Would it be really mean and selfish of me ...

I

Ilovefoals

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if I left my horses out tonight? I'm really unwell with flu and barely had the energy to put them out this morning. My husband is away working so I wont have help and have 4 of them to muck out. If it wasn't for the weather I wouldn't be that bothered but we have a lot of snow and it was -17 here last night!

What do you think? Would it be really unfair of me? They'd have a ton of haylage to eat and wear 2 heavy weight rugs.

Thanks. x
 
No I don't think it would be particularly awful as long as they are rugged and fed :) I would do it to mine if I couldn't get any help and I was really ill!
 
Thanks. I would usually try but I'm soooo weak! Plus my 4yr old daughter is ill too so I can't drag her outside with me. I know I'm gonna feel so guilty tho!
 
They will be fine and probably prefer to be out as long as they are warm in their rugs and have hay. I wonder whether sometimes those in stables get colder because they cant move to keep warm or cant escape draughts. (I know my two prefer being out but then I also know some horses who prefer being in! If they arent the type to be worried by change or always seem happy to be out I would defintely keep them out)

Plus if you push yourself too much and make yourself even more ill (and your daughter) you will put yourself in more of pickle...
 
Another vote for leaving them out - just so long as they have plenty of hay and water.. Hope youi get well soon -

Every year for the past 5 years I have managed to get the flu - not here yet...... still waiting .....
 
Sorry to hear you're poorly. We're having this dilemma with our two (one is 13yrs and a shirexcob so have no worries about him, the other is a 37yrs old but is well rugged up with a thick duvet type stable rug plus neck with a combo heavyweight turnout on top) if it was just the younger one we'd have no hesitation about leaving out and to be honest according to my friend if anything it's colder in stables and water is freezing in and out.

I can't get up to help as my car is lethal, thankfully my friend has a 4x4 but she also has awful back problems and is really struggling. She's just rung me now to say people getting stuck everywhere as we've just having loads more snow! It's a nightmare but I think they're going to have to stay out now with loads of food etc
 
I agree too, they will be absolutely fine with full bellies and rugs. Horses are fine with dry cold, I would feel more guilty if they were standing in a torrential downpour for 24 hours which they won't be! Hope you feel better soon.
 
Hi

I'm going through the same thing atm. Got flu and so my friend fed my pony for me y'day but I feel awful. Hate not going up to see him!! I'm going to try and make it up today because the farrier is coming out, so am making sure to wrap up warm!!!

Hope you get well soon, I know how much of a disruption it can be.
 
Ilovefoals said:
Thanks guys. Feel much less guilty about it now. They are right outside my window so I can def keep a good eye on them. x
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Oh god thats fine!!! They would be fine anyway but just outside your window you're not even shutting them in the field and leaving them you can see them all night to make sure they're ok!!

If you're feeling up to it, you could always just pop out quite late and check they are warm enough and take something to get the ice of their water just to put your mind at rest!

Feel better soon!! xxx
 
As someone who is left at home with 2 young kids with OH working away, I totally understand what you're going through. They will be absolutely fine, and probably enjoy a night out. Someone mentioned whether or not horses in stables are actually colder than those out, and it makes sense. If they're cosy and have enough hay and water they'll be absolutely fine.

Fortunately my OH is back for Christmas, just in time for me doing my back in - I have a disc in my back that pops out too flipping often. So he is going up and down to the ponies for me, I would be stuffed if he wasn't here.

Plus when kids are ill it makes things even more difficult.

Hope you are all better soon!
 
I think we worry about them so much more than we really need to. My friend was nearly two hours late getting up to do them this morning, we were both worried about how they'd be as it was an extra two hours stuck in stables. Needless to say both absolutely fine and quite happy!!!

Once with my last mare I drove up one night to yard, it was blowing a gale and pouring with rain - I woke up at four am and just couldn't stop fretting so off I went (my OH thought I was crazy) and there she was right in the middle of field munching away :rolleyes: they're alot hardier than we give them credit for!
 
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