Tonight...

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Maizy

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We are expecting 15 cm of snow...as I drove home an hour ago I noticed both my horses were down low in the hollow stood sleeping (one close to the gate- but then that's also a sheltered area) should I be getting them in?

They have been living out most of the winter (except when one was poorly- now recovered) I had planned as usual to give them feed and haylage in a few hours. Am I being a horrid mummy leaving them out or a softy for wanting to get them in?

They both have fleecy rugs on under their NZ's. Both are in good condition, one is 21. There is no field shelter but plenty of think hedges. The wind is pretty strong tonight. (20mph with a strong wind chill) If I get them in I need to summon some help as I am still recovering from my broken ankle...

Please can you help me make the right decision!
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If they're used to living out then they'll be fine! Three of mine (21 year old, 11 year old and 2 year old) are all staying out tonight. I left them with plenty of haylage and an apology for the approaching bad weather. They seemed more than happy to be left!
 
If they are used to staying out they will be fine, mine are in tonight but they have been in every night since october so would be unfair to leave them out!!
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as long as they have lots of good forage, and good rugs, they'll be fine.
3 of mine are out, with lots of forage and fab FAL rugs on, must admit they do have a good shelter too though so i know they'll all be in there if they choose to, that stops me feeling sorry for them!
btw, it's on nights like this that they often choose to stand out in the vile weather!
 
Thank you for all your replies.

To update, I have been out and given them an early supper (it is usually about nine or ten) they are both really warm!

They have pleanty of haylage and I have promised them a late night feed probably about 11, then they shall have breakfast at 6.30 ish.

I don't feel so bad now, they are happy and warm. Plus there is no actual sign of snow yet! Sometimes I forget they are horses after all!
 
if they are anything like my old boy, if you gave them a choice of a barn and a bed or a hedge and looking like eyore (sp?) then he would alsways chose the later!
 
my theory on this is if it snows bad enuff that i cant get to my yard id rather my horse be out in the field than stuck in a stable and he much prefers to b out which is surprisin as he was in all last winter and is a wussy tb but this yr seems to b lovin the cold outdoors!!
 
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