Who’s turning out ??

[racebuddy]

My boy been turned out every day , he absolutely hates being in and due to having previously ulcers avouding stress is a must ,

he has hot breakfast before going out comes in around 4pm i would rather him be out leg stretch and fresh air than be stuck in all day unhappy ?, especially how cold it is we may not be able to ride much ????

 

[teddypops]

Some of mine live out all year and the ones who are stables go out every day no matter what the weather.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine are out but we're coming in at night but have left them out the last 2 nights as I opened up a rested paddock, they seem happy enough and the ground has dried up a bit now.

 

[Carrottom]

Mine have to stay out as the track and road from their field is too icy. I would rather them stuck out than in their stables.

 

[Frumpoon]

All mine are now out 24/7 as the yard was too icy yesterday when I led across...didn’t want to do that again...

 

[TheMule]

Mine live out and are happy as larry. I did feel slightly mean yesterday morning when the mule had icicles in her hair!

 

[Pippity]

She has to be in at night but, as long as we can get down the occasionally icy path to the field, she goes out every day - and judging by how forward she tends to be on the way out, she has no objections! She doesn't have any hay, but there's plenty of grass underneath the snow, and she's fully capable of getting at it. Moving around to graze helps to keep her warm, rather than just standing at a hay pile and stuffing her face. I have recently fished out her 200g rug, though.

 

[racebuddy]

Happy horses xx hes ready for bed at night but they need to be out and have fresh air xx

 

[Surbie]

Mine is out all day on plenty of grass - has to come in overnight but he is happy as larry. As long as I can turn out safely, & the fields aren't closed, he will go out.

I'm down south though, so no snow, just wet fields atm.

 

[milliepops]

finally got the yard defrosted so could get the stabled ones out without going A over T they've been quite relaxed pottering out in hand but it's nice for them to have a proper roll and mooch about. everything else lives out. babies are finding the frozen mud a bit tough going so are lurking in their shelter most of the time!

 

[windand rain]

live out 24/7 so are happy dont like being in

 

[MissTyc]

I only bring to try to prevent ground churning, so mine have been turfed out since the cold arrived. They seem cheerful and the extra movement in the cold has got to be good for them? I hope!

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

I will put them out in anything apart from sheet ice. Unfortunately we have had sheet ice on the yard and track to field for several days now and overnight temperature of minus four so no sign of a thaw. It is just too risky in my opinion to lead them down to the field. We don't have enough grit/salt to do the track, it is being saved for around the yard where people are walking every day. It is very frustrating, I am desperate to get them out.

 

[milliepops]

I will put them out in anything apart from sheet ice. Unfortunately we have had sheet ice on the yard and track to field for several days now and overnight temperature of minus four so no sign of a thaw. It is just too risky in my opinion to lead them down to the field. We don't have enough grit/salt to do the track, it is being saved for around the yard where people are walking every day. It is very frustrating, I am desperate to get them out.

I feel your pain on that one. it has been my mission over the last few days to get them out, been treating the yard and doing my best to de-ice but the 3rd horse off the yard even today nearly toppled over as it was still a bit slick. but I did get them out at last. I know some people have problems with the horses going nutty after a few days inside but mine just pootle about quietly which is a relief

 

[conniegirl]

At this time of year mine goes out in the barn. It such a lovely way to keep them. Barn is Huge! He can do everything he would in a field but without the risk of slips, falls, pulled tendons, mud fever etc.
We can only use the barns once the turkeys have gone for Christmas dinner but will use them now until the summer paddocks are ready

 

[Cortez]

Why would you not turn out? Mine is presently out all the time unless it's pouring and blowing a gale.

 

[southerncomfort]

Mine live out. They came in overnight when we had heavy snow forecast but were back out first thing the next morning. Its been below zero most nights here but they have shelter and hay feeders out in the field.

I usually bring them in for a couple of hours in the morning so I can check them over and do a bit of work with my youngster.

I'm really pleased because the mini shetland has finally started to lose some weight!

 

[Nudibranch]

Mine are out 24/7. It's icy and snow lying but dry. That's no big deal to them. Gales and torrential rain is different but even then mine have to be closed into the barn as they will invariably choose to be out. Why would anyone need to keep a horse in in cold, dry weather?

