turning out in mud or staying in?

[katymay]

Felt awful putting the boys out in torrential rain this morning into a field that is becoming muddy, slim picking grass, blowing a holey!
Very nearly caved and chucked them back in but held it together and rain now stopped! I've put hay out but it's untouched so they must be finding something.
If yours had a choice do you think they are happy to go out despite knee deep mud or would they prefer to stay in with a constant supply of hay?Thank goodness I choose to remove Jesters shoes before Xmas.
Very nearly caved and bought yet another rug today as I feel sorry for them

 

[Asha]

When it's wet windy and muddy, my lot definitely prefer to stay in.

I tried to let the babies winter out this year, but even though they have plenty of grass/ haylage they have been giving me filthy looks until they come in.

One of our gang looks out of his window in the morning, and if he doesn't like the look of it hides at the back of his stable when we start turning out.

 

[Flicker]

My boy is not fussed either way - his preference seems to be a few hours out then back in the warm and dry.
Although he has a touch of mud rash that I just caught early so he's in for a day or so until it clears up.
He gets ridden quite hard every day, with a rest day after every two or three ridden days, plus the barn is very open plan so they can all see each other and touch noses. I might do things differently if he was cooped up in a dark stable with no other company all day and not getting worked.

 

[TGM]

My husband's horse almost burst out of his stable to go out this morning, despite the weather! So I take that as a 'yes' for turnout for him. Daughter's horse is also usually keen to go out, but the youngster and pony don't seem to care either way.

 

[Bertolie]

I like mine to go out as much as possible but they stayed in yesterday and again today. My winter paddock is an old orchard which doesn't drain very well and turns to gloopy mud at the slightest bit of rain. If I'm to make it through to March with as much turnout as possible then they have to have odd days where they have to stay in. They don't seem to mind though. We have American barn stabling, they can see and touch others, and all ten horses in the barn are in today.

 

[inthehills]

Your thoughts mirror my own- having the same dilemma! Mine is a highland so in theory should be able to cope with whatever weather is thrown at him but I'm not sure that applies to the knee deep mud. He seems happy to be out for an hour or two but then the moment he spots me he is charging up and down the fence desperate to be in. Unfortunately he then looks like a bog monster! I think if he had his way he'd be in 24/7 but then I'm thinking as a young horse he ought to be having some exercise and the stimulation from being outside although it's far from ideal conditions. I did cave in today and leave him in although we went for a 1/2 hour walk down the lane so at least he's had some exercise.
Roll on spring!

 

[[59851]]

Turning out the one who is stabled overnight, The other is living out as she won't stay in, not much I can do, but I am rehoming both soon as I cannot deal with UK wet winters anymore.

 

[[59851]]

Roll on spring!

Errrrrr that will be wet and windy as well!!!

 

[HBB]

I've no option but to keep them in, even the native weanlings :frown3:
My fields are trashed and/or under water. I've never seen rain and wind like it, it is relentless! Beginning to stress about keeping the youngsters in but there is no benefit to letting them stand knee deep in mud with the rain and wind battering at them. If i do turn out, they are standing at the gate within 40mins. It is soul destroying, It is just chipping away at me :blue:

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ive got a highland too, and his preference is to stay in. He hates getting wet and is quite careful where he puts his feet so doesnt really like mud or puddles. He much prefers his nice clean stable with its endless supply of hay I do turn him out for at least a couple of hours except for weekends when he is ridden so I dont mind him standing in for the rest of the day. He would happily spend all winter indoors but obviously he doesnt get to choose, I do

 

[WelshD]

I've no option but to keep them in, even the native weanlings :frown3:
My fields are trashed and/or under water. I've never seen rain and wind like it, it is relentless! Beginning to stress about keeping the youngsters in but there is no benefit to letting them stand knee deep in mud with the rain and wind battering at them. If i do turn out, they are standing at the gate within 40mins. It is soul destroying, It is just chipping away at me :blue:

Awful isn't it? I'd love my three year old to have wintered out largely but it's just not do-able, they have been getting about four to eight hours a day out muddy and unrugged this last couple of weeks but when I am back at work tomorrow I will have to decide between keeping them in or leaving them out without shelter for twelve hours a day

