24 hour turnout or not? Advice please

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tickledpink

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24 hour turn out has never been an option before at the yard I was at.
However, I have been given the opportunituy of renting stables and 3 acres of grazing which I am taking and this gives me cart blanche to do what I like.
Can anyone offer advise on 24 hour turn out? Wasn't something I ever considered before...
My boy is 14.2 middle weight cob. He's prone to weight gain, especially in the spring/summer and is only fed a small breakfast and dinner of hi-fi lite in the winter.
Any advice please...
 
It can take a while to get used to the particular fields and their grass growth and it will also depend on the weather but if you control the grass by sheep/strip grazing then it can be done. You could always have a mud patch for some of the time where you feed hay. Dont over-rug either, let the horses fat keep him warm
 
I'm only thinking about this 24 hour turnout for the spring/summer - i'd worry all night during the winter! I'm being really ignorant here - is sheep grazing the same as strip grazing?
 
No! One is sheep, as in the animal, they eat the grass very short. The other is electric fencing, which controls the amount of grass by limiting the area allowed for grazing.

Ive got full TBs living out, im sure your cob would be fine!
 
He shouldn't need a rug in this weather anyway - even in snow, horses' coats don't actually let the snow touch their skin, so they don't get cold. Your cob will thrive - ditto the strip-grazing idea (sectioning off a small part of the paddock with electric tape and moving it every few days or so when he has grazed it down and it is supplemented with hay).
 
mine are full grass so no stable. What I do is make a 'SIN BIN' around one of the shelters, then the area is pretty much bare (about 1/4 acre) which he goes in during the day. If that helps if you wanna keep him out :D
 
I have a h/w cob and turn him out 24/7 from march to sept/oct depending on the weather... he would happily stable overnight 365, but I think its good for him, but you do have to watch weight gain.... I usually start off with a small area, let him eat it right down, and then gradually increase it as needed - depends on the weather/his workload/ condition etc.... if he's looking plump I keep him out, but on really restricted grazing topped up with oat straw/hay which has been soaked for 24hrs, so he gets plenty of fibre but no calories. He always has a balancer thought, so he's not deficient in anything!! Hope that helps!
 
I saw an article a while back (cant remember where which is irritating) that suggested rather than strip grazing as such making a walkway arround the whole field and opening it up in lanes across the middle space as it got grazed down to maximis movement while minimising grazing. Not sure how it would work for a loony in the field though, the horse would need to be prepared to think about how to get from a to b.
 
lillith said:
I saw an article a while back (cant remember where which is irritating) that suggested rather than strip grazing as such making a walkway arround the whole field and opening it up in lanes across the middle space as it got grazed down to maximis movement while minimising grazing. Not sure how it would work for a loony in the field though, the horse would need to be prepared to think about how to get from a to b.
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I think you're talking about Paddock Paradise systems - have a look on this website, lots of info and videos about setting one up.

http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Paddock+Paradise
 
my mare lives out 24/7 365 a stones throw from the ski slopes in scotland = she's also fully clipped in winter and goes hunting from the field - *most* horses thrive living out tbh - some do not cope though.

in terms of laminitis risk - i keep her on a "fatty track" over summer - a track round the edge of the field so that she is constantly having to walk to graze - the field is also a large hill so this keeps her fit and keeps the risk low.and she keeps is nice and low - if she needs a bit extra i add a bit more grass at a corner or something.
 
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mrdarcy said:
I think you're talking about Paddock Paradise systems - have a look on this website, lots of info and videos about setting one up.

http://paddockparadise.wetpaint.com/page/Paddock+Paradise
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this is the system i use - but if i say paddock paradise etc most normal horse folk's eye's glaze over and they right me off as a barefoot hippy lol (she does have shoes on now though - needed studs for xc ;))

however if i explani it as a 'fatty track' and give the basics most folk think it's a good idea ;)

i find it works really well
 
Vasty majoirty of horse would choose to live out 24/7 if they had the choice. but you're boy will be awfully lonely if he's on him own :( Mine would all choose to be stabled for half the day with friends over being out 24/7 without any friends!
 
Taz is stabled all year over the winter he's out during the day and in at night and during the summer he's in during the day and our over night as he gets too fat on the grass and it's the best way to keep his weight down as theres only so many times he can be excersised
 
Horses are tougher than most of us think they are being outside 24/7 is the more natural way. Just make sure they dont get too much grass by strip grazing the paddocks and they will be fine.
 
teddyt said:
It can take a while to get used to the particular fields and their grass growth and it will also depend on the weather but if you control the grass by sheep/strip grazing then it can be done. You could always have a mud patch for some of the time where you feed hay. Dont over-rug either, let the horses fat keep him warm
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Second this. I would leave out 24/7 if it suits, why not, some like it alot.
You will have to get to know the land and how to manage it will come with time
 
My 2 tb's live out 24/7/365. They have a field shelter, but only use it to eat the hay I put in there and to keep away from the flies in the summer. If you rug and keep their backs dry & warm in winter, they have no problems. Its a much healthier, happier way to keep horses. No stressing about being turned out, they keep mobile, which keeps them warmer. When a horse is stabled, the circulation slows so they can be colder, simply because when standing still, the capiliary vessels close in the feet, restricting circulation. Just the movement of grazing keeps the circulation moving.
 
I'm quite shocked you've never considered full turnout before!!

There's nothing really you need to change/do. Obviously just keep an eye on his weight and if he begins to put on, reduce his grazing (use electric fencing and "strip" graze). Don't see why his feed should change.

Mine are out 24/7 and all have different maintenence requirements (with regards to grazing). As another has said - its better to start with a small paddock and then increase as necessary, much safer than turning him out in too much to begin with and risking laminitis. 2 of my old retired ponies are lami-prone. Both differ as to how much they can cope with. One is fine on a small paddock which he lives in all summer, with some extra hay whereas the other is VERY prone so in the depths of grass-growing-time she is kept in my hardcored yard with nothing but hay to eat. Literally 10 mins of very very short grass can trigger her.
 
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