Living Out

People often ask why our ponies live out all year. It’s a fair question, especially when the rain moves sideways across Werneth Low and the mud clings to your boots before you even reach the gate. But if you stand there for a while, watch how they move, how they choose where to stand, how they lean into each other when the wind changes, you begin to see why.

Our ponies live as a herd, not as individuals confined to four walls. They have the freedom to walk, graze, roll, and rest together. They make choices every minute of the day, and that in itself supports their wellbeing. They regulate their own bodies, their own space, and their own relationships, that’s what keeps them calm, healthy, and balanced.

Living out keeps them moving, which supports digestion, circulation, and joint health. It helps prevent stiffness and reduces stress levels. For horses, being able to move and interact is as essential as food and water.

Monty & Skyla snoozing in the sun together.

Their coats, too, adapt beautifully. A thick winter coat grows in, layered like nature’s own waterproof. It fluffs, it sheds, it responds to the seasons. We don’t clip it back or cover it without reason, they’ve evolved to handle far worse than a Manchester drizzle. The natural oils in their coat act as weather protection, and standing close in the herd helps them share warmth and comfort. Some like to stay out in all weathers, others prefer a dry feed area when the rain hits hard. Their needs are different, just like ours.

Skyla enjoying the snow and some extra hay in her winter coat. Being a Bay Roan means her coat is dark brown in the winter and has tints of grey in the Summer.

Natural shelter plays a big part in this. Our fields have trees, hedgerows, and banks that offer cover when the wind and rain pick up. The ponies decide where they want to be, whether that’s tucked in by the hedge, under the trees, or standing out in the open. Giving them that choice is what keeps them content. World Horse Welfare and most equine welfare organisations now recognise that, with good shelter and daily checks, living out is often better for the horse’s physical and emotional wellbeing than being stabled for long periods.

Of course, living out doesn’t mean being left out. Every pony is checked daily. We rug when the temperature drops below freezing or when they show signs of being cold. Every pony is different. Some are fine in the snow and rain, some are not. Rugs are used for comfort, not appearance, and always chosen to suit the pony, not the weather forecast.

We’ve found that ponies who live this way are calmer and more relaxed around people. They don’t depend on routine stabling to feel secure, their security comes from each other, from the land, and from consistency in care. That’s what makes them such powerful partners in what we do here.

Because Wild Mane is about giving both people and ponies what they need to feel safe, respected, and free to be themselves. That starts with the way we keep them, out in the field, together, living as naturally as possible.