Am I mollycoddling? Whe do you start turning out?

lynseylou1

lynseylou1

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Hi all... some advice from you knowledgeable lot please. I have a connie x ID mare 7 yo. She is in light/ medium work and has a blanket clip. She is of ideal weight. She has been stabled evry night since October as this was the yards rule. Im moving yards on Saturday :-) and have only ever had natives that live out. So...... when do you start to leave your out overnight. My idea was to continue her routine for the next 3-4 weeks to get her happy and in a routine at her new yard , then strart leaving her out at night. I would bring her in if raining prolonged or very cold. She would be happy out i think. shes always keen to get out to the field in the morning. What do you all do, and would I be confusing here by doing defferant things... or do I just need to man up and stop over thinking it!! She'l be fine lol
 
Each to their own - my little horse has a very high trace clip and has not been stabled much this winter - so far. He is out with his friends with a heavyweight rug and neck cover on with lots of hay in a bin. Admittedly he is in a separated field (his friends are in the same field but separated by electric fence.) The only time they come in is when it is wet as it just gives the field a short break, even in the snow and freezing weather he was out (again with his friends) as I'm sure they stay warmer outside as opposed to standing still in a stable. He is still well covered and happy, I do bring him in for a couple of hours before I ride, admittedly as he is in his own section of field he can eat hay and feed at leisure rather than fighting for his share. Am sure that they are happier outside (except when it is raining then our come in) well rugged up. :)

Plus on the personal side, it saves me getting up at 5 in the morning to much him out before work - happy horse = happy human! :)
 
Depends on the horses obviously :)

I would love to keep my horses out, but at my yard we have to bring in at night in the winter. Most other liveries won't start turning their out 24/7 until easter time, but I tend to chuck mine out with a couple of other people's horses mid Feb, earlier if I can and the ground allows it.

Only time I bring in at night when they are out is if there is heavy prolonged rain/storms forecast. If it is cold then I would rather they be out and moving about to keep warm. I should think a connie x ID would be happy to live out just as your previous natives have (generalising of course as I do not know your horse, but our racing bred TB youngsters live out all year round at work :) ).

I would love to be at a yard (or my own place) where I could keep out all year round but have a stable on hand if required (no more mucking out woo).
 
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One of mine has been out 24/7 but the other has been in over the hard weather because he cannot have haylage and the field horses were getting it at night. But he's going back out this weekend, he's sweating in the stable even though unrugged (he was only clipped in Oct so very hairy now!) so he's out and about!! Woohooo no more mucking out! :D
 
obviously depending on your horse, but i would think he would prefere being out rather than in his stable. a friend of my mums showjumps and her best two (belgian warmbloods) live out all year around and have only just got field shelters, she does although bring them in when there is a storm because she worries about lighning.
 
I think your plan to turn out overnight after 3-4 weeks would be about right - mine tend to stay out 24/7 from the end of the hunting season which is the end of feb, unless very wet or cold.
If she has been stabled overnight from Oct it may be a little unfair to chuck her out straight away, but being a native, I doubt it would be too much of an issue. Next winter you could maybe try to leave her out then as wont be usesd to coming in?
 
Both of mine have lived out 24/7 365 come rain, shine or snow! One trace clipped (draught horse) and one chaser clipped (ISH but more tb so fairly fine) and they are happy, warm and fine. They have a stable but dont use it!
 
I would keep her in her routine for a couple of weeks, until she is settled; then leave her out full time.
My clipped Tb has lived out all winter & is perfectly happy.
 
I think you need to look at your field in terms of where the horses can get out of the wind. Ousr live out 24/7/365 (with field shelters) but the field is also sheltered in one part or another from almost every conveivable wind angle.

I feel really sorry for the horses at the local livery yard, who are out on strip paddocks with nothing to protect them. And I agree with all those who've said most horses are happier out than in, and can keep warm better by moving about.
 
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