Have a look at the David Marlin stuff on rugging and temperatures. Horses range of comfort is way, way greater than ours in terms of lower temperatures.

 

[PurBee]

With the northern weather coming in we’re barely escaping 1 degree in the day. Been minus temps as soon as the sun sets for a few days now, so ice is building and barely melting. Have hardcore/adobe surfaces rather than concrete so footing still good.
My whole water system for house and land has an area of plumbing at the moment above ground so keeping that flowing is a bit challenging!
Horses are liking a hot water bucket from the cistern dumped in their water trough, which i keep kicking to breakup the frozen surface.

Long range weather forecasts show a milder january but a fairly cold february, with a smattering of a few days of ice/snow in mid march. April set to be nice and dry.

 

[JoannaC]

Mine are out and are happily digging for grass although I do put hay out as well. They have haynets hanging in the barn overnight so they can take themselves in which they do but are usually out in the morning. They come in for a couple of hours for breakfast and hay in the morning. They are still unrugged and seem happier for it. Normally i'd have rugged by now but the mares are still fat as the grass came so late this year and lots of it and i'm under strict instructions from the Blue Cross not to let the pony get fat. Hopefully i'll feels ribs by the end of Winter but no sign yet lol

 

[Cutgrass]

Our are out 24/7 and have field shelters but I've never seen them use them, even in the snow! Think they just like the fresh air and freedom.

 

[Sir barnaby]

Mine are out unless very wet and windy. I think crews and barns are excellent so if you have one your very lucky, our fields are fine and I can still strip graze as I have plenty grass. I put warm water out if trough freezes but they still drink the ice cold water once I’ve broken the ice brrrr. I put a little hay out in morning and a big bag full for overnight. If it gets very cold I pour hot water over the hay to steam it and soften it. They very happy much prefer to be out than in.

 

[skint1]

Mine are out for at least 4 hours each day, mostly more, unless it's really blowing wind and driving rain. They're usually ready to come in by then anyway. Luckily yard and tracks to field not particularly icey or muddy. Gateways are muddy though rest of field not too bad

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Mine are out as normal, it’s cold here but no ice or frost for the last few days.

 

[C24]

Mine is out in the day and in at night. We got snow last night but he’s been put out today, I’m unable to get out to him though as we’re snow/iced in (and my car is useless in the smallest bit of ice ?) so the YO is doing most of the liveries today. He’s yet to spend a day in from the cold weather, has had to spend a few days in due to the hunt going past and the storm we had the other week though. He has to come in as he’s clipped, everyone else brings theirs in and if he’s left out he becomes uncatchable. He used to be wild for the first 3 years of his life and it’s like he digresses back to that if he’s left out - he’s an absolute nightmare if he has 24/7 turnout in the summer, I can spend 3 weeks not being able to get near him. He’d happily spend 6 months on box rest and be no different, much prefers being in 24/7 than being out. ??‍ I’d prefer it if he was out all the time than in all the time, not only for his own health but because the bills go through the roof when I have both our horses in all the time. ? Our other pony is at the vets for this month (had her splint bone removed just before Christmas) but she’s a Welsh A who absolutely despises going out. She doesn’t do rain, snow, puddles, the cold, mud, etc. The silly thing has been known to rear if you so much as lead her to a puddle ? I’m not convinced that the cantankerous little sh** would even leave her stable in snow and ice ??

 

[Winters100]

Mine go out every day whatever. In the last 2 years I think I have only kept in for 1 day and that was for a gale that I was worried could bring trees down. Even 2 winters ago when it was below -10 c for about a week they still went out every day, albeit in 300g rugs with hoods. During that period I would warm my hands under their rugs and they were perfectly warm underneath.

 

[Gloi]

Went to yard today and it had just snowed on ice . Car slid backwards going up drive to yard and had to leave it and walk. Seriously slippery and I barely could get up slope to stable. Pony sadly can't get to paddock but all being well will thaw again later today or yo will sort out gritting.

 

[Merrymoles]

Ours are out as normal but our fab YO spread scalpings on the really slippy bit where the puddles were on their walk to the field yesterday and it's worked a treat!