turning out in the snow!

G

Gooby

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 June 2008
Messages
674
Location
Manchester, UK
Visit site
I have never had the opportunity to turn out when the fields have been covered in snow before so a few questions!:
1) Is it ok to do so? I presume it is as people have horses out 24/7 and don't bring in when its snowy!
2) How do you stop snow balling up in their hooves?
3) Will they be ok finding the grass beneath the snow or should I put some haylage out too? The first part of that questions sounds stupid but can't think how else to phrase it!
4) Do you reduce their turnout hen the weather is like this just so they can stretch their legs or leave them out the same as usual?

Thanks and sorry for all the numpty questions!
 
I do turn out in the snow but usually only for an hour or two so they can stretch their legs. I tend to put hay out but they will normally wander off and scratch about for the grass after a while. I don't put anything in their feet but have heard vaseline is good.
Just check that the ground underneath the snow is safe for your horses. Mine today is frozen and slippy under the snow so would be lethal if I could even get them to the field!!
 
Mine are always out virtually 24/7. They just come down for breakfast and a checkover each morning.

If we have a lot of snow, then I just chuck hay/haylage out.

Never had a problem with snow balling up in hooves........how do wild ponies cope?? Mind you, none of mine are shod either.

My routine hasn't changed in years and they're perfectly happy. I graze in groups of twos and have field shelters. No difficulty on them, but I must admit the older ones do have an extra rug chucked on if it goes below zero.
 
if its deep i oil there feet
i put out hay
and usually put boots on for support from slipping
i leave her in the same amount but make sure shes off the hill so its flat and i regualry pick out her feet but theres nothing much else you can do
 
mine has gone out today for a leg stretch - he was not at all impressed but on the basis that I can neither hack nor school he has to go out!. Never had a problem with the snow balling in his feet, he had no roughage put out as he was only out for a couple of hours but the others living out/out overnight have been given hay - they would be given hay anyway to supplement the lack of grass. He only goes for half a day at the moment because with the weather his tolerance disappears rapidly.

So much for tough old irish horses - he is the 4th I have had and they have all been utter wimps about staying out. The only WB x I had was happy as larry being out as much as possible!
 
My horse was stabled overnight last winter and he was turned out as normal and without hay as we were not allowed to feed in the field. This year he is living out again without hay but is being fed hifi to get some dry food in him. But i also have a decent amout of grass left so it may depend on how much grass you have left and how long his turned out. Also if he does eat in the field if he doesnt want to search through the snow then hay should be given. You can put vosoline on their soles to prevent snow balling up.
 
We turn out as normal for as long as normal but with added rugs, they have adlib hay in the field but i have seen them trying to get to the grass below. I havent found a way to stop them having what i call snow silettos as yet! I think i would rather they were out stretching their lags rather than being cooped up espeically when i cant ride them.
 
There are about 7 horse on our yard that are out 24/7, the rest come in on a night. Theres no harm in them being out as long as they are rugged accordingly and checked.

I turn my mare out in the snow and all the horses on the yard are turned out too. I turn mine out about 9.00 - 10.00am and bring her in between 4.00 - 5.00pm sometimes earlier if its yukky. I think turnout is important, even if they are just stretching their legs for a couple of hours.

Our YO doesn't allow us to put hay in the field but the horses seem to manage fine. They paw the snow and then eat the grass
grin.gif


Just go on your instinct as each horse is different, some like to be out longer than others x
 
I turn JB out at about 7.30 each morning and bring in about 4pm but today I have just fetched him in at 3pm as it is chucking it down with snow. He gets haylage in the field as it's covered in snow. Although he has obviously been digging for grass and has grazed his nose on the ice (I think)
grin.gif
His hoofs used to acquire stilleto's but not any more as he his shoeless
grin.gif
tongue.gif
 
Ours are all out 24/7 with ad lib hay and are fine. They don't usually have ad lib hay as we have lots of grass so will no doubt be as fat as pigs when this weather has passed. Rather that though than risking them getting colic if they don't manage to dig out enough grass to eat.
 
Ours are out 24/7, some are rugged but most aren't. Ad lib hay in the fields and we are fetching them up daily for a check over and a hard feed


Watched a couple of them cantering off down the field and couldn't help but think about folks who won't trot on roads in case of concussion and what they would be thinking. Ground is rock hard here and not much of a covering of snow - more ice than anything
crazy.gif
 
Mine is out 24/7 anyway and I just leave him to it as normal. He has hay in the field but does anyway as he has no grass left.
 
1) Is it ok to do so? I presume it is as people have horses out 24/7 and don't bring in when its snowy!

A: Yes its fine unless there is lots of ice around and hard ground, if ice is on grass its okay since it breaks/crunches. My boy lives out 24/7 and likes the snow!

2) How do you stop snow balling up in their hooves?

If they are barefeet it will fall out on its own. For shod horses its really annoying but i put baby oil on the bottom, on top of the hoof and hock and it really helped stop the snow balling. Vaseline also works.

3) Will they be ok finding the grass beneath the snow or should I put some haylage out too? The first part of that questions sounds stupid but can't think how else to phrase it!

Our lot (24/7 turn out) have one feed in the morning and a little haylage, and just the haylage again at night. They do paw the snow to get to the grass but you will need to supplement their diet since grass is poor and won't fill their bellies!

4) Do you reduce their turnout hen the weather is like this just so they can stretch their legs or leave them out the same as usual?

Out as usual, rug up if needed! If one part of the field is particularly bad just corner it off with electric fencing
smile.gif
 
Ours still go out even though its snowy. Thoughts behind this is that they go out every day regardless of the weather and so dont really gallop round.. id be more wary of having mine stuck in for a week and then watch them go mad when they do go out
crazy.gif


Also it depends on the field and the soil.. we are lucky in the fact that we have just 2 horses out on 16 acres and because of this there is no mud apart from just by the gate so it isnt rutty or pot holey. I probably wouldnt turn out if the field was very boggy and then froze as I would be paranoid that they would twist a leg!

Mine have a ton of vaseline put into their feet to stop the snow balling up and they have lots and lots of haylage and hay to keep them occupied and so they dont eat the snow or frosty grass! They also have lots of rugs on.

I think its about common sense at the end of the day. If your field is full of rock hard, frozen ruts under the snow then dont turn out.
 
Ours stayed in on Thursday apart from an hours turnout in small paddock by yard as the track to the fields way almost 18 inches deep in snow in patches. Friday they went out in small field by the yard again but for couple of hours, then yesterday we put them in there from about 10am til 3pm. The hay for the fields got delivered this morning and the drifts on the track are better so back to normal today altho still lots of lying snow! I reckon as said above as long as not lethally rutted or slippery I'd turn out if you can, with haylage or hay of possible but in lots of piles to prevent bickering and keep pickinh feet out regularly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top