24/7 turnout a bad idea?

[dwi]

I've had Lil five weeks today and she's settling into a really nice horse. She is prone to being a bit stressy and probably always will be but I'm concerned that she's getting worse in the stable.

For the first three weeks we had her the fields were still pretty wet so they were coming in at night. Most of the yard is now turning out 24/7 and I was very keen to join them as I think its much the best thing for them.

Unfortunately she's now developed a separation anxiety and gets really stressed if she's taken away from her field companion. Its a big yard with 35 horses so it's not like I'm ever asking her to go onto an empty yard or into a field where she can't see others over the fence. She is more stressy than ever in the stable and really really weaves if I pop her in for five mins to have her dinner.

My RI thinks that 24/7 turnout is actually making her worse, not better as she's a bit too used to having her freedom and isn't happy about not being able to do her own thing.

Any thoughts?

 

[MrsMozart]

Sounds so much like the Dizzy one!

Dizz used be a pain whether she had a routine or not, but as she has got a bit older she is more settled with a routine of being in at night. I find that if I leave her out 24/7 she gets too attached to another horse and is a nightmare in the stable. So, now she has a routine of in at night no matter who else is in or out, and we'll stick to that for the summer.

Your girl might just be at the 'settled and testing you' stage in her move to you.

 

[teddyt]

Youve just changed her routine again, just a few weeks after moving. I think she will settle given time. Better out than in!

 

[Donkeymad]

I think you need to leave her out and give her time to settle - again. ereally doesn't know if she's coming or going yet.