Can my horse live out?

Question

This is my horse Twizzler.

http://s509.photobucket.com/albums/s331/summerspecial--x/?action=view&current=meonthehorse.jpg

He is a 16hh, 5 year old gelding. I have just bought him and it is coming into winter so I don't know if I should keep him in the stable or let him live out. He is not a specific breed so he should be quite hardy.

Please tell me what you think. Thanks

Answer 1

LOL a RUG?  I thought only houses had rugs. hope you mean a horse blanket, cooler sheet,ect. plz do not listen to these people on here. I am a Vet tech in Illinois and as you know we have harsh winters. horses are just like us. if you go out in the cold and then get wet. r u still cold and do you get sick? for the most part yes. so the right thing would be to give him shelter from out of the weather. horses can still freeze to death even with a blanket on.

Answer 2

I think letting him live out would be the better option. When horses live out, they develop a better immune system, and some don't even need rugs. Also, some horses drop weight if they've got a really heavy rug.

Good luck!

^^

Answer 3

well i depends on where you live. Is the horse used to the weather there. like cold snowy winters. if so then he'll be fine blanketing him is always a good idea. more than like your horse well do just fine with a think blanket if its snowy and cold.

Answer 4

he looks like an appy cross...

basically any horse can survive in a super heavy-weight blanket..

my horse doesnt take to shelters well.. she likes to bear the weather, so i got a reg. winter blanket for cold nights just in case but i let her grow her winter coat out before i blanket her.. then throughout the coldest months, i blanket her every night cuz we get ice storms and blizzards here... stupid MI with all these 'great' lakes..

Answer 5

Horses are pretty sturdy, but it depends where you live. Mine have a  shelter to protect them from wind, rain, and snow, but they have the option to go outside if they want and the funny thing is they are always outside when its snowing.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 6

living out is really good as far as low maintainence. no stalls to clean!!!!!   most horses can take it fairly well, however you may need to bring him in when it gets really cold, or provide a run in shed for him

remember, horses were and are wild creatures, they can adapt very well to their environment, if you decide to keep him out just make sure you give him lots of hay so he can produce body heat

Answer 7

as long as he has shelter and food and water he should be fine. my horses are out 24/7

Answer 8

First of all your horse is absolutely beautiful

I would inquire as to how he was boarded during previous winters, if possible.  It takes their coat a year or so to catch up, so if he was outside in Florida, and you are in Wisconsin you would probably want to keep him inside... his coat will never be thick and warm enough for a Wisconsin winter.  If it is the reverse he should be fine as his coat will be nice and thick.  Check around your area and see how others board.  A friend of mine only uses a blanket when it is extremely cold or they have a chill from rainy/snowy weather... otherwise they are outdoors without a blanket on.  The horses were originally from WI and we lived in Southern Illinois, so it did take some time for them to adjust to the weather.  You shouldn't leave the blanket on 24/7 though or he will never fully adjust to your weather.

Answer 9

He looks a bit araby to me - from the nostrils and ears.  But, try him out with a rug and bring him in if he is looking miserable and cold, if his ears are cold and if he is standing all tucked up.  He might be alright if you do not clip him.

Answer 10

Your horse will be fine outside all winter with no rug/blanket and some kind of shelter to get out of freezing rain, sleet and wind, provided he is healthy and on a good diet.

People always want to talk about "Natural Training" methods. We should talk about "Natural Horse Keeping".

Unless it's a show horse, shivering or sick/under weight, horses don't need to be covered. God gave them a winter coat.

Answer 11

i personally think people keep thier horses stabled too much so there is no reason why he cant live out during winter.

in the wild horses live outside all year round.

the only thing i would say is if he has been clipped he may not be able to be out all winter and he would really need a field shelter. i know horses in the wild dont have field shelters but they have miles and miles to find a shady spot and arent stuck in a field with no shelter.

Answer 12

If he has shelter from wind and rain, he should be alright. Even if it's just a run-in shed (obviously needs to be sturdy) it will do the trick. It also depends on the horse. Some love living outside, others are barn bums and want to stay inside.

You can't leave the rug on him all the time, either. You need to adjust to the seasons, and this sometimes means having a lightweight sheet as well as a heavier rug. Think about the climate you live in, and plan around this.

Answer 13

Well the horse I ride is kept in Wales on the mountains, I know it's not as cold as Scotland but it's still pretty freezing! He's a Thoroughbred x Welsh, and lives out all the time (with a really warm rug on in Winter)- and he's 16! I think your horse should do fine, so long as there is a decent field shelter. If you haven't got a field shelter I think you should bring him in at night.

:)

Answer 14

It depends on where you live. Where the horse came from. The first winter you can try to see how he will handle it. I have 151 acres in WY & mine are always out. They have a run in shelter. No  blankets, most of the time. But mine are use to it. You will have to keep a close eye on him the frist winter. He will  acclimate to the weather.  

*****EDIT******

WY gets 20-30 belowC.

Answer 15

He should be fine with a rug. It also depends where you live

Answer 16

At night bring him into the stables but let him out once or twice during the day for 2 or 3 hours. And make sure you ride him at least 3 times a week

Answer 17

It depends on the weather where you live and him, but he should be fine. My Irish Sports Horse winters out fine with a medium weight rug but is there someone experienced who knows him that you could ask how they think he'd do?

Answer 18

It depends on what he is use to.  Depending on the climate were you live, you said he would were a super heavyweight rug, so I am assuming that it is a cold climate,  if he has never been out all night before in his life then no, if he is use to it then sure.  But he should have some short of over hang, to get out of snow or rain.  

Answer 19

he should be fine living out all winter. Will you rug him to keep the mud off or are you having some of his coat clipped off? If he has his full winter coat left on he may not need a heavy rug on when the weather is mild. If you have him clipped he will need his rug on all of the time.

You could of course just have him out during the day and in the stable at night.

Answer 20

my horse lives outside 24/7 even in a snow storm i have a good blacket for him and his shelter in like a stall with rubber mats in it and he dose fine horses like to be out.

Answer 21

some horses prefer to live out. If he seems happy and you change his rug according to the weather he should be fine. Also if there's any trees etc where he can shelter thats fab. Make sure he has plenty of ruffage (hay) and a good feed each day and he'll be fine  

Answer 22

YEAH!!! I HAVE 3 HORSES AND THEY ALL LIVE OUT DOORS 24/7. EXCEPT IN RAIN