Warning, Rant- Is access to shelter important?

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SmokingBabe

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I'm p***** off
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I'm waiting for my new field to be ready so am stuck at the miserable DIY yard for the time being.

The horses have 1/2 acre paddocks which are periodically rested to allow for the growth of grass.

The YO has given me a new one slap bang in the middle with post and stock netting for fencing and no shelter whatsoever.
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The others are honestly looking at me like I'm mad for suggesting that it is crucial for horses to have access to either artificial or natural shelter from the elements
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They don't seem bothered that their horses are standing in blazing sunshine or Force 10 winds with driving rain .

So honestly, would you to insist on shelter or am I over reacting
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as i move the ponies around the field with leccy fencing i always try to include a shelter or a tree or hedges especially on hot days like today.
i notice that they seek out the shade to doze in.
 
depends on how well your horses cope, but as i was mucking out for a friend who's stables are opposite my field, my horse didnt move from under the trees for 2hrs because it was raining and windy (even with a full neck LW on) i know my horse is a bit of a wimp but he needs his shelter lol
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I would not put mine out without shelter - they have both natural shelter (hollows in the field with hedges for the wind and big trees) and a field shelter - that they could all get in if only the mean one didn't stand blocking the door!

Although lots of horses live out with no shelter - really depends on the length of time they are out? Have seen horses in oz turned out 24/7 with no shade/shelter whatsoever, not something I would do, but they all lived. But if the are out 24/7 then def yes they need shelter imo. Wouldn't be worried about the wind and rain at the moment, as is not too cold, more bothered about the heat (finally!!!!) and the flies.

So no, I don't think you're over-reacting, but if this is only a temporary measure, then I would grin and bear it, unless you can get your turnout changed? They shouldn't be too offended by the lack of shelter (more room for grass
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) and with any luck you can mve to your new field soon.
 
I'm not fussed about purpose built wooden shelters, but I do like them to have a good tall hedge at least to act as a windbreak. Our field has a lovely 8ft thick old hedge on three sides and on rainy nights the horses tuck themselves nose to tail against it for shelter.
 
I agree with Blackcob, a good hedge will do the trick. I hate to see horses exposed to full sun in summer.

I actually bring mine in during the day in summer, out of the flies and sun.

If I'm late getting them in they soon let me know.
 
My horse will always have shelter, however much of an argument it causes at my yard. "Shelter" in my book is classed as trees, hedges, a man-made field shelter, a stable (she has a stable overhang at the moment giving enough shade), etc. Where rain is concerned then just a rug will do.
My share horse is out in the full blazing sun at the moment looking hot and miserable, because his owner wants him to have grass and the un-shaded bit is the only grassy bit left. My horse is on a diet and in a nice bare patch of the field with some trees and the stable overhang to shelter under. Ok so my horse is hungry, but she's happy picking at the little grass there is whereas Berlin is looking thoroughly fed up. Funny how people have different priorities for their horses.
 
Well, I don't think they need a field shelter as such - in my experience it is often monopolised by one horse, no matter how large it is...
Mine live out 24/7 and have shelter in the form of a tree line, and as it's on a hill, there's a hollow at the bottom which is completely sheltered from the prevailing wind.
They have shade from both sides, but don't seem to use it very much...but two of them are heat-seeking types...so maybe the third doesn't like to stand in the shade alone?
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I like my horses to have shelter, on the DIY yard I'm on all fields have big hedges and trees for shelter.

My horse hates the rain, so i usually put his 'rain mac' on if its going to rain, I have seen him with his mac on, under the hedge -looking mighty p***** off, where the others are all fine and happy... so to some extent it depends on your horse, but yes- I feel that some sort of shelter should be available, wouldnt like to be out in blazing sun or pouring rain all day myself..
 
If they are in for part of the time, yes you are overreacting!!

Some of our fields don't have much shelter, but if they are not out 24/7 I don't think it hurts
 
My horses have access to their stables as I leave them open and they just come and go as they please. They usually shelter from wind and rain by the hedge at the far end of the field but my bay hates getting too hot and if its even remotely warm or sunny he brings himself into his stable. They will often stand in most of the day if we're having a heatwave (remember those?!!)
So yes, they must have access to shelter. I think if I were you I'd bring in during the day while it's warm, and turn out at night.
 
I would always want mine to have at least natural shelter, they have big mature trees in their field and they definatly use them so that tells me they need / like it.
 
Mine are out 24/7 but there is plenty of natural shelter on three sides of the field. They do need to be able to get out of the weather if they want. I've noticed this week, since the weather has been quite warm, that they graze in the shadow of the trees.

There are "gypsy" horses tethered in a field near my home and I really feel sorry for them as they have absolutely no shelter of any sort. It's on the top of a hill and very exposed.
 
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If they are in for part of the time, yes you are overreacting!!

