too cold to stay out?

Angelbones

Angelbones

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So, forecast for tomorrow night is -1 where I am.

I had really wanted to leave my lot out but wonder if it is too cold? If I wasn't under pressure on Sunday morn I'd defo leave them in, and probably will now, but what do you think is too cold for leaving them out overnight?

They all have full neck serious heavyweight (450g) turnouts on, and will have hay etc.

And for those of you in sub arctic climes, I know -1 is nothing compared to what some of you have been putting up with, but we are southern wimps!
 
they got rugs on and food available! they will be fine. some of mine been out all winter and are very happy and fat and shiny! stables only restrict movement and take away the wind factor unless you have infra red lamps in each box?
 
I wouldn't say its too cold... My 5 have lived out all winter one without a rug and the others with full necks. All very happy ponies...
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Leave them out they will be fine. Horse cope with the weather in a completely different way we do (i.e they cope we don't... lol). As long as they can eat, they will be warm as digesting food is like a inside heater for them keeping them warm plus they have rugs. No probs.

x
 
Moggy - love your user name!

Yes you are all right, I'm just a big softee! I'd bring in my old TB but he'll fret if in on his own so best out really. Its only that they'll be expecting to come is as per their normal routine, so I think I'll feed them then turn them back out again, so at least I'll think they've got little hot furnaces inside to fight off the cold! Do they make horsey legwarmers and earmuffs at all??!
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Agree with the others, I think they will be fine. Many years ago I decided mine could/should live out 24/7 - he's built like a brick wotsit - but he hated it! However during this trial period I did feel I learned that it isn't cold, or snow, that chuffs them off - it's horrible driving rain and wind that gets them down.
 
We had a couple out during the snow when it was -6 down here (almost unheard of until this winter!), they were in a small paddock 24/7 with a huge shelter, thick rugs and lots of hay and were fine and dandy... currently got 2 (a welsh D and a TB) out in a massive field 24/7 with rugs, hay and fed each night and they are fine
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My pony lives out all the time - so has been out all winter.

He's fine!!

I'm just like you and worry too - but with a nice rug and hay he really will be ok x
 
mine lives out even when we had -13 temperatures a while back. as long as hay in field and a warm rug they'll be perfectly fine. they can move around if they get cold anyway but 450gm should be enough.
 
-1 is absolutely nothing to worry about. Goodness me! 3 weeks ago, we got down to -18. Mine live out 24/7 with rugs on, and that includes a woosy TB x Luso who is now blanket clipped. Horses dont care about cold, its when its wet and windy etc. when they feel it.
 
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-1 is absolutely nothing to worry about. Goodness me! 3 weeks ago, we got down to -18. Mine live out 24/7 with rugs on, and that includes a woosy TB x Luso who is now blanket clipped. Horses dont care about cold, its when its wet and windy etc. when they feel it.

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Just came on to post the exact same thing! except I have clipped WB not a luso & we had -18 too. My water only defrosted last Tuesday!
 
Its dry...they'll fine. I'll bet the temperature is no different in your stable and at least out they can move about
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-1 thats nowt lol. 3 of mine are fully clipped and have MWs on the other 2 have rain sheets and all live out 24/7 - think the coldest we had was -9 but they didnt care in the slightest

Nic01 - only just defrosted, i dont envy you at all - that must be serious hard work getting water for your horses
 
My TB is in and in a 450g rug with neck. She's in every night so she has no winter coat - she feels the cold and drops weight easily.
If I had a woolly cob ................. it'd be a different story.
 
Tee shirt weather, your horse will be fine.
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Cold isn't the problem it's that blasted British rain that's the worst, you can keep your rain but I would really, REALLY, like my snow back please.
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Ours have lived out all winter for the first time and been 100% fine. With good rugs, plenty of hay or haylage and either natural shelter or a field shelter most horses could.
 
My TB has been out all winter with no rug on. He was turned away for 7 months and went to live with someone else. He has just come back and is at home. I do worry when its really cold that he's going to get cold but he's managed most of the winter already naked and I've got a broken ankle and am non weight bearing for another 3 weeks at least so can't go and put rugs on willy nilly. He's just going to have to cope!!
 
I think you are more likely to have problems due to the change of routine than the temperature.

I think this thread is interesting because not so long ago when someone had a friend who was buying a horse that had been living in all winter and she wanted/needed it to live out 24/7 there were a lot saying that this was unfair on the horse that was used to being in at night.

OP if you do want to leave them out then I would make sure they have plenty to munch on to keep them busy.
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-1 is absolutely nothing to worry about. Goodness me! 3 weeks ago, we got down to -18. Mine live out 24/7 with rugs on, and that includes a woosy TB x Luso who is now blanket clipped. Horses dont care about cold, its when its wet and windy etc. when they feel it.

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Just came on to post the exact same thing! except I have clipped WB not a luso & we had -18 too. My water only defrosted last Tuesday!

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And me! Another Scot lol. We were -18 here too on the west coast and my boy lived out through it through it all with adlib haylage and well rugged no problems. We're still hitting around -6 at night and he is out in a 300g quite happily
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