The answer to this question varies widely depending on different circumstances. Some horses that are being prepared for a show, following diet restrictions, have medical conditions or thin coats may be good candidates to be stabled at night. However, it is essential to treat horses as individuals and consider their unique circumstances before deciding when and for how long to stable them.
Some factors play an important role in deciding whether or not to stable your horse:
Where you live: if you live in the warmest parts of your country you may not need to stable your horse at night; the weather rarely gets cold enough to call for a true stable. In the mountains and coolest regions, it can be extremely frigid in the winter making it a good call to stable your horses overnight.
Consider your horse’s coat: when daylight hours are getting shorter, your horse will start to grow in its winter coat. If it’s thick and luxurious, staying out may be an option. However, if the horse’s winter coat is thin, it may not handle colder outdoor temperatures.
Your horse’s temperament and physical condition: each horse is different, just like each human. Some horses may like to be outside, no matter the weather, and another ones would prefer to be out of the wind and rain. Moreover, your horses age and general state of health will also play a role in deciding this. Older horses and those who are ill are likely to need to be in a stable at night, especially if the weather is terrible.
There is no one right answer to the question of whether or not to stable a horse at night. It takes all of these considerations to come to the correct conclusion for you and your animals.
