Hello, please be gentle with me…. I’m the first person to admit I am ridiculously precious about DD’s pony.
For the first time ever I have a lovely little sole use yard to keep DP (dear pony) at. We have lovely fields with lots of nice grass and some stables and a little yard. The field does not adjoin the stables and is just across the lane.
i have since being a small child been on a livery yard where all horses come in at night from 1st SeptEmber until mid may. So we’ve enjoyed being able to leave them out so far apart from the odd very wet and windy night.
what I’m dithering about is the forecast the next few nights. Down to -4 here. DP is Section B and very fine. She’s also getting on (nearly 18). She looks very well atm but struggles to keep weight on in winter. She has a bib clip and wears a medium weight turnout with a neck and with a fleece underneath when it’s colder (like tonight). She’s mostly better out because she has a hay cough. But won’t eat haylage or wet hay. And also gets a bit stiff or stood in for too long.
but it’s going to be so, so cold and I just can’t get the idea that she’s be better snuggled up in a massive heavyweight stable rug, with a haynet and deep bed. or am I being a massive softee and she’ll be fine outside all rugged up warm. I do have a heavy weight turnout but it’s a bit shirt at the sides and neck and so her tummy and top of neck aren’t covered.
she has hay in the field and a feed of vetran vitality mash, made with warm water.
thank you!