Cold snap - in or out at night?

[Pleasedontdothat]

This is the first winter I’ve had horses at home so the first time I’m having to make all the decisions 😬

The forecast here is for very cold temperatures overnight (-5) over the next days. The horse’s field is quite open so there’s not much shelter apart from one large tree in the corner and the water in the trough will definitely freeze - we’ve tried floating things in it to keep the water moving and it still freezes.

Both horses are unclipped and hairy retirees and in no danger of fading away. They’re usually out 24/7 but are both happy being stabled for short periods - they both asked to come in when we had a day of relentless sideways rain last week.

My dilemma is do I bring them in at night or leave them out as normal? If they’re in then I can easily check on water etc before I go to bed and first thing in the morning when it’s still dark. If they’re out they can move around and keep themselves warm but I’ll be worrying half the night that they haven’t got anything to drink 🤷‍♀️

Whatever is easier for you! And I say that as a seasoned horses at home overthinker!

Do they ever wear rugs?

A friend of mine in my village has two unclipped cobs that live out permanently and have never had a stable or rug. They are both going strong in their 20s.

IME horses don't mind cold but don't like windy rain.

Mine are clipped so will stay out with warm rugs. If it gets snowy or frosty they'll come in for part of the day.

Also put extra hay out for them if it gets very cold.

If it's not pouring with raini or gale force winds I leave out, I lightly rug as there isn't a field shelter just the trees. My friend has a lovely field shelter not one of her 4 use it 😬 have you tried tennis balls in the water to stop from freezing?

My horse loves to pick out the tennis balls. I go over with a 2l thermos of hot water and unfreeze it that way.

Sorry I see you've tried floating things in your water, also it appears I cannot spell rain.

Thank you - I know I’m overthinking, I can’t help it 😳. They’ve both survived several winters before but I wasn’t the one making all the decisions then 😬

One has a lightweight rug on (because he’s a 17’2” wuss), the other only has a rain sheet on when it’s sideways rain.

There’s plenty of grass in the field but I do put out extra hay if it’s frosty as that really seems to cheer them up. My main worry is the water (I shall carry on fretting about that!)

Leave them out - they will be warmer moving around munching than standing still (unless you have heated stables of course!).

Sounds daft but we have bubble wrapped water buckets with straw between and kept it from freezing.

The horse I care for is out 24/7. He has access to a stable and haylage but only comes in to eat.

Well I decided to keep them out in the end. I was very glad of my waterproof gloves when I was fishing ice out of the trough (had to attack it with a hatchet 😬). As soon as they saw me they came cantering over to tell me that they were staaaaarving and have been happily munching hay since then. They were both nicely warm under their lightweights which I’d put on as we had freezing rain forecast overnight. @Eyesopenwideawake we have the luxury of a hot tap on the yard but don’t quite run to heated stables 😂