When to keep horses in?

[TheRedMare]

One that may be interesting!

Mine is kept in today due to the water in the field freezing over (we had to smash it with a hammer as couldn't break with boot, frozen down sides of buckets, will measure how thick later for my own curiosity) so quickly and the wind chill. The field is in an exposed location and there is not enough natural shelter at the moment for where they are. The stable is currently warmer and the buckets are not icing over. The horse in question is also a warmblood that grows nothing of a winter coat.

At what point do you say "this is too much - they're coming in"?

Edited to add: just curious what others do, not asking for advice on this one!

 

[Amye]

I'm having this internal debate now! Yard turn J out for me on a morning, I didn't expect for it to be this bad (forecast was for snow to stop by this morning) so I left him on turnout. The yard have probably turned out by now but the snow is still coming and it's windy so I'm wondering whether to get him brought in!

I don't like him standing all day in his stable, but if the other horses round him are in he won't be happy being out without much company! He's a warm horse anyway, but I think it's the company he'll be bothered about.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I bring mine in when wind and rain are driving.
They're both Natives and they have tree shelter on one side of field. No rugs.
We've had snow the past couple days and my field is nearly 1/4 mile from stables so the track between is now icy so not safe for leading. They will stay in field now until the track thaws out - a couple days.
Ponies are much happier out than in anyway.
Their water has never frozen to where I can't break it and they have plenty of hay.

 

[Antw23uk]

My set up at home allows the horses free movement from open stables and yard onto the paddock so they chose themselves (I encourage in by putting hay inside) and where they are now on winter grazing they have access to a large brick built garage type building which is where there haylage is so again they can choose. When I turned up this morning both were in the field watching the world go by happy as anything. I believe if you can have a setup that allows them to choose then let them chose themselves and 9 times out of ten they choose to be outside come rain or shine!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I would probably bring mine in for a couple of hours for a break and a haynet-if I could get there. they have a burn and the farmer is giving them some hay today.

 

[only_me]

Well I gave my lot loads of nice Haylage and extra hay nets, nice warm water to drink and more straw for under cover bed.

Billy proceeded to walk out into the field and start eating through the snow. The only animals staying under cover & eating the hay are the alpacas...

 

[Breagha]

I actually took mine in last night and they are having a duvet day today. There is not much shelter in their paddock and for the first time this winter Breagha was actually cold. All the troughs and taps have frozen at the yard as well, so having to take water from home so no harm in them being in for a wee break. When I go up later I will see what the weather is like, if still bad will turn out in the school and then muck out and keep them in again. My paddock is also on a hill and to get to it you have to go up a hill and be quite hard and slippy. Breagha has full set of shoes on so dont want her hurting her self either.

 

[Merlod]

Everyone out with hay and rugs. Drinkers and trough have frozen so would have to fill buckets for stable or field regardless. EMS shetland staying in due to cold induced lamintis risk. Will probably bring in outdoor ponies earlier around 4.

 

[xDundryx]

The last couple of days I've put mine out in the morning but after a couple of hours are going nuts to come back in, doesn't help the other horses on the yard are all in. I turf them out for about an hour again in the afternoon while they're re-mucked out. So they get a break from standing in to let off some steam, have a roll around etc. I really don't like keeping them in but it's preferable to injuries!

 

[Annie B.]

Mine are going to stay in today. They went out for a hour yesterday and kicked the gate to come in. I have had frozen water in their stables day and night for nearly a week, simple systems frozen solid for old girl and fibre beet is held in some sort of suspended animation as the water is freezing before the feed is ready. It's bitterly cold and my gloves are sticking to anything metal the horses are all going to go into heavy turnouts whilst they are in as the snow is covering their beds by coming through the ventilation. All very dry at the moment but everything is going to be wet when the thaw comes and beds will have to come out. On the bright side our lab is having a great time throwing himself at all the drifts on the yard which are around 4 feet deep.

