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Post by Ziggy on Apr 6, 2009 14:59:52 GMT
My two little welshies hate being in thier stables! Are so much happier being out in the field (with rugs on of course). Am I cruel to leave them out and is it possible to get an animal into show condition that is not stabled. Your views please?
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Post by Jenna on Apr 6, 2009 17:15:43 GMT
I dont think you are cruel at all living them out, im thinking of living my two out for the summer (with a shelter and some extra feeding)
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Post by Ziggy on Apr 6, 2009 17:36:53 GMT
Was so worried people would think I was mad leaving ponies out when you intend to show them. A top show producer who lives realtively near us puts his animals out for 40 mins or so a day and they often have 6 rugs on. People may argue if you want to get thier coats looking really good that is the only way but it just seems so unatural to me especially with little natives. I'm sure it is not nice and warm and cosy on the welsh mountains. little wild ponies thier live out ok, don't they?
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Emma_X
Senior Member
40%
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Post by Emma_X on Apr 6, 2009 19:11:32 GMT
both mine live out (sec C and Sec D), but your nicer than me, mine dont have rugs on  They are much happiers though, and they will be out showing this year too xx |
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Post by nici on Apr 6, 2009 19:12:54 GMT
My ponies (1 x Welsh A, 2 x Shets) live out perfectly happily all year round. In fact the Section A loathes being stabled. She's in at the moment on box rest and it's a real problem, can't wait to put her back out. All three were worked through the winter so were clipped and rugged according to their needs. They've lived out for 3 years now, and I hope I never have to stable them again. They're so much happier, fitter and healthier.
They have fabulous summer coats (too brief for the Shets, but that's their nature!). They keep themselves fit through moving around and playing, and you can get the condition right by restricting / supplementing their grazing according to their needs and the season.
Nothing cruel about keeping ponies the way nature intended.
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Post by Ziggy on Apr 7, 2009 8:33:59 GMT
Nici, I just love the picture of your little girl riding her shetland sidesaddle. Where did you ever get a sidesaddle that small!? Quite like to do that one day with my welshie as he has got a beautifull front would carry sidesaddle so well. Totally agree that in many ways it is best to keep ponies as nature intended particularly natives. Don't reckon it is warm and cosy on the Shetland Isles either! ( Though I have never been to Wales of Scotland)
Emma do you get that shine on that ponies coat with it living out? If you do it answers my question completely that it is possible to get ponies in show condition when they live out. I think sometimes as owners we mollycoddle our 'precious' ponies too much sometimes.
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Post by Guestless on Apr 7, 2009 9:30:44 GMT
My ponies live out all year round and only come in the night before shows and for the odd night during winter to let their legs dry. The downside is that they lose a lot of their feather and spat, but to be their happiness is far more important and they are not happy being in for more than one night.....not the mention it is cheaper and a lot less work!  My gelding had a great show season last year so living out didn't do him too much harm  |
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Post by nici on Apr 7, 2009 9:35:45 GMT
Thanks Nursey! I have the saddle on hire, but thinking of buying the next size up when the hire period expires. It's made by Robert Jenkins at the Malvern Saddle Co (http://www.saddlethathorse.com/pDetails.asp?pgid=5&pTitle=Pony%20Pilch%20Side%20Saddle)
I put a good dollup of oil in my ponies' feeds, which helps give the shine from the inside. It's perfectly possible to show from the field - I sometimes keep them in the night before a show, but have shown straight from the field, even in winter.
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Post by bowditchblobs on Apr 7, 2009 14:45:11 GMT
I went to a producers yard in august there was sps out with duvets on under rugs!!! If rosettes mean that much to people they should go out and buy some. Mine are out all summer and all day in the winter, i did try leaving my yearlings out at the weekend, my coloured was far from amused, charged round and gave her self colic! Hopefuly when every things out she wont do it!!! It's a gypsey pony too!!! Horses should be horses first and show animals second.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2009 10:22:31 GMT
my dartmoors all live out all year round, we show from the fields too; gaining breed championships and ridden champions too.
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Post by sarah00000 on Apr 12, 2009 14:21:29 GMT
My section A lived out 24/7 , including the night before a show. She was shampooed, rugged, bandaged and back out, never a problem. Certainly never lost a show for any reason related to living out!
When we moved house, the horses/ponies all became incredibly spoilt, having access to stable and paddock 24/7. She never went in the stable, even in the pouring rain, unless to eat her hay.
A happy life, is the most important thing for our animals, so if your horse/pony likes it out, then let them stay out.
My WB mare would rather die, than live out.......... The slightest spot of rain and she dashes for the shelter of her stable, but they are all different arnt they.
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Post by dancer on Apr 12, 2009 19:04:36 GMT
Mine all live out 24/7, including the show pony - they are rugged but only thin waterproofs which are for our benefit as it means the ponies are dry when we bring them in to ride.
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Post by lucretia on Apr 12, 2009 20:53:28 GMT
Showed mine from the field except for greedy ID who had to come in the night before or he just guzzled all night and slept all day. Its the best thing physically and psychologically. They soon let you know if they want to come in- usually had to go looking for mine- never near the gate summer and just at coming in time winter!
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Post by smokeycott on Apr 12, 2009 21:02:31 GMT
I JUST BRING MINE IN NIGHT BEFORE A SHOW IN SUMMER SO THEY ARE CLEAN!!!
I DO STABLE FOALS AT NIGHT DURING 1ST WINTER AND SPRING SO THEY COAT OFF FOR SHOWS, ALL MY BROODMARE LIVE OUT ONE IS NOT RUGGED AS THEY A STILL LITTLE FATTIES!!!
IF YOUR NOT SHOWING THEM I WOULD LEAVE THEM OUT SAVE S YOU LOADS OF MONEY AND TIME.
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Post by thecremellosociety on Apr 13, 2009 1:45:23 GMT
Mine are our now as much as possible coming in for a few hours most days for hay, char was fully clipped aand has equivalant of a summer coat now and only has a fly sheet topped with a v v light weight amigo if monsoon season !!!! Keisha out naked again except bug rug if midgy, he coat looks brill she wasnt clipped, both happy and sane and come in night befor show to preserve energy they always have daily turnout through winter but come in at night from November till start of april. |
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Post by Ziggy on Apr 13, 2009 9:15:05 GMT
Thanks everyone. Feel better now. though I have started to bring our M&M lead rein in at night. I am trying to shift his winter coat which he is hanging on to for grim death! Filly stands in stall next to him as she loves him sooo much but would go mad if you tried to pen her in! Agree though it would certainly be less time consuming if they were both out all the time. I hate mucking out. (Hate poo picking more though, it has to be said!)
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Post by lucynlizzysmum on Apr 13, 2009 9:54:24 GMT
Mine are out as much as possible - the downside is that the WHP sulks a little when we are staying away at Champs, but if I could have them out 24/7 I would. I lost my old mare at 36, she had lived out the majority of her life and it never seemed to do her any harm!
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Post by sophieandcallum on Apr 15, 2009 11:01:37 GMT
I always leave my boy out before a show, as he gets very hot headed in a stable so is too fizzy and can't concentrate and just bombs around like some mad pony  He is much calmer and chilled if he is left out the night before, much better I think! And he is left unrugged too....only a rug on him before shows ;D |
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