Staying in their stables all the time?

[Carbonel]

This is my first winter having my two at home with me. My ground is boggy and flooded, particularly in front of the yard, so I've opened up the field gate to allow them to walk into the yard area and into their stables. Both of them are usually out pretty much 24/7 but since doing this, they are both mainly choosing to stay inside their stables. I've been quite surprised, as I thought they would go in there if it was very wet, but even on clear days, they are not really venturing beyond the yard anymore.

Do you think this is normal? I'm a bit concerned that maybe they are really fed up? I've given them toys which they do seem to knock about but I can't help but feel it can't be nice for them just choosing to hang around in their stables all day. They have access to 2 acres, they are choosing not to use!

One of them has started to shake his head before his hard feed and is quite gummy, and mouthy after eating as well. I've had to start giving them water in their stables, even though the water trough is only a few metres away, because they don't seem to even want to venture that far, and I'm worried they aren't drinking enough. Poo is all normal, so no clear signs of dehydration there.

Should I be worried or am I over thinking this? I'm just concerned that maybe the one shaking his head/mouth isn't well and that's why he's staying inside so much? But there's nothing really obvious to suggest there's a problem. As its my first year of having them home and being responsible for them all the time, I'm worried I am going to miss something!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I wouldnt be worried , my boy would stay in all the time if allowed ?

 

[gallopingby]

It depends entirely on the animal and their view on life! I have one who would much prefer to be in from the first hint of rain / frost in the autumn until about mid April. If he’s put out he’ll stand by the fence and stare through the kitchen window until someone takes pity on him and opens the gate so he can come in. He usually does this at a speedy trot. I don’t think the head shaking is anything to do with being in or out but it is maybe an indication that he needs his teeth checking.

 

[windand rain]

Depends entirely where the food is and how conditioned to being stabled they are if you only feed outside I doubt very much they would go in much if they have lived out a lot I doubt they would go in much. Not much grass at the minute so my guess is going in for hay

 

[splashgirl45]

As long as they have forage in the stables or the yard I wouldn’t worry, I know if I had left the field gate open in bad weather mine
would have come in to her stable but I could do that in the summer she wouldn’t even if there wasn’t much grass. they aren’t silly

 

[MuddyMonster]

I moved my has-lived-wild-so-used-to -roughing-it native as discovered he missed having a stable.

The weather has been vile lately so if they can eat, stay dry and warm I think some of them would choose it... ?‍

He rides in all weathers so not totally soft but would happily stay in during mid winter in really vile weather, I suspect.

 

[ycbm]

I wouldn't take them water and i would feed hay on the yard not in the stables but other than that they are just telling you what they want.
.

 

[PurBee]

Where the food is, they’ll be there!

Like yours, my 2 have option to roam 4 acres or be on hardcore large yard with bedded shelter and forage.
Bear in mind, mine are used to year round vile windy wet weather as im on a valley hill with loads of tree shelters in west ireland. In summer they’d be mostly out as there’s plenty to eat, no matter the weather.
During winter they take a stroll out there, pick around searching for an hour or 2, find nothing much, come up to the yard to have filling yummy forage - then wander out again, come back in when hunger strikes…in, out, in, out..

Only when we have super strong blustery windy storms and relentless sideways driving rain do i find them staying put in their open shared bedded shelter on the yard.

If yours are used to fairer weather, then vile periods strike, i can imagine given the choice, they’d be where shelter, guaranteed easy food and warmth is. I wouldnt worry.

Yet as youve already considered, maybe the headshaker has an issue and if they are the ‘leader’ and wants to stay in, not feeling well, the other will likely stay in too. The real test is when weather clears, do they go out? If not id be concerned 1 is feeling rough and has an issue to investigate. They usually like a bit of a wander about, even if there’s nothing out there to eat.