Leaving a horse out in the rain....

Question

Does anybody ever feel guilty about leaving their horse outside in the fields when its raining? I have a 14.2hh cob who lives out 24/7 and I sometimes feel bad about leaving him out when it's so wet!! Am I being silly??

Answer 1

kirsten d, noone will get brought up for neglect by leaving their horse out! What about wild horses? Do they have a rug or a stable? Its just being silly saying that....

Your horse would be fine girly, my horses are all out side all the time, i feel bad but they have open stables but never use them lol. If hes happy you should be too.

xox

Answer 2

my philosophy is they dont mind being wet and they dont mind being cold but never wet and cold  

Answer 3

he could get Rain Rot. it rots their fur and skin.

Answer 4

Oh for goodness sake what do you think wild horses do when it rains? they get wet, is what. You are thinking of him as a human, not as a horse. He doesn't mind being wet and all horses would rather be out than in. If he has company and food he won't care about the rain.

Answer 5

If you feel guilty leaving your horse out in the rain, build a makeshift

stall outside in the pasture.  But if he's outside 24/7, then you shouldn't worry about it.  He's probably used to it.  The only time I think it would be exceptable to bring him in is if it's thundering and there's lightening.  Otherwise you shouldn't feel guilty.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

I have three horses.  They have 24/7 turnout and access to a run-in shelter.  They never use it.  Not during rain or wind or snow or sleet or hail or....you get the idea.

Don't feel bad.  As long as the horse isn't shivering, it is probably content as can be!

Answer 7

i no how u feel my 15.2 cob lives out and sometimes i feel mean but cobs are chunky . horses are wild animals and they dont need to live in!

they prefer it outside no matter what anyone else says !  

Answer 8

do he have any shelter?

does he seem happy to stay out?

believe it or not i have a TB who loves being out 24/7 however the arab is not a happy bunny and likes to have a rug on at the slightest drop of rain or wants to come in.

Do you rug him up?

Horses are like people...each to there own.

If he has a rug on, plenty to eat and seems happy i wouldnt worry about him.

You cannot be done for anything so ignore that!

providing your horse is in good shape and looked after you're fine! surely you being concerned enough to ask this question proves you take care of your horse.

I totally agree my arab is such a pansy because of his previous owners being far too soft on him.

Answer 9

My horses only use thier shed when it's raining really hard. But even then, they'll stand in the rain too...it's hit or miss with my guys.

Answer 10

We all worry about all sorts of things to do with horses, we wouldn't be much use to them if we didn't.

In the past I have run out to check on mine ( it's a 15 minute drive) and found them standing in the middle of the field eating grass quite happily. They have trees to shelter under but never seem to bother.

The only times I'm concerned about them being in the rain now is when it rains non stop for a couple of days and there is a cold wind as well.

Answer 11

I'm exactly the same with my old boy. I rush down the field to bring him in and he is pacing at the gate. Once he is in though, he has a stable that is open onto a pen (he suffers from arthritis so we let him wander about as much as possible). Even though he has asked to come in, he stands outside in his pen getting even wetter! All that worry over nothing!

Answer 12

it will be fine mine lives out in the summer and she is fine they have water proof oils in there coats which stops there skin getting wet.

Answer 13

It is not going to shrink is it?

Answer 14

Lol!

Most of my cousins horses love it when it's raining. They all have a massive shlter in the fields but they don't use it!

They just roll aorund in the muck! =]

Answer 15

He doesn't have any shelter whatsoever? I don't know where you live, but you could be brought up on neglect. Our pets need food, water, and shelter!  

Answer 16

Don't feel bad! We have a cob, he is tough as old boots and he doesn't mind. He is rugged in winter.

At least you care about your horse, there are plenty of bad people who neglect their animals.

Answer 17

horses dont mind the rain,they were meant to be out in the open in nature.

Answer 18

As long as he has a rug then he will be fine. remember horses are meant to be wild animals so they are not fussed by the rain. your horse should have a shelter in his field really ( eith natural like tress or a man made one)

  

Answer 19

No, you're not being silly. Horses are OK out in the rain as long as it isn't constant, and they can dry off in between the showers, and there is some kind of shelter from really heavy soaking rain. Also as long as it isn't blowing a gale and freezing cold.

