Who turns out in the snow?

[Bellaboo18]

So we've got quite a lot of snow in Staffordshire today and I'm wondering what people tend to do?

I always worry in the mornings what ice there is under the snow on the way to the field so they've all stayed in. I dont worry as much about the two unshod but the one with shoes on ?

Curious what everyone else thinks about the risk?

Be nice to see everyones snowy pictures as well!

 

[milliepops]

the ones that live out stay out
I don't tend to turn the stabled (& shod) ones out if it's the kind that balls up in their feet, i absolutely can't stand watching them slipping with snow stilts
So i've currently got 5 out and 2 in

Hera's first snow

 

[Bellaboo18]

the ones that live out stay out
I don't tend to turn the stabled (& shod) ones out if it's the kind that balls up in their feet, i absolutely can't stand watching them slipping with snow stilts
So i've currently got 5 out and 2 in

Hera's first snow

Lovely picture ❤
I agree if they're already out I'd leave them out...
They can stay in till tomorrow, tbh they're pretty content either way I was just considering an hour out for a play but I wont chance it.

Thank you!

 

[teddypops]

Mine go out every day whatever the weather.

 

[Goldenstar]

I do everyday you don’t know how long it last and the more you leave them in the more likely they are to hurt themselves when they go out .
Mine are out with the fit ones wearing boots except Blue because I non that fit him .
We don’t have snow ( yet ) but it’s -3 and frozen hard .
Here we often can’t exercise in bad weather so it’s really important they stay out as much as I can manage .

 

[Goldenstar]

We lay dirty bedding to make walkways if we need to .

 

[sherry90]

Ours have gone out for a few hours today, they all want back in ? and are confused where all the grass has gone! Always like them to have atleast a leg stretch.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mimosa is quite entertained by snow but stands at the gate yelling her head off if she’s had enough of the rain.

I figure she would tell me if she’s unhappy with snow too, and she’s never complained so they will be out.

Milagra just goes with the flow ?

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Mine lives out 24/7 365, he is clipped (and rugged) and the only time he has been in due to snow was the Beast from the East, I think he was in for two and a half days.

 

[Orangehorse]

If they are going to run around and play and I would rather they did it on day 1, rather than day 3 when they have been confined in the stable. They are waiting by the gate now, to come in!

But it is a tricky one if the ground underneath is frozen, but on balance I think they are better finding out that snow is wet and cold rather than a new plaything.

 

[Red-1]

Mine are out, unless there is black ice. In the case of black ice I clear enough to hand walk, unless I can get enough clear to turn them into the arena.

 

[Starzaan]

Mine go out every day whatever the weather.

This. No matter what. All day, every day. They’re much happier out than in, and then they’re ready to come in to warm dry stables for feed and a mountain of haylage at night.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Mine go out every day whatever the weather.

Same .
We only really get ice on the yard area , which leads directly to their field , so I keep a bit of salt handy and chuck shavings (from their beds ) down to make a track , if it's really bad . If it's really slippery I try to avoid leading them anywhere , they are left loose to move under the own steam and are sensible enough to walk really slowly with their heads virtually on the floor . Very much depends on your set up and your circumstances though as to what's safest . It's much more difficult/dangerous if you're having to lead a keen horse out across ice to the field when his focus is on joining his mates rather than on where he's putting his feet !

 

[eggs]

Mine go out in the snow (we haven’t got any here at the moment)

 

[dogatemysalad]

Not all livery yards allow owners the luxury of choice. Ideally mine would be out, except when it's snowballing kind of snow. The shod ones can't walk on stilts.
Currently, ours get individual time in the menage, but must be supervised. Its a tough time for stabled horses, particularly when it's too icy to exercise them properly.

 

[outdoor girl]

Mine are out, no matter what's going on with the weather. The first thing one of them did was roll in the snow and then start to dig at it to find the grass underneath. There was lots of haylage out, but by the time all 3 of them were out and we left them, only 1 was eating it.

 

[Sir barnaby]

This was the beast of the east and we kept out all the time as the stables weren’t suitable to use the only problem I had was the balling of ice in their feet. We took water up from the house as the water troughs froze solid
The horses were fine

 

[luckyoldme]

This thread brought back memories of 2010. At the time I had my lovely old boy and he was stabled in barn styled stables. I opened the main door and his stable door.
He walked up to the door had a look then turned round and went back to his stable.
Decision made !

 

[loz9]

Mine are out whatever the weather at least all day (they are usually out overnight year round with afternoons stabled). They are all barefoot which helps & the field is only 20m from the stables. Plus they're at home so I can easily keep water & hay topped up. If they didn't go out the gelding would be climbing the walls.

 

[BallyJ]

I tended to turn out while I mucked out etc etc,

Then brought them back in once all done and swept! Used to take a small amount of hay up with me to keep them calm when they first got into the field.

 

[Sir barnaby]

My two are out unless very wet and windy, mare in foal, she has put up a good coat and never looks tucked up or cold. I don’t like them in too much as legs fill up at least when out they can walk about they also get a mortar box full of hay so full bellies through the night.

 

[brighteyes]

Definitely, but we haven't got any

 

[Nudibranch]

Mine stay out. We closed them in the covered yard during the beast from the east and after a couple of hours they were barging the fence to get back out. The snow was up to their knees (a 16.2 and a 17.3) but they didn't care. Snow is easier for them to deal with than torrential rain and gales.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

This must have been cold despite the blue sky... the horses have heavyweights with neck covers on. Was this the Beast from the East (Dec 2017)?

 

[JoannaC]

I leave them out when it first snows as doesn't tend to be slippy and assume that they may have to come in for a few days soon when it does turn to ice. Even rode in the snow today but mine don't have shoes on.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Well I went for it and turned the two unshod horses out. They were quite happy. They weren't my concern.
Half way to the field with my shod horse though and she was on stilts (i'd taken a hoof pick) so I turned back.
They're a happy little gang and dont go crazy if they've been in a day or two it's just my preference for them to get some turnout each day. I do feel lucky that I get the choice on our yard.

 

[Winters100]

Mine are out whatever the weather, they go out before 7am, but if it is truly terrible I will bring them in at around 1pm. When we have periods of prolonged snow I get the farrier to put little rubber pieces in the shoes to stop it from balling, but if it is only a few days I don't bother. Last year this was not needed, but the year before it was.

 

[southerncomfort]

Yes mine are turned out in snow.

They love it. They completely ignore any hay I put out and spend hours digging in the snow for grass.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I don't think mine would forgive me for not letting them out to play in the snow! They love it!

 

[ycbm]

Always, shod or not. It's never occurred to me not to.
.