What should I do with my two horses ( welshy and tb) with this storm!!! HELP!!

[My equine life]

Please help!
my field is very exposed (it’s on a hill so probably gets some shelter however not a lot other that the odd leave less hawthorn bush). Debating whether to bring them in or not. I did the last two nights however one of my little ponies has started having teeth troubles. (Vet coming Thursday). She is managing grass now and can do a bit of hay but not as much as usual. I worry that bringing her in again will mean she isn’t getting enough fibre. (11hh Welshy). I’m introducing her to soaked fibre nuts and speedi beeg with happy hoof but she isn’t on as much as she would need to replace a hay net due to me introducing it slowly. I would divide the yard in Half so she could come in and out of the yard onto the concrete and reach at some little bits of grass under the fence. Last night I picked her a bucket of grass to nibble at but she wasn’t particularly interested. Didn’t touch the hay net the first night but she ate half last night. I’ll rug her up of course. It’s either this or leave her out with my other horse in 40 mph winds in quite an exposed field with possible hail and snow and driving rain. What would you do!?
ps- also had a few rats about ? had pest control out and now under control. Swept the hay barn out and found lots of droppings and two dead rats. Don’t want them catching diseases. Do you guys worry about rats or accept they live alongside horses and always have done and always will?!
Please help me! Stressing big time!!

 

[PurBee]

Can you soak the hay for her teeth issues to soften the hay...might help her eat more? An hour would do it to soften it up.

I’d bring them in with such wild weather having just a really exposed field...but you know your horses, how well they deal with wind and rain. Temps have gone low so its keeping mine inside sheltered in their barn with access to roam inbetween the hail and gusts of wind.

Ive got a male cat for rats...he’s excellent! Kills them and eats their head, leaving their bodies lying around like its some trophy!
Use poison only if you have no cats/dogs able to get in the hay area. I dont allow rats to build up and have used traps in the past. They pee on hay and carry pathogens...so its good youre keeping on top of it.

I think the storm will be much less aggressive by tomorrow evening....the horses being in overnight and tomorrow with access to the yard you have should be happy to have the shelter. Its almost over, hang in there!
Its been blustery, ice cold with hail and thunder here today.
Roll on spring!

 

[Upthecreek]

It so depends on the horse. Mine have been out all weekend perfectly happy in their rugs but my field sounds more sheltered than yours. Last night was terrible here & I was fully expecting two sad faces this morning, but they were grazing on the other side of the field & casually ambled over for their breakfast.

 

[My equine life]

Yes I worry so much about the diseases they carry! Found a rat dropping whilst mucking out just now!! Ewww. Such pests!! Due to her shivering the other night I think she’ll be better off in. Tricky decision though. My other horse weave so has to be able to walk around on the yard in/ out of barn so normally they are better out and have been most of the winter (rugged of course due to little shelter). Would hate to find her shivering tomo morn after a night in this horrid weather. They’ve been out today so hopefully she’s got a tummy full of grass and her being off her hay a bit won’t harm her too much. She is pretty tiny so I hope it won’t be too much of an issue till the vet looks in her mouth. She’s quite a delicate flower bless her!! Xx

 

[Leo Walker]

Can you get her some grass nuts? You wont need to introduce them slowly. Just soak and fill a big bucket with them. Its probably too late for tonight, but worth bearing in mind. I'd leave them out tonight, rug them iwith heavier rugs if needs be. Leaving her with very limited food is asking for colic and/or ulcers.

 

[My equine life]

Can you get her some grass nuts? You wont need to introduce them slowly. Just soak and fill a big bucket with them. Its probably too late for tonight, but worth bearing in mind. I'd leave them out tonight, rug them iwith heavier rugs if needs be. Leaving her with very limited food is asking for colic and/or ulcers.

She is about the have a scoop of fibre nuts and a scoop of Speedo beet along with a decent scoop of happy hoof. Been increasing over the last few days. Is that and a haynet that she’ll have half of enough?