep and once this thaws they are going back to being out 24/7. I put leg wraps on my welsh as she is arthritic and this is the first time in 7 years that she hasn't had any kind of swelling (including her windgalls) in the fetlock area.

 

[lucythomas]

Really big hairdryer!! Like your thinking!! The yard usually turfs them out at half 7 regardless of the weather but the other liveries bring theirs in at half 2 if not earlier & bring mine in too! Although Im grateful for the favour id rather she was out & marching about instead of tied to a wall waiting for me! It wouldnt hurt to leave them about til 4, its not dark & the temp doesnt change, its constantly -1, 0 or 1 so there is no big freeze later on, to worry about bringin ponies in on sheet ice. I dont know i think im just having a whinge, sorry guys!