Why do you stable your horse in winter?

[Enfys]

Another pointless poll for you JFTD

 

[Greylegs]

Several reasons ...

...because he gets cold and wet otherwise
...because yard won't let me leave him out, so no choice in the matter
...because I hate hearing rain lashing at my window knowing my boy is standing outside in it while I'm all cosy inside
...because he actually seems to prefer being in (the wimpiest highland on earth!!)
...because it gives his rugs chance to dry out

All in all - a better alternative to leaving him outside.

 

[LegOn]

Because if you attempt to leave him out, especially at night when its wet & cold - he jumps the 6 bar gate to come in!

 

[*hic*]

I don't have a one size fits all solution! Currently adjusting fields ready for winter and will be leaving out for as long as possible as I'm allergic to hard work, but then it's my yard so I can do as I like, as well as having to do it all myself and having seven horses in will be quite hard work if and when I have to get them all in.

 

[PolarSkye]

Because he paces/walks/trots/gallops the fence line to come in . . . I'd love to leave him out, but he won't have it.

P

 

[3Beasties]

Mainly to preserve the grazing but there is also an element of giving them a break from the bad weather and keeping them cleaner to ride. It also means that I can monitor what they are eating more easily and make sure the poor doer has the opportunity to fill himself with hay.

Saying that, if I had more land I would leave them out apart from during the very worst weather or if I am at a comp the next day!

 

[wiglet]

Lots of reasons -
Yard rules, no grass in fields so prefers to be in eating hay, chance to bring in and dry off legs properly, dry rugs off and also if it's hissing down and blowing a gale... it makes me feel better

 

[LeannePip]

Yard rules, everything comes in at night for the winter.

when i wasnt on a yard where these were the rules, mine lived out over night but she never looked very happy and couldnt wait to come in in the morning where as in the summer shes quite happy to stay out so i think even given the choice i'd keep her in at night!

 

[hotair]

Because he paces/walks/trots/gallops the fence line to come in . . . I'd love to leave him out, but he won't have it.

P

Mine is pretty much the same as this ive tried him out but he hates it so hes always stabled at night nov-may

 

[soulfull]

Like most. Several reasons
Fields would be trashed
Horse seems to like it
No shelter in field
All other horses come in
It is nice to put them to bed

 

[rara007]

London clay and preserving our hay and driving fields ends up about an acre a pony = dire state by mid winter. They stay out 24/7 untill it gets boggy, then in at either night or day for most of the winter coming down to 1/2 a day out when they get miserable being out.
Fields doing well so far

 

[happyclappy]

I can't use your Poll because I don;t stable in winter!

 

[abracadabra]

Well, I don't and haven't for years and wouldn't like to go back to it, BUT in the past, it's been Yard Rules.

 

[Elsbells]

Because he paces/walks/trots/gallops the fence line to come in . . . I'd love to leave him out, but he won't have it.

P

Make him a she and that's my mare.

 

[Lanky Loll]

Because:

Ground is on clay and becomes a bog
Because she's at the door of the barn kicking it to come in at lunchtime (year round not just in winter)
Because she's a TB & feels the cold
Because without hard feed in winter she loses too much condition and I don't like feeding in the field with others out

 

[Cortez]

I ticked "horse prefers" but there are many other reasons why they come in: state of fields; better control of feeding; easier to keep fit/clean for riding. Certainly not for any warm fuzziness on my part - it's bl00dy hard work!

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Yard rules. Mine prefer being out and the gelding suffers from oedema, respiratory problems and arthritis so stabling will be a nightmare this winter. I may have to rent a neighbours field to supplement the livery`s turnout.

 

[JennBags]

If I had enough land of my own, shelters in fields, and a horse that didn't hate the wind & rain, then I'd definitely strongly consider having my horse live out all year round.

However, our yard rules are in at night from October to May; we don't have huge paddocks so they would be trashed and nothing to eat; there is no shelter in any of the paddocks; and my horse absolutely detests being out in the wind & rain. So I stable. Yesterday I brought my horse in at 2pm; he came in sideways and was trembling when he got back to the yard (not from cold, but from being out in such horrible weather).

 

[Asha]

Mine will come in a night over the winter, and if it's anything like last year they will have a few duvet days too.

Even though they have plenty of grass they tend to churn up the fence line/gates etc and stand in the mud. Some of them just don't want to be out when it's bad. After a couple of hours out, they are waiting to come back in.

 

[skint1]

I stable mine at night or several reasons, all of which have been previously covered by other posters

 

[NellRosk]

If I could find a yard near me which provided large fields with shelter and extra forage provided I would be there in a heartbeat as I HATE my horses coming in at night. Unfortunately that yard doesn't exist

 

[JFTDWS]

"Have you seen the state of my fields" [in deepest darkest winter] with a side helping of secret option 11: "Little git thinks he's houdini"...

 

[Nannon]

My ex racer likes to come in - he's in during the day when I have the time! Also my yard doesn't have lots of grass and he's a bit of a poor doer so it allows me to get hay and stuff into him, he doesn't like rain and mud and just stands looking miserable if I leave him out in it. Maybe it's just me being soft with him - the welsh pony and the 3yo at my mum and dads very rarely come in unless it's torrential and freezing!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

How many can I tick? :biggrin3:

Yes to: because I can, have you seen the state of my fields (if its wet for long periods) and none of your business

But also: its far easier on work mornings to muck out the boxes & chuck them out for the day, than trail around in the pitch dark in grotty weather
They often spend nights out tho in winter - when I am not working the next day, as they have shelters to use.
I usually drag them in, in around mid November, possibly later all weather dependant (for me, not them!)

Caveat: I dont EVER bring them in in high winds tho, as I have tall oaks behind the yard.

 

[JFTDWS]

Another pointless poll for you JFTD

Haha missed this! And AGAIN you've not given me the answer I want to give - third time in a row

 

[Annagain]

I went for yard rules - but only have to stable overnight from about end Nov - end April. I wouldn't go anywhere where they couldn't get out everyday as I don't always have time to ride in the evening.

 

[Red-1]

Because if you attempt to leave him out, especially at night when its wet & cold - he jumps the 6 bar gate to come in!

^^^^^ This for me too. In bad weather he is ready to come in after 4 hours. He is also thin skinned and loses weight in the cold even in a stable and well rugged.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Grazing would be ruined, one of my horses hates wind and rain so they both come in around now at night.

 

[xgemmax]

Because otherwise they'll be stood knee deep in mud by the gate looking miserable waiting to come in!

 

[RockinRudolph]

Yard rules. If it was up to me, I'd only bring him in when the weather was at it's very worst but it's the farmers decision.