How long can yours stand it?

[irkenequine]

If you're anywhere near the southeast you know that we have a pretty bad storm (for our standards) rolling through.....wintry mix of sleet and rain and below freezing temperatures, yuck. I brought my 8 month old in tonight and bundled her up, tossed a ton of hay at her...but I'm nervous. The pastures are sloppy, yucky messes, and she doesn't have a shelter in her current pasture (she comes in during cruddy weather, and has trees for shade in the summer and a brook in the paddock). I'm thinking I can watch her for turnout for two hours in the morning and evening tomorrow...but it doesn't appear the weather will clear up enough for her to get outside again until Sunday. I'm especially nervous because I'm a 'pasture advocate,' and have never left a horse inside for this long... but with her being a baby, and having a fragile knee (that she is sound on, though I worry over Finding-Nemo's-father-style) in she is.

How long can yours tolerate being inside? Before this I have always just blanketed and had them brave it, but with her age, growth plates...I just can't risk it. Am I doing her more harm than good keeping her cooped up? On the bright side she doesn't mind being inside, doesn't stress or yell (and she has company) I'm just sitting here in my warm home worrying about her :(

[MunchkinsMom]

I think a few days should not be an issue. Think of all the halter babies that get hauled to shows for 3-4 day weekends, and only get out of the stalls to be hand walked and shown. They do okay.

[jetsmom]

If you have a barn aisle you can hand walk him in for about 30-40 min 2 times a day, that would help. We hand walk our horses if they can't get turned out/ridden. I think stretching the legs helps.

[irkenequine]

Yes, thats very true. I'm actually leaving in a few minutes here to walk her for an hour before I head to a conference, I just try to avoid keeping babies cooped up if at all possible...hopefully this storm moves right on through this weekend.