Storm predicted path to hit us first - horses in or out?

Mine will be in. She jumped 3 fences (all over 4ft high) last year whilst wearing a 300 weight turnout rug during a storm and brought her self back to the stable. I'd rather she didn't try that again! She may not clear them this time.
 
I'm waiting till tomorrow to decide. I don't think it's supposed to be quite as windy here as elsewhere, but we'll see. My mare's field is pretty exposed and we're very high up here, so if it's very windy it can be nigh on impossible to stand and it tends to be high winds rather than snow/ rain etc that lead me to bring her in. I have quite a lot of confidence in the stables too, as they're built in a natural dip in the hill so are considerably more sheltered than the field and quite low lying. They're also built to withstand high winds, because of our location.
 
twiggy2 said:
mine will be out, although I am struggling with where to put the trampoline
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Giggling at your ponies bouncing around on the trampoline during the storm cos they can't manage without it.

Can you tie the trampoline in behind anything? Where it is unlikely to get picked up by the wind? If I had one (and the ponies could manage without it!) I'd probably wedge it behind our big shed and tie it onto the side. Just a thought.
 
Mine and my friend's who share a field will be out. They have shelters, and we'll put hay in there so they can get out of the weather. Hopefully the shelters will stay put...
If they get spooked by noises in the stables I think they're more at risk of injury, and who's to say the stables/ roofs will stay up? My lad broke out of the stable in the summer when a cat jumped out of the rafters in the next stable, so I think the predicted disruption will have his knickers in a right twist if he's in.
Part of me would rather he was snuggled up indoors, but I'm hoping my decision will be the right one.
Had a chat with YO, who normally has hers in in filthy weather, and she's doing the same as me. Fingers crossed everyone's nags are ok :)
 
Mine will be out. It's not ideal. All horses have individual paddocks with permanent electric fencing and a bit of temporary fencing here and there. I suspect he'll be on his own, as all the other owners at the yard are already bringing in overnight. There's no shelter, and it's very exposed. My alternative though, is a rickety old stable with a saggy old roof, and open access to a concrete yard surrounded by other rickety buildings. Hobson's choice, but I think he'll just be safer in the middle of a field well rugged up than dodging slates!
 
Mine will be in. Everyone brings in at night. My stables are brick built and the ceiling is concrete because above is a storage area - this has a pitched, tiled roof. If the roof came off it wouldn't impact my stables.

The fields are surrounded by woodland. Yes, they're quite sheltered but, trees have been blown over into the fields in storm force winds.

Hopefully this storm will miss us or not be as bad as the weather guys are making out - in or out - take care everyone :)
 
Ours will be in. They are in atm, taking absolutely no notice of the wind howling round us. Our stables are very sturdy, built to withstand our weather and indeed did withstand the 100 mph wind we had a few years ago which blew debris into our back kitchen window and then whooshed through and blew the front kitchen window out as well. Fortunately we had new windows ordered and the builders were here. They had cleared up by the time I got home from work.
I think ours would be in more danger outside with very little natural shelter and possibly exposed to flying debris but I know that some of the other horses in the neighbourhood will be out. Fingers crossed they'll all be ok.
 
Polos Mum said:
From what? getting out on the road and running into vehicles or flying broken fening - very sad
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They got out onto a dark country road. Oak trees were felled by the storm blocking roads and my car was flagged down in the dark by a man who had just killed one of the horses. He warned me that others were dead and some more were running loose.
I drove so slowly and the sight of those poor animals was something I've never forgotten, Awful.

That said, I prefer mine out as they feel safer with company and with the freedom to move around. Generally, during gales, mine are quite happy and find the best place to keep out of trouble.
 
In. The fields have trees in them which could blow over and lots of surrounding woodland, and my little one would have a fit and tear around, he hates wind and bad weather. He's better off inside tucked up, their field is not big enough to go and hide somewhere. Hopefully it won't be as bad as the press has made out....
 
We have a block built American barn, on its last legs. There are already loose panels in the roof and once the wind finds its way under one then the whole lot will go.

We have fenced off a bit of fresh grass well away from any buildings or trees, with thick hedge for shelter, and that's where they will stay until danger is past.

Memories of the 87 hurricane are making this hard for me to deal with.
 
Mine will be out.I am taking down the electric fences in case they get spooked and get tangled up in them,and there are just the 2 of them in a big field.I'm sure they'll be able to stay out of trouble.
 
This was a storm in jan 2012 in Scotland

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My veteran welshD x gelding and my TBx mare were stabled when this happened my gelding was trapped in the stable and my mare had obviously clambered over the door to escape :(

These stables had been standing for ten years through all weathers and were solidly built of breeze block brick and a very heavy roof. :(
 
Black beastie, I remember you showing the photos at the time, and thinking how lucky your horses were. Have you rebuilt them now?
I will probably bring mine in, mostly as I am highly concerned that my neighbours yard will kill my horses with flying debris, as the whole place is ramshackle, and the roof regularly comes away in wind,never mind storms. I would hate mine to be injured by flying bits of tin, shards of glass etc.
In the hurricane of the 80s, my barn literally blew away, into the road! Luckily no one, or nothing was hurt except my pocket, to put it back in situ.
 
Im so glad other people asking on this. I was unsure what to do as my horse is used to coming in this time of year but i really dont trust my stable. Last time we had 60mph gusts 2 blew over as they face west. I was lucky as mine had a building behind it. Only trouble is my field has no shelter and is quite open and paddocks are seperated by electric fencing as some horses dont get along. So still debating it but staying out might seem the safer option for him
 
Black Beastie that looks a terrifying scene to come across. Thank god your horses were OK.

