Turnout in bad weather?

forelegs

forelegs

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Recently, we have had a huge amount of rain and strong winds, and as our fields are quite exposed to the elements, the yard owner is reluctant to put the horses out and they have been staying in for long periods of time instead. What are everyone's opinions on whether to turn out in bad weather or leave in because it is 'cruel'? My personal view is, even if you have to rug them up to the eyeballs, they should be turned out as much as possible, but I'd be interested to hear other thoughts.
 
My boys are all out and the weather is awful, they are happy and would be kicking the door and shouting at me if I stabled them. Every horse has different needs and copes differently to the weather.
 
Maybe she is reluctant to turn out in very wet weather as she is worried about them trashing the ground?

I'd rather my horse out than in any day. She takes no notice of bad weather whereas my friends horse hates rain, even light drizzle.
 
It may be wet and windy but it is not cold, if they are shut in now because this is considered to be bad weather I suppose once winter really sets in they will hardly get out, now that may be considered cruel, most of mine are still out at night, several unrugged and they seem perfectly happy, the winter is long enough without making it even longer.
 
I agree, would prefer for them to still be out at this stage, although it is horrendously wet at the moment so perhaps when it gets colder and (hopefully) drier the ground will be less of a concern
 
It's not really cold here at the moment though the wind is awful. I'd rather them be out as long as possible, though not sure the ponies agree!
 
yep mine only use the field shelter when hot! my mare has started to walk towards the gate to come in even after she has eaten a big dinner, and as it is so wet they are coming in at night, but they are always keen to go out in the morning at 6.30, even though it was torrential rain today. as long as they have some grass to eat much better to get a leg stretch even if they churn up the ground a bit. mind you we have fields to rotate. basically i think they are happier out, we find the rain worse than them!
 
I prefer to turn-out every day (no 24hr where I am) even if wet and windy especially at the moment as it is so warm. However other people on my yard don't or they bring their horses in really early. On Sunday I arrived at 4pm and it has been on and off squally and my WB was tearing around like a lunatic squealing as he wanted to come in. I worry he will slip a pull a tendon or break something - he is 18 and should know better! Part of the problem is seeing the other horses come in past them although he was out next to his buddy (who was just standing there looking puzzled at his behaviour).

It does make me more inclined to keep him in on certain days because of this.
 
You can't make a blanket comment without knowing all the facts. In theory, I want mine out come rain or shine as think it is part of good horsemanship. However, what if you have really slippery ground? And unsettled horses? Mine had to stay in on Sunday which was not my preferred option but he is now sporting remedial shoes and we are under strict instructions that he cannot be turned out in slippery ground due to the high risk of pulling off shoes and damaging himself.
 
Mine is on grass livery so has no choice! He hates being stabled and would need a constant supply of hay to keep him out of mischief, which being a greedy Haflinger, would be A LOT of hay!

I do agree with everyone about it stil being mild and making the most of the weather. Yes it is raining and windy here today, but it is also 17 degrees!

I believe you can make a horse wimpy to the weather. I used to part own a traditional cob mare with a friend. She lived out 24/7, unrugged and was a very happy mare. I then bought my own and friend kept the mare. She's now rugged up in a medium weight and brought in the for the night from the 1st September, Heavy weight 1st October and then double rugged November onwards. She goes out again on the 1st March if it's not too cold. Said mare is always at the gate waiting to come in which friend sees as her wanting to be in her stable. I pointed out that the chances are she is keen to come in as there is a haynet and feed in the stable. If you left the stable door open, I would bet you she would come out again stable once the food had run out!
 
" it's not even cold"
Why would this be a reason to keep in? I'm far happier to put horses out when its cold so they can move about to keep warm. My horses are in today, and were yesterday because its rained torrentially here and is warm. Rain and warmth are the worst conditions because it just breeds mud. When fields have become muddy and poached they don't just need a quick roll, they need a roll and a spray, to check all the weeds that thrive on disturbed soil.
I'm lucky because I have an indoor and outdoor turn out for exercise, and am looking to put in another so all the horses can be out of the stables but off the fields during wet. Once it comes frosty, snowy or dry they'll be out, but I don't agree with having horses out in mud.
 
