Muddy , waterlogged fields help

[sallie]

Please help
i have a yearling and the mare (which is empty) now my problem is the weather they have been out most days (they do not wear rugs) into the fields at 6.30am as i leave for work then and bring them in at 4.30 ish when i get home, my dilema is the fact that the fields are very muddy -in some places over fetlocks and now with this very wet snow they will be worse ( not out today due to foul weather) am i doing them any harm in fact they are in heavy going they come into very large well stawed boxes and they have hayledge in the field and are turnout after their breakfast

it is just i have nobody at home who can feed them if they are in all day ( friend will feed during day some times like today ) and i really do feel they are better out than in

their weight is fine and they do not at the moment have mud fever - ( saying that i will not get it)

please advise me

[pencaedu]

You're doing the right thing putting them out - if you really feel guilty, slap some pig oil on their legs to help - don't wash the mud off their legs - it will all come off on the straw anyway!!

[sallie]

Thank you pencaedu for your help
i just leave the legs to dry off, it is just when you sometimes hear the mud gluping yuck !,

[Guestless]

If possible sallie, get some muddy marvel and slap it on their legs when they are dry. I put this on my ponies once a week and it really helps them keep their hair - my problem is getting their legs dry enough to put it on!

[pencaedu]

I've got about 12 round a large bale on the yard - it got quite bad at one point - I had to have the yard scraped - there's a couple with pink heels, and one who's one leg is up a bit - but I had to move the mud because I couldn't move out of their way quickly enough if they decided to fight whilst I was filling nets!!

[holiday]

I think there are a lot of people in the same boat, dont worry too much they get chance at night to dry out and rest from the mud. I find also it is better to leave it be and not wash off the horses seem to cope with no major problems!!!!!

We all feel very guilty about it but I just keep telling them Spring will be here soon!!!!!!!