sazjayp
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Post by sazjayp on Jan 7, 2010 20:23:47 GMT 1
I wish mine could be out 24/7 - we have been the only ones turning out the past few days. They are going out in the day and coming in at night - I'd rather they were out, but the yard won't allow 24/7 turnout during winter. Although, by the time I get there at night, they're both waiting at the gate to come in for dinner and a big haynet!
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Post by malikariverbaby on Jan 7, 2010 20:33:58 GMT 1
Mine are out without rugs and unfortunatly the field they are in tonight doesn't have any shelter. If it gets worse I can take them down the road to my friends where Kym is. He is there with friend's horse, as they need more food and are rugged and can be stabled if need be. They all have adlib hay. They seem OK. Its just if there is driving sleet that they are miserable. Crazy as it seems, i am looking after 3 friend's horses, for the winter, in another field I have access to and they have an adlib barn that they can go in. but to be honest I never see them in it.
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el
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Posts: 710
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Post by el on Jan 7, 2010 21:47:46 GMT 1
Out & happy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2010 21:54:59 GMT 1
Mine lives out with two others 24/7. They have lots of natural shelter, one of the others is naked, all three are happy!
Mine is only rugged because he's new and previous owner had started rugging him so I'll have to continue for the rest of the winter. I want to get him a cool heat rug for summer and next winter so he can use his own coat properly (http://www.equinepodiatrysupplies.co.uk/MiscGC.html)
They are all a bunch of fluff balls!
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chloe
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Kai's Mum
Posts: 2,609
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Post by chloe on Jan 7, 2010 21:56:41 GMT 1
Mine are out along with the rest of their herd of 8. They do have the option of staying in when they're brought in each evening for a feed and so far Kai's done that twice but not once for Dolly - she's ready to go out the second her bucket's clean!
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Post by jill on Jan 7, 2010 22:24:06 GMT 1
Mine are out in double rugs, they have access to a barn and judging by the amount I clear out every day, they spend a fair amount of time in there. Sabria (30) has a field shelter but never uses it. I would worry if I had them in at nights about them rushing around and hurting themselves on turn out, this way they just carefully pick their way from hay pile to hay pile lol.
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Post by arabmania on Jan 7, 2010 23:47:49 GMT 1
both my girls greeted me with icicles hanging from their whiskers this morning! both were snug beneath their rugs. -17 in manchester last night fed, watered and hayed and seemed happy enough. I think people who say its more down to our feelings rather than theirs are probably right. i feel much better after hearing other peoples thoughts from this site. thanks everyone ;D
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Post by jen1 on Jan 8, 2010 1:22:25 GMT 1
hi irene , mine are out all rugged uo to the nines , huge bales of haylage on tap, and hot dinners litrally , haave to admit if mi stable doors were on id kaffle it , below 10 here tonight , they seem happy
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nicxf
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 107
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Post by nicxf on Jan 8, 2010 9:11:24 GMT 1
yup, my happy hairy native types are out. Although they have a stable each, the stables open directly into the field and so I leave them open for the ponies to choose. And on the whole they seem to be choosing to stay outside. They seem much happier in the cold than in the wet.
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Post by sophielouise on Jan 8, 2010 10:50:47 GMT 1
Chester is normally in and night and out during the day.
Yesterday, he stayed in as the yard is very, very icy and was dangerous to lead on - especially as I couldn't get there until the afternoon because of the snow and it would have fallen to my Y/M and he's big and a bit of a twit for other people at times, apparently the day before, it took two people to lead him out and get his headcollar off ... it isn't worth the risk to him or the Y/M.
Today, he is out for the morning (as everything else on the yard is out) but coming in at lunchtime, before the Y/M daughter has to go to work, as the normal routine of everyone bringing in at the same time courtesy of the Y/M is shot to pieces - at least he'll be in with the Y/M horse.
He seem's happy enough!
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hkvevans
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Lucy Grace Antonia Evans 30-07-07
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Post by hkvevans on Jan 8, 2010 10:59:25 GMT 1
My 4 are out 24/7 as well! Chaff is rugged as she is clipped, in fact she has 2 rugs on to keep her nice and cosy.....the 3 littlies are unrugged.........but they are NF's and Welshies, so hardy types!! They get hayed, a whole bale if not more, between them daily. Chaff gets fed when i can get over there, but at the mo, my parents who work full time are just chucking the hay over the fence, they dont have time to do any more than that. And whilst i am snowed in that will do them. I spk with mum and dad on a daily basis, and they have said they look fine...as soon as i can dig my car out, i will be over there!!! Cant wait to give them all a nice warm feed!!
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Post by kristine on Jan 9, 2010 17:18:52 GMT 1
Horses are essentially cold weather animals. Their range of comfort (when they are happiest) is 5 to 55 degrees F (sorry, didn't to the celsius conversion).
Mine are out 24/7 and it gets COLD here. They've been outside in -40 temps, but I did put rugs on them just to sleep a little better. As long as they're fat and have lots to eat, I think horses are probably some of the toughest cold weather animals around!
My horses are short, tough native QHs - born in this area at local ranches, out on the range. My donkey does have a little harder time with the cold... they aren't the cold-weather animal a horse is... she wears a little blanket more than the horses do.
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Post by Kelly Marks on Jan 9, 2010 17:28:52 GMT 1
I have two out rugless with a giant balel of hay outside and a shelter with hay inside which they barely seem to have been in yet. Horses will shiver when they're cold, so it's not as if you wouldn't notice them cold, however it's the wet weather that's the concern and I wonder if anyone has ever used grease on their coats to good effect? Sally I think that's the point about donkeys - they're not waterproof like native ponies!
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Jaydurh
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Syrah Belle, Love of my life, My soul mate, You're my best friend.
Posts: 402
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Post by Jaydurh on Jan 9, 2010 17:33:11 GMT 1
My horse is out 24/7 in a heavy weight rug, she hates stables
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 9, 2010 17:40:44 GMT 1
When I went out at 3 45 my lot were hiding from the snow in the field shelterand couldn't WAIT to come in ---------------and boy were they pleased to be in their nice warm stables.
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