Elderly or very young horses, or any which are not in good health will be better brought in. Others can be given a rug to keep them dry.

Your cob should manage fine, but a good rug will ease your conscience! (Horseware rugs are great as they are breathable and better than most if you have to leave them on for longer than a few hours)

Horses in the wild are indeed out in all weathers. However, they die a lot earlier than ones which are given regular care, attention and shelter.

Answer 20

Hi!

As long as he has a hedge that can shelter him from the wind, or as the others say, a field shelter (this must be big and high enough - a lot of people forget about the height) he will be fine.

In winter don't groom him to much so that the natural oils in his undercoat will keep him snug. The main problem is wind, wet and cold all together. If he is healthy and fit and in good condition it's the best place for a horse. Actually we mollycoddle our neddies too much!

Saying that I have just rushed to get my three girls in from the field as there is a thunderstorm coming (in Germany) and it's pouring down!! (but one of my girls is 27 with arthritis!) They didn't really want to come!! So much for taking my own advice!!

Answer 21

Don’t know if the horse minds but, I would worry about his hooves, and whether he is ruining the pasture as it is wet.

Answer 22

I don't think you're being silly.  Just a few thoughts, though:

Shelter. Most other commenters have said it, and it's true. It's always good to have some kind of outdoor shelter available to your horse. Some use them to get out of the sun on a hot day, or that cold driving rain in the spring. Find out which way the wind usually blows and face it away. Some horses use these shelters all the time, others just stand beside them. Either way, it's good to have something just in case. It's also a good place to leave his hay on a wet day. Picky horses won't eat soggy hay.

Keep an eye on the physical well-being of your horse. Doublecheck his feet for stones or cracks, and make sure his coat is healthy. Rain rot is a concern, but proper care makes this easy to deal with.

I can't say I recommend blankets or rugs for a full-time outdoor horse. Leaving blankets on around the clock can not only cause serious rubs but can get caught on things and frighten your horse. Keep in mind, these are worst case scenarios, they're not certain to happen.

Ultimately, you know your horse. You can tell if he's becoming irritated and upset at being outside or if he's as happy as a clam roaming freely.

Answer 23

If there are some trees there, or a big hedge and he can stand close to it, I wouldn't worry. Remember that horses live in the wild, and a cob is usually robust enough to be comfortable in Northern European weather.  

Answer 24

We used to have a three sided shed in our horses field. They would stand in the rain in knee deep muck when they had proper dry footing in their little shed.

When they horses chewed, kicked, scratched on, and abused the shed to the point where we had to pull it down, we never replaced it.

My gelding now gets claustrophobic in stalls. People are too romantic with most of their horses. Sure there are some pansy horses who scream in the rain if they don't have a blanket, just like people, but the majority like to be able to roam at will.

Answer 25

Lol it's a natural feeling coming from a good horse owner. I feel guilty too, but the horse doesn't mind. They just enjoy munching away. Sometimes I do like to bring my horse in and just spend quality time with her when it rains. It's a fun thing to do with her :) I mainly worry about mud getting in her hooves. You're not being silly, just a good owner. Make sure he seems nice and happy out there. If he doesn't just bring him in and spend some time with him.

Answer 26

LOL NOPE..

Rain / Snow my horses are out in it all the time in a 40 acre field with a barn they can go in at all times with shavings. They stay  outside  they go crazy in the barn.

Answer 27

I feel bad too but just remind myself that it is an outdoor animal. Horses live quite happily in the wild without any rugs, stables etc and I'm sure they occasionally get wet.

I also feel better as whenever I go up and its raining my horse is usually quite happily standing munching on grass in the middle of the field and doesn't seem in the least fussed about the rain

Answer 28

As long as your horse is groomed regularly and has a healthy coat it's fine. The only time to worry is if it is raining and then going to freeze -- not a common occurrence in August.

Answer 29

i dont feel guilty in summer - they have natural shelter, trees etc, plus although they are TBs and arabs, they would need to learn to cope with it in the wild and really it isnt that cold in the evenings unlike in winter (when mine get majorly rugged up - we have no stables)