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Post by gordo on Dec 30, 2011 22:10:05 GMT 1
There is a big livery yard I pass on way to mums. There is a large, open field nearby which may not belong to the yard but it houses 4 horses. To me they look like polo ponies, quality horse with nothing hardy about them. They have no field shelter and the hedges are cut low so there is nothing to really give them any respite from the heavy rain. They aren't rugged and never seem to be eating anything but grass of which there is a good supply. They look well but it makes me sad that they aren't the hardy types who I would imagine could do without rugs and shelter so am I just being too precious? As long as they look well there is no need to worry about them but it makes me sad that they getting wet and cold with nowhere to escape. What do you think??
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Post by bertie666 on Dec 30, 2011 22:54:19 GMT 1
You are only seeing a tiny snap shot of their day. If theyve got oodles of grass and are not underweight then there is no reason to think that they are cold or being neglected.
Breed doesnt necessarily dictate whether or not a horse can live out. Ive got a TB a TBxARAB and my QHx something all out and only rugged when we get to minus temps over night. They all look fabulous.
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Post by gordo on Dec 30, 2011 23:04:05 GMT 1
I understand what u mean bertie, I guess my concern is that they have no natural shelter and I have seen them huddled under a naked tree for shelter which made me sad. I am totally up for naked horses being out 24/7 but when we are having rain upon rain and nowhere they can tuck under it just bothers me.
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Post by june on Dec 30, 2011 23:05:47 GMT 1
Some of our polo ponies are wintering out this year without rugs. Its the first time we've done it this way and I've been worried about them and keeping a close eye on them. However, they look really well, are very fluffy and aren't losing weight. They do have hedges to shelter behind and are fed hay in the field but so far they are doing well unrugged.
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Post by specialized on Dec 31, 2011 10:00:55 GMT 1
The only thing I might query is lack of shelter as that is one of the basic requirements, especially in windy, rainy conditions as there is a risk of rainscald.
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Dec 31, 2011 10:17:07 GMT 1
 I agree Specialised I used to live near to a Polo Yard with horses Wintered in similar conditions and they had the most appauling rainscald. I am all for unrugged horses of all breeds in the Winter ( except for the elderly or poor doers ) BUT IMO they MUST have decent shelter of some sort. My TB broodmare was out, unrugged but well fed, in all that snow with her foal last year until I could wean him on 30th of December when the snow cleared, but wow, did she use her deeply bedded down field shelter. They both looked looked a million dollars. 
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Post by gordo on Jan 1, 2012 13:42:50 GMT 1
Exactly my concern, as the field is near the road I will cast my eye over them (as I am sure owners are) and see if they continue to fair well
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Amanda Seater
Grand Prix Poster
Listen to your horse you may be surprised what he may tell you about yourself
Posts: 3,866
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Post by Amanda Seater on Jan 1, 2012 14:30:06 GMT 1
we used to live near Blackbears Polo. they all wintered out some with , some without rugs but they all had access to field shelters as there were no large trees in the fields.
Shelter is essential - when we had no buildings at Fawley the horses were only ok because they had MASSIVE trees to shelter under and the area was sheltered too. So there were areas where they could be bone dry if they chose and they could be completely in the shade in the summer to get out of the flies.
We did rug on rare occassions if needed.
I am sure the owner of these horses is keeping a close eye, you will soon see if not.
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pip
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by pip on Jan 1, 2012 18:14:10 GMT 1
I agree with everyone else. There is nothing wrong with horses living out 24/7 in the winter, and they don't need hay if there is plenty of grass and they are a good weight. I would be more concerned about the lack of shelter, if not a field shelter, then a good high hedge or row of trees, or even a field with a slope, so they could choose to avoid the wind.
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Post by june on Jan 1, 2012 19:59:12 GMT 1
Don't assume the owner is keeping a close eye on them. Polo ponies often winter out at specific places who provide winter turnout and get checked by the turnout owners rather than the pony owners. Given that a lot of polo pony owners have their horses on full livery - which includes tacking up, exercise and pretty much everything else involved in the care of the horse - so don't know that much about looking after them, it is probably a better option that the land owner checks the horses, assuming they do know something about it.
None of ours wintering out this year rugless have rainscald, but it has been a pretty dry winter so far. All the vets I come across involved in polo recommend wintering horses without rugs. There was a recent article in the monthly polo magazine written by a vet recommending wintering horses rugless. It remains to be seen if I'll be repeating the experience, but so far so good.
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Post by horsesfirst on Jan 2, 2012 14:07:34 GMT 1
I have no problem with horses being out 24/7 unrugged so long as they stay healthy. But let's not forget that 'natural' is not being kept in a field with lots of UK grass which is probably of a ley where at least some of the species have been bred to be high in sugar. Natural is being allowed to roam for miles over much more sparse terrain and being allowed to pick and choose when and where to shelter etc etc
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Post by mandal on Jan 2, 2012 14:51:22 GMT 1
But let's not forget that 'natural' is not being kept in a field with lots of UK grass which is probably of a ley where at least some of the species have been bred to be high in sugar. Natural is being allowed to roam for miles over much more sparse terrain and being allowed to pick and choose when and where to shelter etc etc I agree strongly with this. I think we forget or don't realize just how restrictive in many ways our fields and paddocks often are as well as the grass question. |
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Post by gordo on Jan 6, 2012 16:52:05 GMT 1
SOrry page one!!
On way home tonight, I noticed a RSPCA card stuck on the gate so obviously someone else concerned like me!
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Post by lizpurlo on Jan 6, 2012 22:00:16 GMT 1
Poor things - I was just thinking about them the other night when the icy rain was horizontal because it was blowing such a gale - and my cobs were all happily tucked up in their stables. Agree with everyone else - shelter from wind and rain is a necessity this time of year. Let us know what happens, Gordo, if anything does!
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Post by gordo on Jan 7, 2012 19:21:23 GMT 1
Will do, didnt pass that way tonight but am always mindful of them. Trouble is, field is huge and lush, well fenced and horses do look well. Its the lack of shelter which is the sticking point, hoping the 'reporter to the rspca' was complaining about that too
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I agree Specialised I used to live near to a Polo Yard with horses Wintered in similar conditions and they had the most appauling rainscald. I am all for unrugged horses of all breeds in the Winter ( except for the elderly or poor doers ) BUT IMO they MUST have decent shelter of some sort. My TB broodmare was out, unrugged but well fed, in all that snow with her foal last year until I could wean him on 30th of December when the snow cleared, but wow, did she use her deeply bedded down field shelter. They both looked looked a million dollars. 
