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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 433
 
Location: The Lone Star State | Do you always lock them up in the stalls or let them out and not worry about the snowballs that build up in their hooves?? we seldom have this kind of ice and snow and my horses are not used to being locked up going on 3 days now. I tried to let them out yesterday but my three year old was bucking and running and busted her ass and my good horse took off running and was slipping so bad then she got ice balls in her hooves so I put them all up in their stalls it freaked me out! What do you all do?? |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
  
Location: Phoenix | We just leave them out. We typically pull shoes in the winter so we don't have to deal with ice balls., |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| Mine are out all year round... it is -20 C here right now so -4 F No blankets, lots of warm water and fresh hay. The colt is barefoot, no snowballs, and my gelding has front shoes only as he is a sissy on hard ground. He is careful with his shoes, but they will and often do go mach 1 and play. They slip and wipe out once in a while, but they are more careful next time. I let them be horses.
When it warms up a bit and the snow is more sticky I will put pads on with the shoes that pop the snow out. |
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 Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | Ours are all out. And we pull shoes so we don't have to worry about the snowballs so much. What little bit that balls up in bare hooves comes right out most of the time.
Seems if I do have to pen one up for whatever reason, and I let them out in this cold they just act crazier than if they are left out. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Mine are all out too. It was -30 last night and -20 right now. Our high today was -8. I did go out once today with a screwdriver and picked ice balls out of a couple that are dead heads. The ones that run around acting goofy knock the balls out themselves. I've got some that love to be kept in the barn but I have more that would prefer to bust the place down to go outside and run around. I grain 4 head in the evening in their stalls. There's 3 of them that beat on their stall gates as soon as they're done eating so I have no problem knowing when they want out. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | Stare at them through my window.................. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | We have tie/standing stalls in the side of our barn that open into the pasture, so the horses can come and go as needed, depending on the weather. Most of the time they are out in the pasture though. I agree, that if they are stalled and let out they are much more likely to be rambunctious than if they are left out. Mine anyway! |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | Mine are out. I usually pull shoes in the winter but this year my farrier wanted to leave them on. He put pads on so the snow won't ball up in her front feet. It's supposed to snow tonight so we'll see what happens. I'm a little nervous about it. |
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 The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | rockinas - 2013-12-07 6:52 PM
Ours are all out. And we pull shoes so we don't have to worry about the snowballs so much. What little bit that balls up in bare hooves comes right out most of the time.
Seems if I do have to pen one up for whatever reason, and I let them out in this cold they just act crazier than if they are left out.
^^^^^ This.^^^^^^ |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | hammer_time - 2013-12-07 7:20 PM We just leave them out. We typically pull shoes in the winter so we don't have to deal with ice balls.,
This is what we do also. |
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Member
Posts: 18
| Pull shoes and leave them out 24 7. if they aren't used to being locked in did you cut the feed allot, they won't be so wild when you let them out if you let them out hungry and they stop at the hay pile first. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| I tell mine to toughen up. Growing up, our ranch horses never had shoes. The snow balled up in their feet. We used our horses to pull a little sled, running wide open. Those ice balls would fly out of their feet and almost kill you if they hit you in the head. I swear, I think it was way colder then than it is now. I live on the same road that I grew up on in NE TX |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | If its cold out and their is moisture, they go in until it stops. Then they go out.
If their is several days of snow and ice, they get either a few intervol hours out or they get turned out in the indoor.
I had one get extremely sick last winter to the point i thought i was going to lose him so the cold weather with moisture scares me. But they do get turned out as soon as it slows down or stops.
I agree though, more rambunctious when theyve been stalled for too long. |
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 Leggs
Posts: 4680
Location: lexington KY | I don't mind snow and mine go out in snow, however ice is different. We have a lot of it here, about an inch of ice right now, so mine are up. That said my horses stay on a schedule 90% of the time of coming in at night for supplements. |
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 Night Chatter
Posts: 1907
Location: Mississippi | When its raining/sleeting/ice, mine come inside. But usually, they are out 24/7. They all hate being cooped up inside. |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | The other day here in Ohio it was between 58-60 degrees then started to drop quickly into the low 30's with freezing rain and snow. That day, I stalled all four from about mid-afternoon to the following morning but they were booted right back out in the a.m. once the weather stabilized. I only stall mine when there are drastic weather changes, the rest of the time they are out 24/7. They have access to shelter whenever they want it, but I VERY rarely see them in there in the winter. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Rolling J - 2013-12-08 2:10 PM The other day here in Ohio it was between 58-60 degrees then started to drop quickly into the low 30's with freezing rain and snow. That day, I stalled all four from about mid-afternoon to the following morning but they were booted right back out in the a.m. once the weather stabilized. I only stall mine when there are drastic weather changes, the rest of the time they are out 24/7. They have access to shelter whenever they want it, but I VERY rarely see them in there in the winter.
