Am I the only one??? Turnout rant

Turned my 4 out today, gave plenty of hay and they seemed happy. Only when we got back at 4pm my bay filly was out gone through electric fence yet again only this time she'd only eaten half a bag of carrots, sometimes I which I could hobble her front legs, she has not rescept for any fencing, ARHHHH!!!!!
 
The horses at our yard always go out when it rains
smile.gif

Though having said that they didnt go out for nearly as long on Friday as we had torrential rain and flooding in the area!!
shocked.gif

TBH most horses are much happier being out than in provided they have shelter and are warm enough with enough food
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
The horses at our yard always go out when it rains
smile.gif

Though having said that they didnt go out for nearly as long on Friday as we had torrential rain and flooding in the area!!
shocked.gif

TBH most horses are much happier being out than in provided they have shelter and are warm enough with enough food
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Today is the first time I have chosen not to turn out - if it's normal rain she goes out, she has a full neck turnout (is clipped) but a very open field. I believe horses should be allowed to be horses as much as possible
smile.gif
 
I have 8 horses on 13 acres and they live out 24/7. Most are rugged but I do have a couple who winter out naked and they're all looking terrific. They really do prefer being out.
 
Mine (despite being a welsh cob) will sulk at the gate and whinny constantly if turned out in really vile weather.

His field is on the side of a mountain and very exposed, so why bother to put him out if he hates it? He barely moves from the gate when the weather's awful and is much happier in his stable with a haynet than sulking outside with his back hunched to the wind.
 
Mine dont have a choice
laugh.gif

Half of them aren't rugged either! And they live quite high up. It was really rough up there today.
My old boy is going to a friends on holiday before xmas as she's buying a colt, which she didnt plan to have till after Xmas, so she needs a friend for it. He'll be spoilt rotten then
wink.gif
 
My girl is in pretty much all the time when we get nasty weather like we've had this past couple of days. I would rather her stay in - warm, dry, comfortable and happy, than be miserable out in a muddy field, either hunched up and cold or galloping around and around yelling to be brought in
crazy.gif


I got really peed off at my last yard when people were off with me for not turning her out in bad weather. Most of them turned out regardless, and whilst I dont feel there is anything wrong with that, it annoys me when people try to tell me I should do the same.
 
Nope mine are out whatever. They have good rugs that will be changed if they get too wet, they have hay and they have a large dry field shelter. I dont believe mine would be happy in anyway.....as they never look too fed up even when its awful weather. (also makes them better to ride in the rain if they live out in it! ;-) )
 
mine is out whatever the weather but i do wish i had gone with my gut feeling today and kept her in.

her field has got trashed
frown.gif
she didnt like not having a neighbour for 2hours (even tho other horses out) and has made a right mess
mad.gif
 
Mine went out today in the sand school as my fields were far too wet. In between the stable and the field is a stream and it had burst over the top so they both had to walk through about a foot of water which was about 7 foot wide. I was very pleased with them as they are both yearlings! I don't think it is healthy for babies to have to stay in constantly and they do get silly when they eventually come out!
 
Im at livery, and we have year round turnout.. However, when the weather is torrential or blowing a gale or snowing.. Then we will leave the horses in as this is going to preserve the fields.

Lou x
 
I used to be a firm believer in the 'out is best' regime, but my ponies have taught me otherwise. They can cope with any temperature but at the first sign of rain they both want to be in and would happily be in 24hours if I let them.
 
My horse is on full livery so the owner dictates whether horses go out or not. They normally are in at night and out in the day. I count myself very lucky because there are just a couple of days a year when they say the horses have to stay in. I normally get in anyway so I can pull him in anytime I like.
My horse doesn't care about staying in, even if all the yard goes out (!) so that is a bonus if he really must be in.
Yesterday was SO foul I was surprised they were out and I would have been happy either way. As it happened they all looked happy and were grazing some of the time.
Unless really horrible I'd rather he went out, even for a couple of hrs as I don't like to think of him in a box for 24hrs not able to stretch his legs, esp as he has DJD. I would always let him mooch around in the school for an hr if he had to stay in night and day on the occasion in question. 24hrs in a box is not for me
frown.gif
 
Ours live out 24/7 with access to natural and man made shelter. It's one thing if you don't want to turn out due to the weather but quite another when they have to stay in even if you don't want them to. We were at a place where they had to stay in for three days solid once. One of our boys was practically climbing the walls by the end of it.

Also I think the risk of injuries is so much higher when they've had an enforced stay in and then go out for the first time again afterwards.

But not every yard can cater for unlimited turnout, I appreciate that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top