living out 24/7

[Brandy Snap]

I've very nearly decided to live my 25 year old welsh x gelding out. At the moment he is stabled at night and out during the day, he lives out in the summer. But I'm considering having him live out all year round. He was going to have wintered out this year, but where our field was was too exposed and windy with no field shelter. We are now at a diffrent field (same yard) which is at the bottom of the hill as aposed to the top of the hill, where he was before. It is really sheltered field with high hedges all round. It can be blowing a gale and cold on the yard, and summery warm at the field! theres that much of a diffrence!

I'm trying to cut costs with B as much as possible as I'll be finishing college in june and moving out. I'm going to be getting a sharer for him, but the cheaper I can make things the better! Plus it would save me about an hour every day if he was living out.

I am a bit concerned as he's an older pony (I'm an over protective mother!) that the winter might be a bit cold for him... but surely if I get him a really nice heavy weight rug for this winter he'll be fine at night??

I had been told by the vet that living out might be the best thing for him as he has stiffness in his hinds (which I havent seen all winter as I've had him on cod liver oil and being excersised every other day seems to keep the creaks away.)

Anyway, I was just wondering if any of you with older horses and ponies winter yours out? And how they cope?

I supose its one of those things where if I dont try I wont know!

[Mehitabel]

the vast majority of our lot live out, many in their 20s and 30s.

you need enough forage - hay or haylage in winter, decent rugging so they don't get wet and chilled, and shelter in winter from the wind. also a decent enough field so that a this time of year they're not stood in mud to the fetlocks, as that is awful. as long as somewhere is just squelchy, and not under water, they are fine.

it is better for stiffness (as long as the above is true - obviously standing in cold wet mud is not good, or having a leaky rug), and for any breathing issues. they also keep themselves fitter, and are less likely to hoon around once turned out. it would have to be exceptional circumstances before out 24/7 was not my choice for keeping them - i much prefer it if the yard is suitable.

[capalldubh]

Yes, my boy shares his field with a mare in her late 20s and a gelding who's mid 30s. It keeps them fit and active, and the old boy stays moving so doesn't stiffen up as he would if he spent any time standing in. It's a hilly field so well drained, and I would think they walk quite a few miles every day, from the tree end, down to the river, back up the hill to the gate, down into the little valley, across to the other stream and back - I never know where I'll find them :D

Today one of the youngsters started galloping up the hill to see me and the old boy decided to join in - full of the joys of spring - it's nice to see a horse having such an active and happy retirement :) I think because he has to think and make decisions too (where to go, what to eat, etc.) rather than having them made for him as he would if inside, it keeps him more mentally alert (same as for an older person).

He is rugged a bit more often than the others, and has a neck rug which the younger ones (20s ;) ) don't, but is always warm and dry underneath, even in awful weather.

[marsden]

my boy is 28 years old and he lieves out 24/7. He has came through winter quite well and was only out in his HW rug.

This year i'm thinking about bringing him in, not for his benefit but for my own... or least knowing i have a stable for him incase the weather gets too bad.

[Shadowlark]

Most of my herd are older horses. One fellow at 31 has spent the entire winter out, and has gained weight doing it :) Bearing in mind we hit temps of -40 I only blanket when we are going under -15 or so and he is the only one who gets blanketed.

Being out 24/7 has done wonders for several arthritic horses at my place, they feel much better for being able to move around when they want.

[becs]

Our two are 21 years and 32; Welsh C & NF, they live out 24/7 happily over 5 acres (not always all at once!).

They have hedges, woods and concreted double shelter, ad lib hay and rugs on when wet & windy. Plus high-fibre tea on yard (and soaked grass nuts for brekky while we're swimming fields). Mineral lick too.

In bad weather they stand with bums in hedges. Any provocation (eg farming activity) and they canter round with excitement - good skid marks to prove it. So well exercised. They often jump logs when running free on their own! then sleep all afternoon...

[puzzles]

at my last riding school the nine school ponies lived out 24/7, entirely rugless. they ranged from a 11.2hh welsh sec.a, 17 dutch warmblood and 15hh TBx to a 14.2hh cob; aged between 3 - 28 years.
all not only survived, they thrived; the TBx did tend to lose weight, but bring her in or rug her up and she started to weave, pace, refuse to eat and get very stressed out which ended up being counter-productive.

go for it hun, i have no doubts he'll benegfit from it; i personally would and will nevrr keep a horse in unless he has to go on box rest.

[claire0781]

my 29 year olf TB started living out 24/7 for the first time we know of last November and the change in her is outstanding. She no longer looks or acts her age - i'm sure she thinks shes five again!! She has been in her HW turnout rug during the cold months and when it snowed she was still warmer than I was with my twenty layers on!!

I am a very over protective mum as well and it was never planned that she lived out but I went on holiday and she wouldn't catch for the whole week, but seeing her so much less stiff and more like a 'horse', i wouldn't dream of stabling ehr again (unless I have to of course)

Hope that reassures you a bit.

[mayoguinness]

Had a 26 year old thourabred some to our yard, used to being stabled 20 hours a day and rugged heavily when out. Got him to our yard, took his rug off, he was out 24/7, never had a problem with him and he was very happy :)

[doris]

I think if there is decent shelter, and has decent weatherproof rugs he should be fine, and I'm sure you will know if he isn't.
Horses can withstand temperatures a bit low, but it's the draughts and wet that gets to them.
Also, I think if very important to have somewhere dry and comfortable to stand out of the mud - it's beneficial to have a dry surface under their feet sometimes.

[puzzles]

it was the human race who invented stables!!

[Brandy Snap]

hi, thanks for all your suportive words!

He has been out the past two nights and seems to be fine. Unfortunatly his first night out it was blowing a gale and the rain was lashing down! But on friday morning he seemed perfectly happy and warm under his rugs. He even had his relaxed chilled droopy bottom lip!

He will be rugged as he is clipped over the winter. At the moment he is wearing his heavyish rug during the day, and that with a fleece underneath at night. And he still gets his two feeds a day.

This is him on friday morning, enjoying the sun on his back for a while while he ate his breakfast.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/Hannah_and_Brandy/18%20March%2007/43.jpg

[JustJas]

My 2 horses have wintered out this winter ina 20 acre hay field. There are 4 horses in total in the field. IT has been a very happy herd. My 2 ma res and 2 geldings.
The 32 in our field has never looked as good as he has wintering out this year! He has a new lease of life. The 2 year old appaloosa has filled out nicely and my arab is fat- and nhas needed nothjing more than a m/w rug. Our 5 y/o ID x cob has loved not being in a stable- it bores her!
They have had no supplementary feeds except a few carrots. Over summer they will need hay as summer field much smaller.... so has been a very cheap winter!