24/7 Turnout - WWYD?

PolarSkye

PolarSkye

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Kal's fieldmates are shortly moving to 24/7 turnout. There is grass in the field and it's shooting up like billy-o . . . however, having spent £££ and time getting condition back on him after such a long winter (combined with his heavier workload), I'm a little reluctant to have him be out at night while the temps are still so low. He has plenty of turnouts so I can rug him up well. There is an option of putting haylage in the field to give him an extra boost, and I'd be bringing him in morning and evening anyway to work him/check him over/groom him and give him a hard feed.

Should I bite the bullet and turn him out 24/7 . . . or give him another few weeks of in at night until the temps come up? Have to say that the possibility of no mucking out is very attractive ;).

P
 
Bring him in to feed and rug up and then turn him out again. If the grass is shooting up like billy-o then he probably wouldn't want haylage if you put it out for him.
 
Rug him up and chuck him out :D Reg was out 24/7 all winter, and will be back out again soon now the grass is picking up properly. It's not tremendously chilly atm, and a good rug and being able to keep moving if he wants to will mean he can keep warm.

We find with Reg that he so much happier being out, and if we could he would be on 24/7 turnout all year round.
 
I'd rug him up and chuck him out - it's not artic out and between good grass, feed and rugging, I shouldn't think you'll have anything to worry over!
 
I agree, rug and chuck. Haylage out will only make you feel better. Most likely won't touch it. If you insist on him having some then give him some in when he eats. Keep him in an hour. But save money when you can!

Terri
 
Is he on his own in the field? and is there some shelter (natural or man made) if you can leave haylage that won't be scoffed by others then do that - he'll have access to the same food as he would in and I think there's an arguement for saying they are warmer while they are moving around than stood in a stable (clearly not if it's blowing a gale and no shelter!)
 
He'll prob put on more weight being on the grass 24/7 then being in. Rug him up nice and cosy :). Weather report is quite good for the next week or two. It's heavy rain I would worry about more than a slight frost :).
 
Alright . . . rug and chuck it is. It'll be a couple more weeks before we do this . . . and, as you all say, if his condition drops and/or the weather turns wet and nasty, I can always bring him at night - it's not like I'm giving up his stable :).

And Terri, thank you - I think he's looking so much better now, but it's nice to have it validated.

P

P.S. Looking forward to minimal mucking out, not bandaging every night, not stinking of horse wee all the time and saving money on hay and bedding :D
 
Rug him up and turn him out. Mine normally hates rain and any kind of bad weather, but after having been in for 7 months with the awful winter we have just had, she now doesn't want to come in.... at all!! ;) I bring her in to ride/have her tea and all she does is stare at the field!

She has also absolutely bloomed since being out! The grass has given her the final bit of weight she needed and she is 10000% happier! :)
 
I love 24/7 turnout, just looking forward to when ours can go out fulltime. As is my mare judging by her reluctance to come in every evening.
 
I would rug and chuck! I noticed my boy starting to look a bit porky last week so shoved a muzzle on him for a couple of days and upped his workload and to get him back down to the size he should be. He went out last night with just a lightweight on and was still happily scoffing this morning. Mine has to come in during the day due to lami risk but I'd say you'll be fine... the grass is really shooting through after all...
 
Major shortage of hay around here so we've had no option but to put out... Now we could get hay if we REALLY wanted but they're so happy being out! No mucking out, and I can tack up from the field and ride :D

Its BLISS.

OUT OUT OUT :D:D
 
Rug him up and turn him out.

I had planned on leaving my fully clipped 28 year old cob in at night a bit longer due to the cold nights but this decision was taken out of my hands when he injuried himself 12 days ago and was put on 24/7 field rest by the vet. He is rugged at night and during the day if it rains otherwise he has his fly sheet on in the day and he has been fine. I have been putting hay out at night for him though.

Oh and not having to muck out is just brilliant
 
One of mine has always been stabled at night and I struggled to keep weight and condition on him. Last year I moved yards and he lived out 24/7 from September when I moved. He's never looked so well. I kept him well rugged but he wasn't on any of the expensive weight building foods he used to have and has hay now instead of haylage. I am now a big fan of 24/7 turnout :)
 
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