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T O P I C R E V I E W
complete novice
Posted - 01 Sep 2011 : 12:54:56 AM I was wondering about the different routines people have when their horses are turned out 24/7 over the winter, how often do you check rugs and feet? how many feeds a day they need etc.
9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
complete novice
Posted - 04 Sep 2011 : 10:17:17 PM I was curious as I have heard so much about horses being turned away through the winter and left alone as much as possible to be horses especially where someone has a large herd I wondered if anyone did actually leave them to 'live wild' through the winter, I don't mean ignore or neglect them but leave them unhandled. I've probably got completely the wrong end of the stick but just thought I'd ask now I'm going to
BeckyPhillips
Posted - 03 Sep 2011 : 7:17:27 PM Bonkers is out 24/7 in a herd They have seperate winter fields to summer etc, and 3 winter fields they chop and change into. All have natural shelter form the surrounding forest , so loads of trees and windbreak. They have 3 hay feeders, which are always full.
im at college so Y/o feeds him in the morning, checks rugs etc. i go up after college, bring him into yard, for a feed and brush etc, change rugs, and ride
He seems to love it
Judith S
Posted - 03 Sep 2011 : 09:31:35 AM
Originally posted by Callisto
Sorry, what do you mean by foggage? Not come across this term before
Posted - 02 Sep 2011 : 11:53:36 PM Sorry, what do you mean by foggage? Not come across this term before
Cinnypony
Posted - 02 Sep 2011 : 10:53:48 PM This will be my first winter with my own fields, but Cinny has lived out 100% the last 2 winters with no field shelters.
So this is our experimental year with no YO deciding what we do.
The 3 girls have been on track since April, but since the end of July have been allowed foggage areas of the field.
Come November they will have the track - as this is where all the natural shelter is, plus about 2 acres of foggage - which will hopefully keep them busy until January, when they will revert to hay. This will be in hay hutches if my father-in-law finishes my 4 hay hutches.
They will have rugs as necessary as worry re too hot as much as too cold - plus 2 feeds a day.
Hopefully this will give me a happy Cinny, Tilly and Susie-woo!
gossy
Posted - 02 Sep 2011 : 10:48:19 AM mine are out 24/7 no stables but this year i am hiring portable stables so that at least they have somehwere to go in to get out of wind and rain, mine are much happier out than stabled, which is a big change for me as i always stabled every night of the year. i like the others have said check and change rugs twicw a day check 2 to 3 times day, feed twice a day and will have hay all through the winter.
Kazzy
Posted - 01 Sep 2011 : 08:22:20 AM I feed 1st thing in the morning, give them hay and change rugs to a lighter weight rug for the day. So that means I can check them for whaever changes they may have had overnight.
I go back late afternoon/teatime and give them another feed and more hay and change them back into their heavyweight rugs (obviously if needed if its really cold).
Then Roger who owns the place usually goes for his walk around the field about 11.00pm with the dog and checks they are still there.
I bring mine in everyday into the stable, sometimes he stops in for a good few hours and other times he stops in for about 20 mins, I usually know if he wants to stop in becuase he goes straight for his haynet and settles, if he starts having hissy fits then he goes back out to his mates. The other 3 (who arent mine but...) come in quite often to have feet picked, brushed over and a bit of TLC.
They do have a big field shelter in the field they can go in for protection and the winetr field is quite hilly with plenty of hawthorn hedges around it.
Janet
RUTHIE
Posted - 01 Sep 2011 : 07:01:46 AM My 3 will winter out with the exception on really cold/wet nights as we are exposed here, do come in. Last winter they had approx 3 weeks in. Flash was stabled as only a baby. Routine 2 feeds a day and hay. Brought in everyday for change of rugs, leg and hoof care (as lots of chrome)and general welfare. Happy Horses!
Same, all out at the mo, no hay 2 short feeds and general care and rugs if needed, daily.
Callisto
Posted - 01 Sep 2011 : 06:02:56 AM We have 2 who are out 24/7 (with a field shelter), and four who are in at night and out in the day. We feed and check/change their rugs morning and evening, check their feet once a day, hay at night - apart from not being shut in, the two who are out 24/7 have the same routine as the stabled ones.
ETA All 6 out 24/7 at the moment they are fed/checked twice a day, rugs on/off as necessary, feet once a day, no hay
