Turning out on Frosty Ground

AmyMay

AmyMay

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How many of you turn out on frosty ground?

I've always done it, and never though too much about it. Although I know some people worry about laminits with their natives.

But what other reasons would prevent you from turning out on days like this?
 
Ours go out regardless of the weather
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Although in bad weather they may only be out a couple of hours
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I turn mine out on frosty ground, but always put hay out for them. I think the quality of your ground is a factor - if your fields get very deep and rutted and then freeze I suppose they could be dangerous.

Only time I have avoided turning out on frosty ground was when I had a known laminitic.
 
If mine are out 24/7 then I don't worry about them at all as they will have acclimatised as it got colder the night before if that makes sense and won't be that hungry that they would run round gollopping everything in sight.

If they're in, I give them some hay before they go out so their stomach is 'lined' as I've always been taught you run the risk of colic if they are hungry with the ice hitting their system. Also, if it's frozen that hard I'll have to wait until it's thawed to get them safely from box to field anyway.

If I'm honest, laminitis (from frost) would never have crossed my mind before I came on here, I just hadn't heard anything about that at all and I am surprised how many are or have been affected by it.
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If they're in, I give them some hay before they go out so their stomach is 'lined' as I've always been taught you run the risk of colic if they are hungry with the ice hitting their system.

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Ditto. I always ensure they have hay before they go out.
 
If mine were stable kept I suppose I would worry about possible injuries from hoolying arond on hard ground or slipping but because mine live out all year round a) they have no choice and b) they don't hooly around on the whole because they are out..
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The lami thing never really occured to me before here either as again..mine live out anyway, although I am now taking on a lami pony who will be on box rest initially and then hopefully live out so will have to bear all this in mind..
 
At old yard I believe a horse broke a leg due to frosty ground so she would usually keep them in until it had thawed.

At new yard the paddocks are flatter and well groomed so I wouldn't have any problems with G being turned straight out so long as he wasn't hungry.
 
Always turned out whatever, but they always get hay in the field in the morning, so can chomp on that whilst the ground is thawing out.

They do occasionally have a run around, but accidents are just that - accidents - and could happen anytime your horse is not wrapped in cotton wool. Just hope they use they brains and don't do it too much. But as they get turfed out when its still dark, they ae far too sleepy to be doing anything like that
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Yes, I don't find that hooning around is a problem at all - they simply don't do it.

The ground is good and not cut up really, so no worries there.
 
i've always turned out on frosty ground (with pile of fresh hayledge), the only time in winter when i might not turn out would be if there was howling gale (hurriane type) and with vertical rain all day
 
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At old yard I believe a horse broke a leg due to frosty ground so she would usually keep them in until it had thawed.



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Three months straight then for me!

Poached ground that freezes can be lethal I admit, and there are always sad accounts of broken legs at this time of year, 24/7 'ers are wise to ground conditions and tippy toe about perfectly sensibly. If I had a scatty stabled horse then he'd get exercised BEFORE turnout to take some of the hooley out of him on dodgy going.

Never bothered with the frosty grass thing, but then, I have never had a laminitic horse to cope with, I daresay if I did then I would take all things into consideration.
 
I was always told to that if turning out on heavily forsted ground you should always put some hay out or give them a warm bran mash to prevent colic, not sure if this is correct of not but I've always done it and well all has been well so I've always stuck to it.
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my fields are hard frost for about 3-4 months of the year due to our low temps, my horse is always out during the day with plenty of hay , but in at night. easy as kept at home .

if livery yard fields are poached they run risks of injury,
as long as they have had there am feed and plenty of hay in the field that should reduce the risk of frosted grass induced colic,
 
Thanks all for your views.

As I said, I have always turned out on frosty ground without a problem - horses always go out with nice full bellies, and do not run around.

My routine will stay the same.

Thanks
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My lad is out 24/7 so not much choice really! He would have to live in permanently during the frosty season if I did not like him out on the frozen ground. But he has hay all night and day and because he is always on a bare paddock due to weight issues..he is always eating hay anyway.
 
I turn out on frosty ground. 2 of mine live out anyway and my mare wouldn't get turnout if I didn't as she has to go out before work. I make sure they all get a feed and hay before they go out so they have something in their bellies.
 
I don't turn out on frosty fields. Mainly because the chances are the whole yard has frozen over and I can't safely get my mare to the field.
I wait for it to be safe to get her to the field and then turn her out at around lunch time.
Rather she be in then break a leg trying to put her out.
 
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