Some of our fields don't have much shelter, but if they are not out 24/7 I don't think it hurts

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Same here - my paddock is the only one with shade in the day, none of the others have any at all. If it is hot (ha!!) then we bring in during day and turn out at night, but let's face it, it hasn't been anywhere near hot enough this year to worry about it!
 
There's absolutely no shelter in our paddocks
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. Owners cut down any trees when they moved in to clear the view. Mains electric around paddock. I bring mine in when it's hot during the day and in again if it's wet and/or windy. It's a real pain.
 
I have no shelter at all either - and nothing I can do about it. I do feel bad, but I can't move yards (emigrating etc etc and she is staying on loan at present yard). At least she is Irish and quite stocky, and always rugged when necessary. Don't have a stable to bring in either. Horrible me.
 
Ours have a field shelter and really use it. As I write this they are standing in it out of the sun and flies, and when it rains Murph is quite funny, you see him dashing across to the shelter as soon as the first drops fal, althugh others aren't quite so bothered about rain..
 
My lad uses his field shelter a lot and was very unhappy in his field before I got it, even though he had trees and hedges. I guess it depends on the horse but my lad spends most of the day in there during the summer away from the flies and heat. At night he goes in there to lie down and have a sleep...even though he could do that in the field if he wanted to! But he uses it every day that is for sure.
 
I don't think it's the end of the world if it's a temporary solution, or if your horse is in for all or part of the day/night. I wouldn't want a horse out 24/7 with no shelter at all but if they had to, they'd cope.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, depending on the weather while you're in this paddock. If it gets really hot then echo the above idea to turn out at night and bring in during the day.

In an ideal world we'd all have ideal fields and other facilities - but it just doesn't work like that so we all have to do the best we can.
 
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Thanks to everyone
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Despite being a strapping girlie, Min's detests the rain and get's rather grumpy if she's too hot too ! Sugar is more tolerant
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Min's loves having access to a man made shelter but will lower herself (joke!) to accept a good hedge and tree's.

Yes, I'm going to stick to my guns on this one for her sake, maybe I can quote the five freedoms to the YO !!!!

Thanks again all
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No I wouldn't insist on a shelter. It's not very hot in the UK, and a bit of wind or rain during the summer, certainly isn't going to do any damage.

All of my big fields are completely surrounded by hedgerow aswell as each having man-made shelters (huge enclosed barns/open fronted barns) however some of my smaller paddocks do not have shelter of any sort. It doesn't bother me at all to keep my horses in these smaller paddocks; the wind keeps a temperate breeze blowing over it and if it rains then same thing, it blows the rain and they simply turn their butts to the prevailing wind. Our temperatures are a sight hotter than in the UK however none of my horses are bothered in the slightest about whether they have shelter or not; actually the horses in the big fields rarely use their shelters in the summer, and only for short periods in the winter.

If this sort of thing bothers you, then just move to another yard where you can have all the things you feel your horses need.
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I wouldn't be bothered if they came in for a few hours a day but they don't and they are quite high up. Even on a scorching hot day its still breezy up there.

My field is split in to 3 paddocks, so either end has 3 hedges and the middle one has 2.
I now have a shelter in the top paddock. That is my winter paddock so they will have somewhere to go and eat!
Yay.... no more haylage scattered around the field!
 
Thanks everyone
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My field should be ready within the next month, I'm so looking forward to having them at home
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I'm off to the yard now, wish me luck !
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I have to say I am not a fan of stock fencing for horses - can you run a line of electric tape inside it to keep the horses away? As for the shelter thing, can you turn out at night? At least then you only have rain and wind to worry about! Before we had our field shelter the horses would shelter by the barn or next to the hedge, but it is not uncommon to see strips marked out with tapes which offer no shelter. I would say it is not ideal.
 
yes definately very important. As is somewhere to scratch,which many people forget when they fence everywhere with electric tape.
the shelter can be hedges,walls or trees, it doesnt have to be a field shelter. having said that, mine have practically moved into theirs on a 24/7 basis since the hot weather arrived.
 
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yes definately very important. As is somewhere to scratch,which many people forget when they fence everywhere with electric tape.
the shelter can be hedges,walls or trees, it doesnt have to be a field shelter. having said that, mine have practically moved into theirs on a 24/7 basis since the hot weather arrived.

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I use electric fencing precisely so that mine CAN'T scratch...he has sweet itch and will shred himself to pieces if he has anything to scratch on..he can't have a field shelter but I do like him to have some overhanging trees/hedges for shade in summer. If he has an itch he just grooms his field mate or rolls..
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I use electric fencing precisely so that mine CAN'T scratch...he has sweet itch and will shred himself to pieces if he has anything to scratch on..he can't have a field shelter but I do like him to have some overhanging trees/hedges for shade in summer. If he has an itch he just grooms his field mate or rolls..
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Ditto. And agree with Sooty re stock fencing too.
 
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