Same here. Extreme weather is hard on humans and worse on animals IMO. I chose to put mine in at those times. I never keep any shoes on in the winter unless a necessicity. Spelling? In those cases then I use snow pads. |
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Member
Posts: 18
| I had a retired veterinarian from north central Wisconsin tell me in his 50 year practice on large animals he "made more money off the people who put their animals in and out" and if a dairy barn burns down in the middle of January and you put the whole herd outside the vast majority will stay healthy, but if you finish a barn in January -put a herd inside- in the middle of winter the Majority will get respiratory ailments". He said either leave them in all the time or out all the time, as long as they have a good wind break or walk in shelter. I realize when dealing with multiple horses - usually one will rule the shed - so we do what we can to do what we think is best for our individual situation. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | glideriders - 2013-12-08 4:36 PM
I had a retired veterinarian from north central Wisconsin tell me in his 50 year practice on large animals he "made more money off the people who put their animals in and out" and if a dairy barn burns down in the middle of January and you put the whole herd outside the vast majority will stay healthy, but if you finish a barn in January -put a herd inside- in the middle of winter the Majority will get respiratory ailments". He said either leave them in all the time or out all the time, as long as they have a good wind break or walk in shelter. I realize when dealing with multiple horses - usually one will rule the shed - so we do what we can to do what we think is best for our individual situation.
That's why we made our standing stalls. One horse can't take it over, because there are partitions, and it allows them the freedom of in and out, as well as makes it easy and quick to feed. Before we had them we would make stalls in the barn and bring horses in if it was wet and windy. One or the other and they'd handle it just fine. Generally though, now they sleep in the stalls but otherwise are outside, their choice. |
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| I don't mind snow. All three of mine went out today for awhile. One has front shoes with snow pads on. The other has to keep shoes on back year round, but doesn't seem to ball up in the back as bad. Ice...I will not put them out. Had a friend turn a circuit finals horse out once and fell and broke her leg. I will buy safe de-icer stuff for their lots and keep them in until it works. I can't walk on ice, let alone my horses on dirt. I have nothing blanketed until we start riding again in the spring. We even started lunging horses in the snow last spring. First time they were slipping, but next time they were a lot smarter. Had probably 6-7 on the ground. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Pull shoes. My horses are pastures 24/7 and never stalled, so that doesn't change in the winter.
I always go out Saturday and Sunday to pick off the ice balls. It's hard for me during the week because I board and I work until well after dark but I try to get out at least once during the week and pick off ice balls.
If it is safe to ride (not too horribly icy) and a decent temp (aka not a blizzard), then I'll ride on the weekends. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3310
Location: Jersey Girl | Mine are out. Shoes will be coming off in about 2 weeks. Snowed here today but will be gone by tomorrow once the rain comes. |
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 Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Posts: 2409
Location: Wisconsin | My Candyarses are all in every night around 7 til 7 in the morning...however now are only let out from noon to 6 and they are DEMANDING to get back in! lol  |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | mine are a bunch of babies. they had snow balled up so I had to lock them up and could not get it chipped out. had to dip their hooves in a bucket of water and chip away (dip and chip LOL) they actually lifted their feet as I got to the next one like ya good idea hurry up. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | kwanatha - 2013-12-08 8:18 PM mine are a bunch of babies. they had snow balled up so I had to lock them up and could not get it chipped out. had to dip their hooves in a bucket of water and chip away (dip and chip LOL) they actually lifted their feet as I got to the next one like ya good idea hurry up.
