Turning your horse away for the winter

[4leggedfurries]

Not something i normally do, but as i havent ridden D for a month due to the p!ss poor weather, its something i'm now contemplating. I dont have a school, so it's not like i have a good surface to ride on (my fields have now turned into a bog) and i cant hack out in the bad weather as it freaks him out. All the bogey mosters, hedge hiders and tree men are out to eat him, so doesnt make for a good ride and normally sets him back work wise. He's a nervous and an uncofident boy so not point scaring him witless just for the sake of 30 mins once/twice a week. So advice please, what can i do rug/feed wise to keep him in best shape as possible? He's currently on baileys no 4, hifi, speedie beat and outshine twice a day, as much haylege as he can eat at night which is about 2/3rds to 3/4's of a hay net, he sleeps most of the night and whatever grass he can stuff into himself during the day. The one good thing about him is that i can just leave him and then weeks/months later jump on him and get going again and he's fine and builds up his fitness really quick.

 

[Cazzah]

My TB is currently turned away and has pretty much an identical diet to yours so I wouldn't change too much there - although it can be more economical swapping the Outshine for oil (I use corn oil). I also feed Pink Powder to help him get the most from his feed. You need to make sure he's getting enough roughage so keep an eye on how much hay/haylage he's eating.

In terms of rugging then I have a couple of decent turnouts - a MW and HW and also will pop an under rug on if its absolutely freezing. Both have neck covers but it depends on how wimpy your horse is!!

My boy is really happy out and has a buddy that he gets on well with - I think he's enjoying the chance to chill out, although he likes to come in for a pamper once a week!!