Rain or Shine

fable · 10-28-2009, 10:43 PM

What is your opinion on turn out? In this particular case, the horses have both a paddock and a stall allocated to them, however during the day they are generally turned out to paddocks. They are crusher dust paddocks, roughly the size of 4 stalls. NO shelter. As in, NO lean-to, NO trees. Just their blankets, and not all of them have them. Most of them are also aging, some have health/weight issues.
(These are not my personally owned horses. My personally owned horses have a vast array of comfy blankies for all weather! ... and would be inside during heavy rain).
During the summer they are out 24/7. Even recently they're left out, with temperatures dipping pretty low... however lately they've been brought in at night. If, in the morning, it was pouring buckets, would you turn them out or leave them in? There is an indoor, so it's quite easy to turn them out in groups or alone if they don't get along well with others, even if it's just while their stalls get cleaned.
So... opinions regarding weather and turn out?

singing tree · 10-28-2009, 11:05 PM

Since you have not said what area of the country you are in, it would be difficult to say. Mine have a shelter, which they sometimes use and sometimes ignore. As long as the horses are healthy, they can withstand alot. The worst would be being wet with alot of wind. Otherwise, they would probably be okay. Worse to be hot than colder weather.

fable · 10-28-2009, 11:19 PM

Our weather went from very hot to freezing. It frosts in the morning and only warms up a bit throughout the day... enough that working in the barn I have to wear several sweaters and a heavy jacket.. along with two pairs of socks and something covering my ears!

PaintsQH · 10-29-2009, 04:59 AM

I think if they have access to shelter from the cold, rainy weather, and they are aged and thin as mentioned, let them use it. What has been done in the past with these horses that arent yours? Maybe you cold mention to the owner that you beleive they need shelter and blankets.
My fiance' has family in Nebraska and they went from nice sunny days to snow. Got 5" yesterday. Glad I don't live there.

WickedNag · 10-29-2009, 06:40 AM

My horses have access to shelter (the can come inside the barn, it is always open) 24-7. That being said, you will very seldom find any of them in there.

foggyridgefarm · 10-29-2009, 07:13 AM

My horses are out 24/7 but have access to a 3 sided lean to.. And yes, most of the time they do not use the shelter, but they at least have the option to.

Range · 10-29-2009, 07:29 AM

I would not turn them out in pouring rain if there's nothing available to shelter in or around. Mine may not always use their shelter, but I often see them butt up to trees.

I also don't like mine out in deep, heavy mud.

beth55051 · 10-29-2009, 08:13 AM

That's kind of one of my pet peeves. I do believe that horses need to get outside so they can stretch their legs. It's just better for their overall health IMO. But not if they don't have any kind of shelter to protect them.

My guys don't always have acess to the barn, but every horse always has at the very least a thick stand of trees, a lean too or something else to at least block the wind and the sun.

I do blanket my horses when the weather gets nasty, whether that be heavy cold rain, snow, bitter winds, etc. I blanket as needed, when needed to make up for the shelter I don't have for them.

But being turned out in a larger area is better for them, especially once they start to get arthritic. There is nothing worse for an arthritic horse than to lock them up in a small area with no room to get exercise. Those old joints need movement to stay working.

visionquest · 11-04-2009, 08:31 AM

My horses are out 90% of the time. Only 1 of my pastures have a shelter and the horses use it sparingly. The biggest issue we have in KY is when we get rain and the temps drop. It's pretty much the only time I stall the horses. I have also rarely blanketed. Cold and high winds can also be an issue and the horses will come in at thast time also.

Thin, older, and young horses will have a harder time with drastic changes in weather and should have access to shelter. I did have a QH stallion that was a boarder and didn't stall well so the only thing I could do for him was feed him extra hay to help him stay warm. He wintered pretty well even without a shelter or blanket.

Unless you see the horses really suffer, lose weight and shiver constantly, you might not be able to say anything.

Sirita_88 · 11-04-2009, 08:48 AM

My personal opinion is a horse should not be out in bad weather without a shelter.

My horses are IN when it rains. But I just feel like that avoids a whole can of worms. No chance of rainrot or mud sores, or idiots who go nuts and break splint bones in the rain.. (long story)

My horses are kept in large grassy paddocks, seperately (to avoid fights). But they come in at night during the winter. And during the day if it is raining.

But, that's me.

