It is true that most people do not like to be out in the rain. But do horses feel the same way? You might be surprised to find that left to make the decision for themselves, horses will choose to stay outside when it rains. The better question to ask is, “should horses stay out in the rain?” Even in light raining conditions, some horses are prone to developing skin problems while others are unaffected. Therefore, the short answer is that it depends on the horse. Also, if you are looking to purchase a horse property in the future, consider Colorado Horse Property.
The Long Answer to “Should Horses Stay Out In The Rain?”
Some horses are more susceptible to contracting skin fungi when exposed to the rain than others. Other horses have psychological problems that make spending time indoors just as dangerous as time outdoors during a storm. The only way to really know is to try both. If your horse is willing to stay out in the rain, let them. If a problem arises, like a skin/hoof infection from being wet, then it is safe to say that they should not be left to the elements. Even if they are fine, continue to monitor them after each experience to make sure no problems occur. Also, not every weather event is the same.
Light, gentle rainfall likely won’t jeopardize a horse’s health. We often don’t get torrential rains in Colorado, but they do occur sometimes. In these cases, even with horses that are good with being left out in the rain, they should be taken inside. Storms that include severe winds can be dangerous as well. You don’t want your equine companion to be hit by debris flying in the wind. Lighting is also dangerous even if your horse is standing under a tree. Though we rarely see extreme precipitation in the front range of Colorado, we occasionally get hail. It goes without saying, if it hailing your horse should not be outside. In conclusion, for a healthy horse it is usually okay for them to be left out in the rain unless the weather is severe.