I'm up early as the wind and rain are battering my bedroom window and we are not forecast the worst until tomorrow :(
 
Looking at all the weather reports it looks like the wind picks up from dawn but heavy rain overnight. Now thinking maybe bring in and then they will be out. Such as dilemma!!
 
Scary, ponies on livery, all having to come in at night, but we have option to turn out during the day. They are definitely going out today, will have to come in tonight and we will see tomorrow morning. My gut instinct is that they will be safer out I wish I could make the decision but have to abide by YOs instructions. Think of positives of having to come in, they will be warm and dry, with their friends - none of whom are particuarly stressy - and I am as confident as can be that barn will withstand the wind. I really feel stressed about it though, think it is because we do everything we can to protect our horses but nature will do what she wants.
 
mine will be in at night as normal. We aren't predicted for once to get the worst of it, the stable barn is only 4 years old and also we get winds like those predicted down south at least once every other winter. We do have the advantage of being able to shut the external openings tho, as horses still have internal doors and also the external ones have windows in themmso they can still see out.

Having had a metal pig arc fly over a fence into my mares field and her freak and jump over 4 foot fence into my killer geldings field and him then kick her within an inch of his life, for us it's less risky to have them in, plus the gelding hates strong winds and goes nuts so it's better for him to be in. It's a risk either way, it's just what's best with your horses and the hazards at your location.
 
A crystal ball would be helpful. There are pros and cons on both arguments. If they are out will debris hit them in the fields or will the electric detach? If they are brought in will the stables (one year old stables) be damaged and horses injured? Ours are coming in as usual and hope for the best. Good luck to all of you for the storm tonight.
 
Unless the fencing is excellent out can be just as risky. I'd never leave one out in a storm surrounded by electric fencing and plastic posts. When my boy was at vets there was another horse in that had panicked during a storm and run into the fence the plastic fence post flipped and speared his side. Apparently he didn't make it. It also depends if your horse will panic and jump the fence? Mine will be in because I have 2 huge old trees in my field and I would imagine if a branch came down he may spook enough to jump out. - I only have hedging down one side of field
 
Weather like this and stories like the one above of horses getting out makes me very pleased our yard is surrounded by dry stone walls.

Mine will be sticking to her usual routine, we had a scare with the stable roof earlier this year when it started to come in due to snow but as a result it has been checked and repaired recently.
 
Definitely out, we are in the SW so expect to be hit quite badly, most other people at our yard will bring in but I personally think they will be better off out, they have good natural shelter in their field. The thought of the roof being blown off the barn sends shivers down me, they would be trapped with nowhere to run!
 
Ours have to be in today as well as farmer has just said they are to be in. Yes it rained earlier, but it is now sunny and windy. I have trees behind my stables - very large trees. I have expressed my concerns but he says the horses still have to be in. Idiot.
 
Just seen on FB that the storm has been slightly downgraded to wind speeds of up to 60-70mph rather than 80mph plus! Still gonna be a wild night though!
 
So glad someone has already started this thread.
I think ours will be in tonight as we have power lines/pilons in runing across our field - one of which is wobbly...EEK! We reported it in the summer but all they've done so far is put a fence round it.
We've also got big trees alongside the fences so the horses could get out if a tree comes down, plus we have electric fencing dividing the field up which I doubt will hold up.
However the worst of the winds in our parts (South) aren't due to hit until during the day tomorrow when they would usually be out. Think I will assess the damage in the morning and decide whether they go out then.
I will however definately be bringing the guinea pigs into the house tonight :)

Out of interest can anyone remember what they did in 87? We didn't have horses at the time so I can't remember what people did with their livestock.
 
Mine will be coming in as usual, the roof is corrugated so am praying if it does go it frisbees off rather than falls in.

All of yo's will be in. Know it sounds silly but half tempted to leave mine in his turn out in case it does go and he ends up stood there in the rain...

Will probably warn my boss that God forbid anything does happen I will need to leave to go and sort everything out.

Know I'm not going to be getting any sleep rain this morning was scary enough :'(
 
Louandbea I had mine in in 1987, according to Michael Fish there would not be a hurricane ! Don't want to worry you but I found most of my stable roof in the paddock in the morning !
 
Noodlebug said:
May put padded suits and crash hats on them :)
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Love the above - mine can't understand why I've wrapped them up in bubble wrap :D

mine are staying in - just off to bring in now - it's what they are used to - keeping an eye & an ear on weather - it's quite calm at the moment - will be checking on them though throughout the night & will be put out if I think necessary xx
 
Spottyappy said:
Black beastie, I remember you showing the photos at the time, and thinking how lucky your horses were. Have you rebuilt them now?
I will probably bring mine in, mostly as I am highly concerned that my neighbours yard will kill my horses with flying debris, as the whole place is ramshackle, and the roof regularly comes away in wind,never mind storms. I would hate mine to be injured by flying bits of tin, shards of glass etc.

In the hurricane of the 80s, my barn literally blew away, into the road! Luckily no one, or nothing was hurt except my pocket, to put it back in situ.
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Roof is back on but we left gaps in the brick work at the back to allow wind throught and over hung the roof extra at the back to prevent them getting wet. Worked so far but as you can see in the first pic my old boy was still in the stable until we could clear the front :(
 
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