Horselady44 · 11-04-2009, 09:51 AM

Mine are out 24/7. They have shelter as well...but never use it

They do use it as a wind block though

Silly horses. Whenever I stall them they hate me for it. They love being outside. We never have them in a bunch of mud and keep the corrals and pasture cleaned up. So, they are totally fine and I have never had a problem with it. They are outside in rain,snow, and sunshine

With the use of a shelter of course

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10-28-2009, 10:43 PM
fable Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 29	Rain or Shine What is your opinion on turn out? In this particular case, the horses have both a paddock and a stall allocated to them, however during the day they are generally turned out to paddocks. They are crusher dust paddocks, roughly the size of 4 stalls. NO shelter. As in, NO lean-to, NO trees. Just their blankets, and not all of them have them. Most of them are also aging, some have health/weight issues. (These are not my personally owned horses. My personally owned horses have a vast array of comfy blankies for all weather! ... and would be inside during heavy rain). During the summer they are out 24/7. Even recently they're left out, with temperatures dipping pretty low... however lately they've been brought in at night. If, in the morning, it was pouring buckets, would you turn them out or leave them in? There is an indoor, so it's quite easy to turn them out in groups or alone if they don't get along well with others, even if it's just while their stalls get cleaned. So... opinions regarding weather and turn out?

10-28-2009, 11:05 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,045	Since you have not said what area of the country you are in, it would be difficult to say. Mine have a shelter, which they sometimes use and sometimes ignore. As long as the horses are healthy, they can withstand alot. The worst would be being wet with alot of wind. Otherwise, they would probably be okay. Worse to be hot than colder weather.

10-28-2009, 11:19 PM
fable Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 29	Our weather went from very hot to freezing. It frosts in the morning and only warms up a bit throughout the day... enough that working in the barn I have to wear several sweaters and a heavy jacket.. along with two pairs of socks and something covering my ears!

10-29-2009, 04:59 AM
PaintsQH Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 3,679	I think if they have access to shelter from the cold, rainy weather, and they are aged and thin as mentioned, let them use it. What has been done in the past with these horses that arent yours? Maybe you cold mention to the owner that you beleive they need shelter and blankets. My fiance' has family in Nebraska and they went from nice sunny days to snow. Got 5" yesterday. Glad I don't live there. __________________ Angels descending, bring from above, Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

10-29-2009, 06:40 AM
WickedNag Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,021	My horses have access to shelter (the can come inside the barn, it is always open) 24-7. That being said, you will very seldom find any of them in there. __________________ ~D~ Please feel free to visit my sites and light a candle http://amanda-garner.memory-of.com/ http://samantha-evink.memory-of.com/

10-29-2009, 07:13 AM
foggyridgefarm Halter broke Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vallonia, Indiana Posts: 65	My horses are out 24/7 but have access to a 3 sided lean to.. And yes, most of the time they do not use the shelter, but they at least have the option to.

10-29-2009, 07:29 AM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,740	I would not turn them out in pouring rain if there's nothing available to shelter in or around. Mine may not always use their shelter, but I often see them butt up to trees. I also don't like mine out in deep, heavy mud. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

10-29-2009, 08:13 AM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	That's kind of one of my pet peeves. I do believe that horses need to get outside so they can stretch their legs. It's just better for their overall health IMO. But not if they don't have any kind of shelter to protect them. My guys don't always have acess to the barn, but every horse always has at the very least a thick stand of trees, a lean too or something else to at least block the wind and the sun. I do blanket my horses when the weather gets nasty, whether that be heavy cold rain, snow, bitter winds, etc. I blanket as needed, when needed to make up for the shelter I don't have for them. But being turned out in a larger area is better for them, especially once they start to get arthritic. There is nothing worse for an arthritic horse than to lock them up in a small area with no room to get exercise. Those old joints need movement to stay working. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

11-04-2009, 08:31 AM
visionquest Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Harrodsburg, KY Posts: 464	My horses are out 90% of the time. Only 1 of my pastures have a shelter and the horses use it sparingly. The biggest issue we have in KY is when we get rain and the temps drop. It's pretty much the only time I stall the horses. I have also rarely blanketed. Cold and high winds can also be an issue and the horses will come in at thast time also. Thin, older, and young horses will have a harder time with drastic changes in weather and should have access to shelter. I did have a QH stallion that was a boarder and didn't stall well so the only thing I could do for him was feed him extra hay to help him stay warm. He wintered pretty well even without a shelter or blanket. Unless you see the horses really suffer, lose weight and shiver constantly, you might not be able to say anything.

11-04-2009, 08:48 AM
Sirita_88 Started Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mt. Juliet, Tennessee Posts: 2,423	My personal opinion is a horse should not be out in bad weather without a shelter. My horses are IN when it rains. But I just feel like that avoids a whole can of worms. No chance of rainrot or mud sores, or idiots who go nuts and break splint bones in the rain.. (long story) My horses are kept in large grassy paddocks, seperately (to avoid fights). But they come in at night during the winter. And during the day if it is raining. But, that's me.

11-04-2009, 09:51 AM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,437	Mine are out 24/7. They have shelter as well...but never use it They do use it as a wind block though Silly horses. Whenever I stall them they hate me for it. They love being outside. We never have them in a bunch of mud and keep the corrals and pasture cleaned up. So, they are totally fine and I have never had a problem with it. They are outside in rain,snow, and sunshine With the use of a shelter of course __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!