The Grass Kept Horse/pony

[FOLLYFOOT]

PLEASE can you give me an overall view of how you out there feel on providing shelter for ponies/horses at grass. My daughters pony is out at grass all year and rugged in winter, but has no shelter (other than natural hedging, trees etc). We have no access to stables and dont own the field - is it cruel to expect him to manage?:confused:

Our vet has suggested that we may use a horsebox as temporary shelter for him, but I am not sure about this. Has anyone ever tried it?

[Murphs]

i guess it depends on how high your hedging is and the shape of the field - are there knooks & crannies that he can get into to protect him from the wind and the rain. How much shade do you get on a warm day - can he get to it.
My horse is at grass all year round but i am lucky enough to have stables and a yard that she is allowed to wander in and out of when she feels like it. My field is grazed in sections so some paddocks offer better protection from the elements than others. She's less bothered about the rain but will fairly oftehn be in when it's hot to shade herself from the sun (she's black as well so probably just soaks it up). Presume your pony is native so should cope ok with the elements. In the winter when it's really cold and really wet, i bring mine in for part of the day/night just to dry off and have a bit of comfort & to try to stop mud fever if the grounds really poached.
I guess as long as the pony seems happy and is keeping condition, has access to water and hay (winter) then not really a problem.

[FOLLYFOOT]

Thanks for your reply Murphs. Prince is a 12hh Welsh Section A and a good doer. I just wanted reassurance from someone else horsey as I am more worried by what the average "Joe Public" may think of his situation. I used to keep my Welshy out all year and he was always fine, but times change and I just wanted an up to date view on this.

Thanks v much again.

[Wally]

We have 22 horses of various descriptions and ages, they all live out in Shetland all year round, (the stallion and very old Haflinger excepted) they have dry stone dykes to shelter behind, they have dips in the ground to get in and shelter, if the weather is consistently bad for more than 3 days (I mean bad, force 12 upwards) we let them all into the indoor school for a break from the wind, but only then. Most of them want out after their hay is finished and spend the time walking round and round!

A horse's natural environment is out, they are not nest builders, they don't need a deep fluffy bed. Four walls round a horse puts him under low level stress (high level with my horse!) They are designed to be happiest with a clear view to the horizon, cut this off and he will frett. Horses that live out are healthier, happier and far more settled. 90% of all horse problems are caused by stabling.

You are doing the very best you can for your pony, honestly!

[FOLLYFOOT]

Thanks Wally, as I said to Murphs, I think it is more reassurance from a horsey person that it is still an ok thing to do. He is a hardy little chap and is only a short walk from our house to check on him several times a day.

[floppy]

the fact you got trees and hedges can provide your pony with protection from the weather! as long as your pony is happy and heathly that is all that matters :) and if you really feel you shoudl give him a shelter of some sort there are always those shed things you can get that you dont need planning permission for!

[Wally]

Always call it a general purpose agricultural shed!!

[horselover]

My best friend used to board her 2 horses were she bought the,. They had about a 2 hour turnout each day and spent the rest of the time in a small, dark stall. Her Arab?Saddlebred was always highstrung and difficult to ride. Well, when she moved, she had her own stable and kept them on her property. She started leaving them out more, and it was amazing the difference in their behaviors. Now she leaves them out 24/7. She lives in Minnesota, USA and the weather there in the winter gets to be about 40 below quite regularly. But her horses would much rather be out than in- they love it!

My point is that as humans, we like to think of comfort as a warm stall that your horse can spend lots of time in. they would rahter be outside- as Wally said, a horse's natural enviroment is out.

You might want to consider a shelter- it would be nice. Then the pony could have the option(although, they usually choose the "no thanks, I will stay out" option :p ) of out or in. You alos might want to make sure his winter coat grows in thick enough to protect him- it should, but I do know some horses who no matter what, cannot grow a think enough coat to keep warm on the coldest nights. But don't be too concerned about leaving him out all the time- i am quite sure he would rather be there!