Even the nearest livery who offers 'respite' grass livery in winter isn't offering it this year

 

[Sportshorseindisguis]

Oh just horrid isn't it??! When are we going to get a let up that said my horse has been living out as he has dust allergies & will finally have to come in from Tuesday, but some yards here have been on lock down for weeks already. We're fortunate we have separate summer & winters, that said said he was in for a couple of hours yesterday when I rode, etc and was bouncing to get back out again- perhaps he thought the paddock has dried up& grown a foot of grass while he was in??!! Ah the imagination

 

[katymay]

Glad it's not just me then! To be honest they seem happy to go out as neither are ridden at the moment mostly due to the awful weather and I don't have a school to use, my hay supply is the worst I've ever had so even though I soak it for the fatty I'm having to soak and rinse for the other one due to it being dusty, I've even sourced some high fibre haylage today just to give him something tastier to eat. A few dry days of sun would be helpful but it isn't looking likely! My summer paddock is looming very lush and green which is unheard of this time of year.

 

[honetpot]

Mine would rather be out charging around playing tag, I can see them from my sofa. They have hay but are leaving most of it after they have picked out the best bits. The ones that have a choice will stand outside resting a leg if they are not eating. The ones that are out 24/7, unheard of for January as I am clay, are on last orders, the grass is still growing and most are really too fat.

 

[Kezzabell2]

My mare, mini and friends pony have all opted for the field shelter this morning

My gelding is on a different yard and they've had to stay in today. He's been on the walker and I'll ride later as it's supposed to be light rain at 3. I thought he wanted to go out as he wasn't eating his hay but I tried a different bale and he tucked into that, so turns out he was ok to be in just wanted the softer hay, such a princess

 

[YorksG]

Our will go out for a couple of hour later today, so that we can sort the stables, but they are not getting the turn out they would normally have. In past years they would have been out for 12 hours a day, but the land is so wet this year that this is just not possible this year. The damaging winds are also a problem and I too am fed up of this weather. We haven't ridden for weeks, no school, wet fields and very wet roads along with high winds and/or fog have just made it impossible

 

[BSL]

Our four have been out for about 3 hours. Raining and blowing a hooley so have just brought in. Have just moved yards and now have 10 acre field which drains well. Just want to look after it. So if very wet will leave in tomorrow. Fortunately thay all love their stables.

 

[Mrs G]

My horse makes it very clear what he wants; in summer when there's plenty of grass he won't be caught without guile and treats! In winter though he stands at the gate where it's the worst for thick wet mud, if no one comes he will start fence walking, then progress to tearing around and around, getting sweated up, trashing the paddock and risking injury. He has horsey company, there is still some grass and I put plenty of hay out but although I would much prefer him out I've had to accept he doesn't want out!

 

[JW & MT]

So fed up with this weather, I would actually swap for snow I think! Like a lot of others I am trying to keep mine in if they have been ridden to save the fields a bit. But they are so wet I am not sure if it is making any difference. And trying to ride in the dry is proving to be tricky too.... Roll on summer.

 

[BroadfordQueen]

It's just horrendous! Never seen our fields like it, waters just lying on top. We're usually so well draining as our fields slope down onto the road, but this rain has just been too relentless. Mine are going out for about 2 hours in the morning with hay, while I muck out etc. As soon as I come back out and they see me they're stood waiting to get back in. They then have a couple more hours in the "big field" late afternoon which is mainly occupied by cows so isn't much better, but gives them space to have a good release of energy, and there's more grass to find amongst the mud. They're definitely happy being in- luckily my newer horse has come from a competition yard where she only got a couple of hours turnout anyway so she's used to it. My other gets a bit bored after a while but soon wants back in if I let her out! They can see/touch each other in the stables so they seem happy enough. Little Shetland gets option with his stable door and gate to field left open- he's usually stood in his stable!
Our summer field looks ridiculous though. I walk the dogs in there as it's the only place here that hasn't been touched and hence has no mud, but the grass is nearly up to my knees! Can't wait to get them in there, for the first time ever it looks like it will need to be strip grazed!

 

[oldie48]

Mine like to go out but Mr B will stand by the gate when he's had enough although the old TB is happy to stay out until it starts getting dark. We've still got lots of grass but there's a lot of standing water and my OH has just gone out to clear a ditch as there's water running across the lane. It would be lovey to have a few dry days!