Mine only went out for 2 hours yesterday, they wanted in then. The two natives are the worst, preferring their large stables and hay an my mare hates the wind, so coupled with the heavy rain, they were happier in. If I had left them out any longer, they would have been charging the fences!
 
mine are all out 24/7, one is blanket clipped and still unrugged as its sooo warm! I went down yesterday expecting to find cold wet miserable horses and they were lovely and warm, happy as larry, just a bit wet! I do find horses are happier out, its just us who cant cope seeing them out in bad weather.
 
It's exposed up where I am, and at the moment we've still got 24/7 turnout. Only 2 of us (3 horses in all) are cruel enough to throw them back out at night when it's foul. Barry's so filthy in his stable that I want to keep him out as long as possible.
 
My boy came in sweating last night in a light weight which was frustrating. It came off for him to cool down but I put it back on becuase i knew it was going to be so wet and windy today even though it was mild all night.
He isnt a fan of the wind and rain and he will fence walk but It's tough really because I need him out during the day ... especially as its only October.

Swallowing the cost and going full livery is SOOOO tempting right now :eek:
 
Personally I want mine out whatever the weather. The old horse has a horrible combination of stiffness and excitable behaviour if cooped up too long. Out yard does restrict turn out when the fields become too water logged. Otherwise they are out to face the elements. It's easy to humanise about staying in the warmth but know my two would def prefer to be out!
 
mine is still in for 6-8 hrs in the day to manage his weight as he has EMS and still has some minor fat pads I am dealing with, he wears a no fill when out as he hates being wet and gets really tucked up and shivery if it is wet and windy but fine in a rain sheet, my main problem is only having a 2 acre field on clay and he is on a track system still so have widened that to dec poaching. once the first frosts have been and gone and grass has less nutrient he will be up on hard standing with access to his stable at night to protect the field and out in the middle bit of his track by day
 
I live up in the welsh hills and it has been pretty wet and wild the past few night BUT it showed 15 degrees LOW last night so with the price of hay I am afraid they stayed out in it. Its pretty miserable but to be honest they have heads down munching so cant be that bad
 
I wouldn't livery in a place where they had to be in. Where I am now we make the decisions between ourselves about when they are in or out and when they move from summer to winter grazing. The yard owners don't mind if the land gets trashed and its pretty much a given that when they move off winter grazing, it all gets rolled and resown and its all ready for when they come back over. We have clay soil so it gets churned up really quickly and its hilly too so even worse. Our lot are still out naked in this driving rain and wind and they are all absolutely fine. There have been days where I thought Im going to get own there and she will be shivering but she never is, shes happily grazing. I guess its still warm. Id be very concerned if already you are having to keep them in. Not good for a horses sanity.
 
All ours at my yard are in, and too be honest I'm happy about that. My horse has been living out past Christmas the past 2 years, stabling on just the odd nights then in at night out in the day after that. He has been foul! A utter pig to do. So this year I'm rugging up more, and beening a bit more of a wuss with him. So far a much happier horse. He would normally be out in this sort of weather, ill be met with him being bolsy, running off and a general thug! Just got back from doing him, happy as Larry munching away in the stable. He will get rode later and a walk out in hand, as so the weather picks up he will be back living out for the next few weeks and only coming in permently on nights when it's needed, but if wet he's now in.
 
Being horses they will not melt! Some breeds may need more rigging then others but I have never kept my horses in with any weather and I even think that if they could choose they would go out in strong winds and rain rather then in the summer when it's warm.
 
It's not cold at the mo, 3 of mine are clipped and naked at night! Only wear a no fill during the day to keep clean and dry whilst its rubbish weather.
If its really poor weather i.e. wind and heavy rain they just have less time out.
 
Ours hate having to go out! How dare we make them walk through the mud into the field! The field itself isn't too bad as there is only 3 of them, and other field is resting atm. Its around the gate which is mush as they stand around waiting to come in all day. Lazy, greedy pigs tbh they cannot be bothered to eat the grass when they know hay and feed is waiting in the stable! But I wouldn't have them standing in all day at all! I know its hard if a large yard has a lot of horses trashing the fields but I do think some yard cram horses in the fields when the field really can't cope!
 
I brought mine in last night and fed them. All the other horses were in but despite this my two were desperate to get back out again - you know that way they are edging out the door as far as their leadropes will allow and then as soon as you untie them they tow you to the gate? Except my other horse wanted in and stood next to the gate looking in longingly. So that's what they all got! One in, two out...

I think though its because its still quite warm and they still have some grass in that field (they can't be bothered to eat the haylage).
 
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