What do you do when its frosty?

[RubysGold]

We had a HARD cold frost this morning.
Ive heard it can be dangerous, making horses more prone to lami ?
So what do you do with your horses? keep them in till mid day on those day?
Hay in the field? Turn out as normal?

I own 2 of 3 horses out. This morning I said to the other livery that maybe we should put some hay out. So I said maybe 2 slices for each horse? put 4 slices of hay out, she said oh dont put too much out, just a little bit, and put maybe half a slice out. It kept them quiet maybe an hour?

So think maybe Ill stop turning mine out in the mornings when theirs hard frost?

 

[Ginger Bear]

I turn out as normal, unless the yard is so icy that it's dangerous to walk them over it.

 

[Peegeesmum]

I put hay out for mine,& plenty of it. Your horses after all,do what you feel is right

 

[B_2_B]

We turn out as normal as well, they usually have hay to eat during Winter unless there's enough grass (fat chance huh? )

 

[Chestnut mare]

Turn out as normal! Had to go back to ride this afternoon as too icy this morning .

 

[fidleyspromise]

mine are out 24/7 and if there's no grass, they get hay.
if a hard frost is forecast, then they get hay.

A the moment though, the highland is chomping any grass that does grow and the Newfie is stickign to her hay so I give them ad-lib hay and let them choose.

 

[Fransurrey]

Mine are also out 24/7, so the frost isn't a shock to the system for them. Hay is given at the usual time of about 8am (after their feed, which is ~7:45).

Rode as usual, as I just crossed a lane and was then off road. Another advantage of no shoes at this time of year!

 

[springer1021]

I turn out but usually put a slice of hay out each.

 

[indie999]

Mine is out 24/7 he is on restricted due to good doer but on old last years summer grass which has been growing in the mild snap.

Now the frost he had 2 slices of hay this afternoon to keep him warm through the night!

Dont mind giving him bulk and he is elderly and unfortunately on his own, so good he can be busy eating.

When he was being ridden I would have gone out today for a ride when the sun came up and as long as the roads were not too icy as he did have shoes then.

 

[dafthoss]

He lives out so he just stayed out as normal, theres plently of grass out there so no need to hay really. I rode him this morning just in walk but not because of the ground and had no problems.

 

[Ladylina83]

I put hay out , was a bit dubious about doing so with my mare though this morning as she had frost colic 2 years ago

 

[MrsMozart]

If the horses are already out, i.e. they've been out all night before the frost arrived, then if there is enough grass I don't put hay out. If the grazing is insufficent they would already have ad lib hay in the field.

Horses that have been stabled overnight, I give a hard feed before turning out onto frosty grass. Never had a problems with frost induced issues.

 

[LouS]

He stays in when its frosty, our fields hardly have any grass left at all, he hates being out for more than a few hours anyway, its just mud. I just make sure he gets a good long time out of the stable doing some work etc and having a play in the school and going for a walk. If I do try to turn him out he stands there and just looks at me.

I don't turn out on the frost at all though, especially wouldn't if we had good grazing.

 

[Cheiro1]

She goes out as normal. She has her small feed before she goes out as usual then goes out.

 

[PolarSkye]

Well, he has his breakfast and a small haynet and then he goes out . . . simples. He's never had a problem with either colic or lami with this regime. Honestly, if he were kept in when everyone else was going out, he'd do his nut . . . I'd much prefer he were calm and chilled and out on the frosty grass (which hasn't affected him yet) than in and stressing (which could make him either hurt himself in his stable or more prone to colic from stress).

P

 

[ebonyallen]

Out as norm. with hay, but they all walked past the hay did not want to know !!

 

[tracyandtokyo]

Ours on the yard usually go out at mid day then are out for a couple of hours and come back in. They usually tell us when they have had enough as they run through fencing ect!!
My boy had an abscess so was tucked up in his stable with lots of hay and he was happier

 

[starryeyed]

We had a hard frost too, v cold out there this morning! We tend to either keep ours in for longer with extra brekkie/haynet and then put them out at lunch time / early afternoon, or if we're not going to be around they go out with lots of hay to munch on.

 

[shadowboy]

Mine went out at 11 instead of 9. They were given hay to fill bellies before turn out to try and stop them from forging on sweet frosty grass. But by 11 most had melted. They then came in at 6 ad per usual. Frost is a risk to lami prone horses. Mine has never had it but I like to be careful.

 

[starry94]

mine went out as normal, we've recently put them into another field so there is quite a bit of grass in there for this time of year, but we put haynets up too & they were quite happy

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Sorry, I have to work in an office for a living so dont have the luxury of waiting till later for frost to lift most days....

So, mine - who are in at night - have a good breakfast & then go out to a slice of hay each, poss more if weather horrid as they won't be coming back in till early evening.

As others have said, its your horse so you have to do whats best

 

[Marydoll]

Good breakfast, haynet then out, they dont go out till ten on frosty days

 

[Lotty]

My mare had a lami attack 2years ago so I'm always careful When it's frosty, she has her breakfast and a haynet, she goes out about 11.30am

 

[Kenzo]

Well they go out what ever the weather but I always put hay out through winter especially with a frosty ground, if they have been stood in a stable all night and finished their hay off through the night they need something in the morning not only because they will be hungry but to keep them warm, get the digestion system going again and prevent lami or collic.

I'd never turn them out on a frosty frozen ground without any hay, but I'm lucky to be able to because I have a field to myself, suppose its tricky when people's horses in with other liveries

....don't be spending too much at that sale

 

[AngieandBen]

Surely there is more sugar in the grass when the sun has been out and melted the frost?!! ie about midday. The longer the sun out the more sugar?. Lami prone horses are better out early morning befoe it defrosts or overnight.


This is a very interesting website

http://www.safergrass.org/articles.html

 

[tinap]

I leave him in an extra few hours just to try & let it thaw a little

 

[James6]

Out at 6am as normal after breakfast, I have to go to work! Never had a problem with frost and we aren't allowed to put hay in the field.

 

[Noodlebug]

Surely there is more sugar in the grass when the sun has been out and melted the frost?!! ie about midday. The longer the sun out the more sugar?. Lami prone horses are better out early morning befoe it defrosts or overnight.


This is a very interesting website

http://www.safergrass.org/articles.html

I thought that there is more sugar in frosty grass as it is stressed?

Mine go out as normal but with haylage. I didn't ride yesterday morning or this morning as so frozen and although the roads were dry I was worried that it would be frozen in places. Also the sun is so low that I am sure peple driving might not see you even with Hi Viz but maybe I am too cautious as a lot of people rode out!! The field are frozen too and I had trouble walking on the muddy bit!

 

[Puppy]

They live out 24/7 with hayhutches full of haylage, so the frosty grass isn't a worry to me.

 

[shadowboy]

Proper chrimbo that was also what I have been led to believe that there is an increase of fructans in the grass when it is stressed by frost and that the increase in sugar causes them to gorge.