turnout on frozen rutty fields?

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Jericho

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Sorry I know this has been done to death but not sure what to do.....
My horses are out 24/7 with access to very small paddock and large field shelter which can be turned into 2 12 by 12 stables. They prefer being out, one suffers with very stiff legs.

My problem is that the ground is very poached all around the entrance to small paddock and field shelter, the bit where the hay is put, the water trough. Last time it snowed I kept them in the small paddock but having just gone out to feed them the ground is horrible. My ankles ached from walking on it, the horses are very gingerly walking around on it and you cant see where the ruts are as the snow has now covered it up. Its treacherous!

So should I keep them in field shelter, with hay and water etc but potentially colder as they are standing still or risk their legs as they move around, putting out buckets of water and haynets on flatter part of field where they are really exposed to the elements? I know they would be probably happier with the second option but I am wincing watching them stumble around the field
 
Can you tape off the worst of the poached ground?

or put the hay on the smoothest part of the field?
ditto the water.

i would think as they live out 24/7 that they are used to the poached bits by now.
 
i know how you feel, my fields the same, its soooo dangerous. im keeping my boy in at moment, but maybe just tape off the real dangerous parts.
i think horses cope better than we think, and are good at judging on what their walking on. although my boy could trip over a matchstick hence why he is in!
 
We move where we put the hay every day but can't move the water trough. It is rutted around it, but where they have walked there are some slightly smoother paths to it and they are managing fine.

They live out 24/7 and so far, touch wood, are doing fine.
 
I know how you feel, my winter field is the same, and on saturday one of mine wrenched his hock badly. Mine too live out 24/7, and it didn't prevent him hurting himself! I've now put them down in their summer field as its been rested since October and there is no rutted areas at all. I would tape it all off as best I could if I were you (but then I'm slightly paranoid now!).
 
Last night when I got Joe in late he was realy doddery on his feet in the rutted parts round the gate, I felt so sorry for him watching him be so careful
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He was even slow walking up to the stable (good 5min walk)

When I picked his feet I got all the compacted snow and ice out and found he's taken a good 1.5 inch lump off his hoof.

I think I might tape off the rutted areas and open it all up again when its all defrosted
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This weather really gets ya down don't it - I hate it when its frozen because its so hard and I hate it when its wet because of the slippery bog!
 
Ours are in as it's so solid - tried taping the worst bit off after they have been turned out (gateway) and putting loads of haylage out but they eat a bit then don't want any more and get bored/prat about - have to go at at 05:45 and in at 18:30 due to work (they are at home) and have trashed through the electric fence every time we've tried. Big horse who is 21 slipped over just walking on it on monday so are in for their own safety with huge nets

Will go out at weekend when we can turno out / fetch in during daylight hours and can ckeep watch.

First time in the 4 years we've been here they've had a day in and I hate it but it's unsafe for them and for us leading them
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If your horses have been out then they are quite used to it and you will have noticed that they are being very sensible.

Horses cope, they prefer it when there is a bit of snow to carpet it, trust them, they have natural common sense and sound as if they are using it. Better that they can choose to wander about a bit rather than be shut indoors, personally, I'd give them the choice.
 
thanks for all replies! I have turned them out just in small paddock where they cant charge about and have put all their hay and water in the field shelter where it is obviously flat. Hopefully that will be the solution. I had left them in the field shelter for a couple of hours this morning but they were pleased to come out so I think thats the right decision.

Sometimes you just need to bounce ideas around, dont you! I have my horses at home so its really good to have a virtual yard in the form of HHO !
 
Mine are in a very similar situation, but they just walk slowly and carefully over the rough areas. Yhey are not stupid (generally!)
 
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