 

[Shay]

I've turned out this morning but will go back at lunchtime to bring in. We're quite exposed on the top of a hill and they were cold when I brought in at the normal time (4pm) yesterday. 3 or so hours to have a stretch and play (or mainly to eat hay) will be fine. Then they can come in. We're in the south so fairly pampered and unused to severe weather; The yard water supply is now completely frozen - first time in about 6 years I think so we have to be up several times a day with water for everyone anyway.

 

[millikins]

My two small ponies are usually in overnight as one needs restricted diet but left them out with the bigger ones last night as think they'll be warmer when able to keep moving. I have managed to coax the trough into life but their stable buckets had frozen and not enough free water to soak hay so would have had dry hay anyway.

 

[ozpoz]

Mine came in last night. We have frozen pipes in barn and fields, but the main reason they are staying in today is the powder snow over ice which is so dangerous when they are likely to be silly.

 

[Annagain]

All ours are out. Water is frozen in field AND in stables so they're better getting some moisture from the snow! They all had a good drink this morning (took water up from home) and they'll get the same when they come in (a bit earlier than usual) and again this evening. I've never known their buckets freeze inside before.

 

[ihatework]

It’s always difficult to have a hard and fast rule.
I own 3 horses and all have different management.

Where I am we have the bitter cold and wind, but not much snow (yet, coming in later today apparently).

The retired mare is in a superb field with natural shelter and a wooden shelter. She is naked and happy as Larry - in the middle of the field this morning eating grass, rather than the haylage.

The 2yo is in a huge bedded down barn with 5 other youngsters, he is in 24/7 at the moment while weather bad but plenty of room to move about and socialise.

The working horse has been going out as usual up until today. He went out for a couple of hours leg stretch this morning but I expect will be in 24/7 for the next few days if the snow hits as predicted - I’m lucky to have access to an indoor horsewalker though so he will go on that am & pm which takes some of the stress out of it.

 

[maggie62]

My new pony has been in.....driving snow, blowing a gale with no cover in field whatsoever. My stable is about 12 miles away and I can't even get there at the moment. She is just getting used to her new home, but I guess its just me being over cautious, being a newbie !!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My two live out, their new field is very exposed with only one line of hedgerow so I have bought them in today for a break with lots of haylage and warm ice free water to drink. They will have tea and go back out about 4pm and as it is going to be so nasty I will put necks on their rugs. Bailey will go into his heavyweight as the snow was melting on his neck whereas DP was snow covered.

 

[milliepops]

My 2 at the yard are in... i leave in when I don't know when or how I'll be able to get back. This morning the road was icy, this afternoon it's likely to be a toboggan run. If they are in it's easy for the YO to hay and water them if I can't get there, I'd rather that than worry about someone having to get them in from the field if they are wild

The retired pair are out 24/7, they have coats like yaks, thick rugs, loads of shelter and hay. They'll be fine

 

[pixie]

The ponies are out (mine lives out 24/7 and is quite snug under his rug).

I was going to turn the horses out, but its blowing gales, the buildings are making dreadful noises and the horses are far too skittish for me to risk life and limb trying to get them to the field only for them to want to come back in after 5 minutes.

I've told all their owners to not bother coming up, the roads are too bad to risk it when they don't need to. All the outside taps are frozen, so muggins here has been wheelbarrowing 20l containers of water up the hill from house to yard. I hope the furry ******* appreciate it!

 

[YorksG]

We can't open the yard gates and have had lying snow for three days now. The drift in the middle of the yard is approaching five feet now, so the horses have been in since Tuesday The sheep are coping with their two popen fronted plastic sheds under the walls and the few trees we have. We are at the top of the pennines and have had to snow proof the buildings.

 

[meleeka]

When they don’t even want to go out. Mine have access to stables 24/7 and they didn’t make it out at all yesterday. If I shut the oldie in in saves the other one messing up both stables instead of just him so less work for me.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Both of mine are in today and were in yesterday. Normally I have them out in all weathers but the direction and ferocity of the wind means that there is no shelter for them and any haylage put in the fields gets blown away. So they're in with extra bedding, warm water in buckets and stable toys...

