whose horses are out in this weather and why?

[Karon]

Shantih has been in a 40g FAL rug up to now, but I'm going to take pity on her tonight and put a MW on her. Two others are in MWs and two in HWs - Ash might have an under rug on tonight, too. Shambar seems quite snug in his HW but then, as he rarely bothers to leave his stable, I'm not surprised he's warm enough! (he has 24/7 access to the field, he just doesn't seem to "do" winter)

[Yann]

Mine are out during the day and in at night. They're pleased to go out in the mornings, but absolutely delighted about being brought in by mid to late afternoon. No hay is put out in our fields so they're more than happy to be wherever the food is. I suspect that's the determining factor

[mandal]

Mine have been yarded with barn for the last two winters but previously to that they were out 24/7 in all weathers with access to stables. No rugs either!! Just thick fluffy coats! ;D

No there aren't 27 hours in my days! lol

Mta... mine are yarded because of mud (relaimed bog!) and keep them off the grass.

[big e]

All my 11 are out together with big round bales of hay. Only 4 are unrugged, 2 because they are very fat, 1 because shes a bit timid and frightened of the rug but she is on mummy's rich milk so does not appear affected my th ecold and the last one i would like to get a rug on as shes in foal but she is very very hairy but i think she could do with a bit more weight on but she panics when i go near her with a rug so i'll just keep on gradually tryng to do it.

[daisysp8]

My 3 are out 24/7 with some natural shelter (the youngster has access to a field shelter) , they are rugged and have adlib hay (a round bale each to go at) and have a hard feed. I don`t have stables, but they appear to be happy enough (if not a bit fresh and feral as they haven`t had anything done with them lol). ;D

[touchstone]

I've been bringing in on a night recently, partly because there are some huge molehills which have frozen solid and are now covered in snow and because Bonnie had raised digital pulses. Now it could just be that she's tried to trot through the snow to see me and it's blooming hard work, or it might be laminitis rearing its ugly head, so I'm taking no chances!

I feel a bit mean because a fox has been going in the open stable door and sleeping in there, but he won't be able to now.

[lisap]

We have 17 out 24/7.
When we bring a couple in overnight (before hunting etc) we have to rug them a lot more than when they are left out as they get a lot colder standing in even a deeply bedded stable than when they are outside. It is just us tucked up in a warm bed that makes us think that horses feel the same. They don't!

None of ours want to come in, but they are fed both hard feeds and hay in the field, so have no reason for wanting to come onto the yard.
We know that they are warm, able to move about and play, and with their fieldmates. I worry about them a lot more in windy, wet weather, which they really do not like very much at all!

[anastasia55555]

toffee is in and has a bit of a stretch of legs but there isnt much for her to eat, and she is too tottery on the hard ground, and arthritis etc.
The others are out with rugs, hay and fed when i can get there
because a) they prefer it
b) saxon with copd is better out as advised by vet
c) i cant get there to muck them all out etc, yo can do toffee but cant expect her to do all of them! plus they wud hate it any way!

[Spirit of Wales]

All horses on my yard are out 24/7 at the moment. They seem happier moving around outside than standing in a stable getting cold. My section a and shetland are unrugged, but all the others on the yard including apple and cruz are rugged up. It also makes my life easier as some of the liveries can't get here at the moment as the lanes in the area are only passable with care in a 4 wheel drive, so I'm looking after everyones horses. All have as much hay as they want, a hard feed morning and night, a carrot or apple in evening feed as a treat and warm water from the house keeping troughs defrosted as much as possible, -8 here again last night and more snow forecast for us here in wales sunday/monday. Ran out of salt/grit and unable to get anymore near yard so its also safer for horses to be out in fields than people trying to walk through snbow and ice bringing them in/out.

Stay safe and warm everyone and hopefully this cold snap will soon come tro an end so we can get back to normality. I so want to go out for a long hack.....

Spirit of Wales

[maislow]

Mine are both clipped & went out for a naked roll in the snow today & a run around whilst I mucked out & then came back in. If I rug them up & put them out they both stand by the gate calling after half an hour & then have their snow stilts on

[rosemaryhannah]

Mine - they love being out and it's sunny so sheltered spots outside are warmer than the stable. Only one is rugged - the others are natives (though my Haffie is a native of the Alps, which is just what outside is like!! They seem perfectly happy, though they would like the grass back. They are chomping rushes - all good fibre.

MTA, the stables are open and they have free access - they only use it when they think I am about and real food is in the offing (things in buckets....)

[spring]

I wish my girl was out. Poor spring has been stuck in for 3 days now as the yard are refusing to turn out as the track is icy/snowy. I even went down during work this morning to see if I could leave her out for an hour or so, saying I could bring her in during my lunch hour. They refused, saying she could only stay out whilst I waited- even though the groom's mare was out with a couple of others and they were staying out until after lunch. Grrr. I was even told last night I couldn't walk her round the school as it might mix the snow in with the menage surface. Is this reasonable? I felt awful having to walk away from spring banging the door and shouting to be let out with tears in my eyes.

[ella19]

Mine's on grass livery, she's happy enough as long as they have hay

[dudey]

They are in the same routine as every winter, out in the day (well rugged up) and in at night (again well rugged up). Very lucky that their field is about 5 meters away from stables, yard area isnt slippy, narrow country road is slippy but luckily only a few steps across and he manages fine. Field is less rutted with the snow and they have hay and are getting an extra feed at linchtime!

They did stay in for 2 separate days when it was actually snowing but dont fancy turning Minto out after weeks inside!

[kt with Hanni]

Hanni is out with a medium weight rug, lots of hay, some hard feed, water and unlimited access to an open barn for shelter. He seems happier out, plus no risk of getting stuck in the stable. I think we do worry too much :-)