 

[pippixox]

trying to get them out as much as possible but it is soooo wet my field it next to a river which is getting very high & scared it will soon be as high as the field, as we have had torrential rain the last 24 hours. left my guys in yesterday as I work a long day. but put them out this morning in the rain. they bombed off and were happy to graze in the rain. got them in 4 hours later and they came over as soon as they saw me.

I also have young ones- 2 new forests that are 4, and planned to keep them out to save some mucking out (only got them in the spring). but it is so wet and muddy, plus they seem to not want to stay out when the other 2 come in- just pace the fence line. so they have also been coming in every night.

today the hill field next to my flat field has 2 streams running down in, with a large stream now going straight across my field and practically a lake
I would rather it was -5 and dry then mild and wet any day

 

[Goldenstar]

Awful here are well ( but it has brightened up a bit now .) rode this morning and did not turn out the ones that got ridden just no point field is submerged they had more than an hour exercise .
School is waterlogged this rarely happens .
I still have the box rest horse to lead out it's getting better so I will get it done.
It's completely miserable I think it's three years since I did not turnout as well as exercise because of the wet but there's just no point .
Tatts is using his shed but I do worry about him living out in this .

 

[ihatework]

I've never known such a wet winter.
My in foal mare is now down to 3 hours turnout a day and a walker session. Not ideal by any stretch of the imagination but the paddocks are like paddy fields.
My old boy is still out 24/7, his field is 20 acres, only 8 on it and slightly sloping - so although there is a small pond in one place and the gateways are a bog, a good 2/3rds of the field is still green and squelchy rather than muddy.

 

[Enfys]

I had an arab that would go through belly deep mud out hunting without a second thought, but half the time at home he refused point blank to leave his cosy house if it was raining - which it did a lot. He hated mud, as did I, I rode and left him in where he wanted to be.

He would love it here, no mud at all. I loathe mud, hate that foot sucking, slippery sliminess with a vengeance, I wouldn't turn out in it at all now. I feel so sorry for everyone, man and beast, that has no choice but to cope with it.

 

[skint1]

I have my Tb gelding in as he had combination of mud fever and an over-reach injury sustained when my large cob type gelding stood on the back of his foot. Luckily he has a small concrete area to wander about in whilst I am at the yard. It's healing really well but it has taken ages, I can't risk it getting wet or dirty for a bit longer. I am hoping for a miracle spell of dry weather.

My cobby guy goes out every day rain or shine, he prefers it, though I bring him in earlier if the weather is particularly inclement. The field is on a slope, the bottom bit is muddy but the top bit is ok,

 

[ShadowHunter]

Mine goes out everyday but when i go to muck out, she brings herself in. She's not one for wind and rain. I've had to move her off the normal field as its just covered in standing water thats not going anywhere
Glad to see I'm not to only one that hasn't ridden in weeks, if its not wind and rain, it's icy... I lunge whenever i can so at least she has had a bit of exercise so i don't feel guilty about her only being out 5/6 hours. Currently chucking it down and i need to go muck out but i cant say I'm overly thrilled with the idea.

 

[Deltaflyer]

Mine would quite happily go out in all weathers, he's a roughty-toughty connie X, BUT I'm having to keep him in for a couple of days as his mud-fever's flared up a little and if I don't get on top of it straight away it gets really bad and then he tends to end up on antibiotics.

I have to add that this is the first time I've ever seen standing water in our fields.

 

[Micropony]

The mud is horrendous this year, just thankful we have escaped the flooding in our part of the world.
My 4yo is getting out with his friend three times a week for an hour or two. Gives him chance for a roll and a bit of social time and a hooley if he feels so inclined.
He seems quite happy with that, and ridden exercise, and walker on the days he isn't turned out.
Fields are going to get much much worse before they get better though I fear.

 

[tabithakat64]

My two are out on 5 acres of sloping field, it's muddy in the gateway but that's all and it's not more than a couple of inches deep so not too bad. The ground is drenched but the grass is still growing. They have hay which they pick at...
Usually they be spending a few hours a day in and going through masses of hay too.
Pony hates being in but the cob doesn't mind.