 

[NinjaPony]

A few days in won't hurt them. Mine are in, much safer than risking breaking limbs trying to get them to a frozen, icy field where they will just stand at the gate looking neglected.... So they are in with nice warm rugs, lots of hay, big comfy bed and leg wraps, and hopefully in a couple of days normal service can resume... But for now they are safest in.

 

[brightmount]

Mine live out. It's their first full winter on retirement. I was struggling with the mud and wet, but they seem very happy in the snow. The main problem has been getting water to the fields as the tap has frozen up, so it's tanks on sledges, not something I want to be doing much longer! They don't move round the field much, I can tell by the lack of tracks in the snow, but they stay near the shelter and hay. At least I don't have the problem of turning out pent up horses in a few days. Good luck to those who have that to look forward to!

 

[Merrymoles]

Chucked them out this morning while I mucked out but the snow means there is no grass at all and the hay was blowing away so they came back in as soon as room service was done. Mine was mesmerised by hay blowing away but wouldn't have been so happy once he realised it was all gone!

The roads are dreadful round here - the snow is drifting off the field across them and there isn't enough traffic today to shift the piles - so it is peace of mind that they are in with loads of hay now and not relying on whatever time one of us can manage to get up tonight. Their stable buckets have been frozen the last couple of nights so am planning to take a flask tonight just to try to warm it up enough not to freeze immediately. All the yard taps are frozen solid so we are filling buckets in the YO's kitchen at the moment. I told her not to even bother about thinking of trying to go to work this morning so she is home and will keep an eye on them.

 

[Beth206]

My set up at home allows the horses free movement from open stables and yard onto the paddock so they chose themselves (I encourage in by putting hay inside) and where they are now on winter grazing they have access to a large brick built garage type building which is where there haylage is so again they can choose. When I turned up this morning both were in the field watching the world go by happy as anything. I believe if you can have a setup that allows them to choose then let them chose themselves and 9 times out of ten they choose to be outside come rain or shine!

Yup this is exactly like our set up and ours do exactly the same

 

[exracehorse]

Mine live out. It's their first full winter on retirement. I was struggling with the mud and wet, but they seem very happy in the snow. The main problem has been getting water to the fields as the tap has frozen up, so it's tanks on sledges, not something I want to be doing much longer! They don't move round the field much, I can tell by the lack of tracks in the snow, but they stay near the shelter and hay. At least I don't have the problem of turning out pent up horses in a few days. Good luck to those who have that to look forward to!

. Agree. My two live out 24:7 and am trying to keep routines the same. They are usually naked but I did put a medium rug on Tuesday night as knew snow was coming. It’s raw out there in the wind today but woujd be more dangerous to walk them over two fields of frozen ruts hidden under snow to get to the stables. They seem quite happy with big piles of hay. The water is a big issue. As soon as I empty the containers out, it immediately freezes. I do worry loads about impaction colic. My two are a warmblood x TB and a very hairy American Saddlebred

 

[Equi]

I rugged my little ones up (bar the yak) and put them out for a few hours but I’m getting weak and may go fetch them. Thankfully my home stables go right to the paddock, Big lad stayed in at livery as the yard was too slippy to go out with shoes.

 

[frostyfingers]

My fully clipped hunter is out - he prefers it that way - and his little Welsh companion is out naked. The pony has actually put weight on in the last month so this cold spell is a chance for him to lose some of his podginess! Luckily we have a big field with plenty of hedge and tree shelter and they have open access to a yard with large stabl, hay and water but they don’t come in. They’ve hardly drunk the water which I replace 3 times a day and not touched the hay so I’m guessing they’re happy with their lot.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

We’ve very little snow and we’ve turned out as normal all day until today. They went out a couple of hours this morning but the field is now yellow and the troughs are frozen solid. Buckets of water taken out ice over within minutes. So today they are in for the rest of the day. Our stable automatic waterers are frozen solid and replacement trugs were frozen this morning. It was a round of breaking ice, filling buckets and boiling kettles to make sure they’ve got enough water.

I’m worried that water intake isn’t enough so have done sloppy feeds with added veg oil and salt to encourage drinking. He’s pooping for England so hopefully all is working ok.