want to bring horse in at night - is it too early?

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kombikids

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its my first winter with my new horse and i am not sure when to bring in - i wanna bring my chap in at night as field shelter (where he spends his nights as other owner puts hay out) is actually half way up my shin deep in mud already but as small yard everyone is looking at me as tho am mad cos they dont want to muck out yet- is it ok for them to be stood in mud 24 hours a day? Wish yard owner would say we should all keep them in as theres only 3 acres and 5 horses and another on its way so not sure how we are going to get thro winter. Anyway should i bring him in - he has a selection of rugs so could stay out and warm but has to be sedated to clip and also has terrible cracked feet which i am spending a small fortune on trying to right.

Am i too soft on wanting him in - the horse he shares his field with wont be coming in til end of october!
 
Not at all our are already in and have been spending nights in over the summer if the weather has been nasty! I don't want mine stood out 24/7 getting mud fever when i could get my arse outside and muck out. If you want to bring in then bring in it your horse not theirs

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The Moose is in at night now, although to be fair she HATES being out and is a much nicer animal when she lives in. You should do what you want to with YOUR horse, whatever the other owner wants to do !

PS. Its not too early, its like late October out there. Its nasty. Unless your horse is considerably cleverer than mine, and can read a calendar, he won't know that he's coming in early, he'll jsut know that his nice mummy is bringing him out of the horrible rain and mud.
 
Mine have been in an awful lot as we have had such awful weather. My boys really don't like rain and wind and I would rather they were tucked in eating hay and being comfortable than getting miserable in their field.

Like someelse has said if your horse is prone to mud fever bring them in, also the wetter it is your paddocks will be trashed.
 
Mine are in at night- they're hanging around the gate by now but they'll have to wait cos i'm at work. they had odd nights in over ''summer'' when the weather was rubbish.

My feeling- if you leave your horse out simply because you don't want to muck out, then you are thinking of yourself and not your horse...i wouldn't want to be standing around in mud and rain.

Plus- i like a nice cosy stable with bit fat haynets and a bucket of feed just waiting for my beasties to come in and trash...but them i'm a softie...
 
Bring him in, if he isn't happy being in without his buddies, you can always sling him out again!

Try feeding Biotin for his feet (takes a while to take effect) and buy some stuff called Keratex hoof to paint on his hooves (has worked wonders with mine)
 
thanks all and sdh - hes on biotin and keratex and also some kevin bacon stuff too! i meanwhile am using some crappy leaky wellies cos i cant afford another pair!!!
 
if you want to bring him in then do so. Be guided by your own judgement and not what others do. Mine have been in at night since the beginning of september due to this cr*ppy weather.
 
Standing 24/7 in mud will most definitely not do his feet any good and he will benefit hugely from coming in at night onto a dry bed.

As others have said, do what you want, no what others do - although be prepared to get comments and flack for it!

Sounds to me that you are the sensible one and looking to preserve some grazing for the winter.

My mare has been in for a week or so at night, even though most of the others are out still on our yard - she HATES this weather, is still on solitary paddock rest for an injury and therefore I want her in at night and not skidding about in the mud.

At our yard, its each to their own, some turn out 24/7 for as long as possible (usually May - September inclusive), others like me bring in or leave out randomly depending on weather/weight/laminitis etc and some just don't turn out 24/7 ever - we all respect each others views and individual horse's needs.

If you are desparate for good strong foot growth, Equimins Hoofmender Plus powder is worth a try - good stuff.
 
just brought him in, so sweet - he was waiting by the gate and then came in saw his hay net and am sure turned to me and said thanks mum!
 
If I only had one I'd be bringing in at night now. I have four though and I haven't got the time to be mucking out beds this early in the year, so ours will be out until I can't bear to leave them any longer. I always hope for a winter that's cold rather than wet - so much easier for managing horses.
 
I have bought mine in because there has just been so much rain my land is looking a bit swamped in places. I don't want muddy gateways this arly in the year!
 
Ours are all in at night. They get 12 hours turnout minimum each day, but wouldn't want them standing in all the wet and mud overnight too.

You've done the right thing OP both in terms of your horse's feet and preserving the grazing through winter. 3 acres for 5 horses is never going to hold up if this weather continues quite honestly.
 
mine are in.

With all the rain I was thinking that I would not have them back out during the day, but it has been nice enough so they have been out during the day ( yay)
 
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