Hammer and screwdriver. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | CYA Ranch - 2013-12-08 7:13 PM kwanatha - 2013-12-08 8:18 PM mine are a bunch of babies. they had snow balled up so I had to lock them up and could not get it chipped out. had to dip their hooves in a bucket of water and chip away (dip and chip LOL) they actually lifted their feet as I got to the next one like ya good idea hurry up. Hammer and screwdriver.
it actually came right out with very little work and only a hoof pick this way! it was funny because some of the horses are not very coroporative but they all gladly stuck their foot in the water and let me work with no sas! my husband laughed and thought gee they are so smart they know we are helping them  |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | kwanatha - 2013-12-08 9:24 PM CYA Ranch - 2013-12-08 7:13 PM kwanatha - 2013-12-08 8:18 PM mine are a bunch of babies. they had snow balled up so I had to lock them up and could not get it chipped out. had to dip their hooves in a bucket of water and chip away (dip and chip LOL) they actually lifted their feet as I got to the next one like ya good idea hurry up. Hammer and screwdriver.
It hurts when the balls get too big. Mine will pick up their feet for me too, they know exactly what I'm doing. I carry a hammer and screw driver in my pocket all winter. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | My pampered horses are in an insulated barn...they get all the hay they can eat and normal grain and alfalfa rations.. deep shavings and I have hot and cold water in the barn so they get buckets of warm water so I dont have to break ice and it encourages them to drink...I only blanket when its colder than 20 degrees since the barn is insulated it stays a comfortable temp in there ...I know they are spoiled but I can't see letting them stand out in it when the barn is here for them... mine are turned out during the day and brought in at night normally but with this ice storm we just had they've been in since Thursday night... my stalls are 15 x 20 though so they have room to move..im sure they'll be ready to get out tomorrow.... |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Mine are outside with 4 sheds that the 5 of them can get in. I do have two bullies that only allow others in the shed with them part of the time, so we make sure they have enough sheds that Chance & Joker can't hog them all. I have two with shoes on and I'll be going out regularly to pick ice/snow balls I'm sure. We don't have any permanent stalls so if we have to confine one, it's an extra headache for us. I got home from Tulsa last night and I heard one of them rolling in the snow so they obviously don't mind it. Of course those two are still blanketed from being gone all weekend. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| My horses are out. We put them in Friday night because Saturday morning was opening day of Shotgun deer season. Needless to say, they weren't impressed and wanted out! We let them out well after daylight. They don't have shoes, so that makes life easier. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Where you are at, I'd keep them locked up until the ground clears.
I live in the frozen North and the horses that are being used get shoes with light borium and snow pads at least in the front and one mare is shod all the way around. They are turned out with access to my small indoor arena (more like a giant run in shed). If the weather gets really terrible then I lock a couple of the chickenhearted in large "stalls" so that they don't get picked on, and the rest get the run of the arena with the doors shut.
A word of caution. A few years ago we got about an inch of ice and it remained the base until March. One of my barefoot horses slipped on the ice and pulled a stifle, so barefoot may not lead to ice balls but they can still slip pretty easily. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I HATE the ice. and several of mine do too. I have one mare that totally panics if she hits a patch of ice. Her and I were skating in and out of the barn last year me on the end of the lead just trying to get her to slow down. I will keep them in for ice. But my pastures are small, more like dry lots or turn outs and I will be out with a bucket of rock salt hitting the big patches getting it to bust up so they can go out. It works, if it doesn't cut all the way through the ice it at least makes it bumpy so its not just a big sheet and they might get a moment of traction if necessary. Other wise mine are out all day in all night. No blankets. We have no shelters or wind breaks so they just come in if the weather is questionable. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | WHen I lived in Michigan just pulled shoes and sprayed Pam cooking spray on their hooves after picking them out daily. I really never stall them, they handle it fine and usually stand in their stall all day of their own accord but don't HAVE to. In KS it's easier now because the weather tends to be much milder, I leave shoes on year round on the ones I'm competing on year round. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | Just chipped snowballs out of the pony's feet this morning. :) She hates that. Hammer and a screwdriver work great, I keep them with me when doing chores. Always barefoot in the winter around here. All the horses are turned out with a round bale in the feeder and automatic BAR BAR A (not heated) automatic water. Sometimes that dude freezes when we have lots of wind along with our below zero temps. It was 13 below this morning but no wind...water is still working so crossing my fingers it makes it through this cold spell. |
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what do you do with your horses when it snows and ices??