Am I the only one who thinks a horse should go out daily

My horses (especially the gelding who is a PRE), simply wouldn't tolerate being in. He's bored to death being out in the safe enclosure which is about 80 x 40, smaller than the fields of course (they're no go at the moment), so if he was stabled I dread to think what I'd have to put up with. The TB is a bit less fussed about being out, although nonetheless can't cope with lack of strolling space or long. So actually I don't really have a choice anyway!
 
Much much safer to leave in than risk slipping on the ice.....I personally would rather stable for a fortnight and cut out hard feed than risk a broken leg.

My stables are at the bottom of a hill with a track sloping upwards towards fields. Track becomes lethal with ice....have tried everything,

Rather they stayed in.
 
We are on a fairly restricted turnout, while we had so much snow there was no turnout at all cos we couldnt get to the fields, and now they go out early in the morning for about 3 hours til the ground starts to thaw.
I prefer this for Donovan, he seems quite happy with his haynet and it means we have a decent field in the spring that hasnt been churned up in the wet.
I think its fine if you have acres and acres of grazing that can be rested at different times of the year, but we have no spare grazing, so have to make do with what we have got, and look after it for the whole year.
 
My fields get trashed in the winter said:
My YO is obsessive about his fields, drives me mad. He has acres of land and I have never seen a field that didnt recover yet every year they cant go out for days as its raining/snowing etc. The horses wreck the fields far more when they are kept in as they go loopy and skid around cutting them up when they do go out.
I love my horses out, out, out but unfortunately have to retrict due to too lush grass and good doers!
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Well my girl is in 24/7 through the winter, because she hates being out. In the summer, she is fine - she stays out 24/7 for most of it, and is perfectly happy. But as soon as the weather turns wet and/or cold, it's like a switch goes off - she refuses to settle and simply gallops around until she either does herself a mischief, or someone brings her in. There is no point allowing her to injure herself - I'd rather she be in and happy than out and careering around!
 
I totally understand for those that are limited by livery yards.... I am just going to say one thing..... "What did horses do before we (humans) came along?"
 
Sorry but as I always say, one size does not fit all.

I have 2 horses.
Fany is out everyday, unrugged and happy as larry playing with her herd. She is happier out than in and so she goes out from 7am to 5pm, then into her stable.

Cappy will NOT go out in this weather or in any cold or wet/windy weather. I can hear people say "it is not up to him" Well actually in my opinion it is. He has made it quite clear that he will stay where he is until spring, thank you. Try and put all 17-3hh out and he will dig in his heels and refuse to budge. If you manage to get him out he will run his hoof from the top to the bottom of the metal gate, driving everyone mad. Continue to ignore him and he will remove the gate and bring himself in. Take himself into his stable and stand munching his haylage, just as if the door were closed. Now does that sound like a poor deprived horse who needs to be out all day? :p:)

So please take each horse as an individual and don't try to impose your ideas on others or try to make them feel guilty because they do not do what you do.
FDC
 
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Stelzar said:
I totally understand for those that are limited by livery yards.... I am just going to say one thing..... "What did horses do before we (humans) came along?"
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The horses we keep now are not the natural horses but are human altered.
EG TB or WB.
The horse that are natural are usually happy to be out eg. The Prezwalski's horse. Arabs also generally like to be out, although I am sure there are some who don't.

FDC
 
Cazza525 said:
Weren't restricted by fencing and concrete!......and got eaten by predators :)
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Indeed, we were the predator until we used the horse to our advantage and used it as transport - there still here today aren't they? Its only through mucking around with genetics they are unable to fend for themselves in the wild due to domestication. Survival of the fittest which would undoubtedly be a hairy cob ;-)

I'm not trying to force opinions on anyone its up to you what you do with your horse I know some hate being out and some hate being in totally understandable ;-)
 
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In an ideal world, my horse would be out every day no matter the weather....I hate keeping horses stuck inside a stable unless for health reasons/too much ice on the yard to get the field etc. Of course it is horses for courses and some horses will just stand at the gate and wait to come in. If they are happier in a stable all day then I will not question the owner.

I work on a livery yard and as with a lot of yards tbh, there are just a few too many horses for the amount of land. They have been turning out for a few hours with hay in this snow/ice. However when it rains a lot (despite there being lots of natural shelter)...the horses also have to stay in to preserve the little grazing there is. I would not mind this so much for the livery horses so long as they get some form of exercise....but a lot of the owners will not ride/turn them out in the arena for a bit while it is raining!

When I look for livery turnout is my main priority. I can go without a school/all the mod cons/wash box/electricity etc so long as my horse can be turned out daily.

ONE DAY I shall own a nice house with some land, shelter/open stables and some hard standing so I can do as I wish :)
 
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I think that horses should live out as much as possible. When it snows, or is too icy to lead them in I leave them turned out 24/7 with haylage in the field. I feel bad that I haven't been able to ride in this weather but at least they have the freedom to move around in the field. I think they would go mad if I left them in. The horses seem perfectly happy being out, they are rugged and have food and water.
 
Mine are always out in the day, except one day in the snow when it was simply to dangerous to move them. If its just cold, and not windy/snowing/raining, then I leave them out at night too.

I know a yard where horses are expected to stay in 24/7, and okay in certain situations this can be necessary, but these are rough little ponies / happy hackers, with full clips just because they are in, even if doing no work. It drives me up the wall. (Its not as if the grazing isn't there either)!!
 
My youngster has been kept in (quite happily) with all this snow and then ice rink scenario. He is a baby and want to go mental but im afraid he is worth far too much money too pick up an injury or god forbid break anything. He dislikes the cold and the rain and would much rather be in his stable munching hay than scavenging amongst the frozen grass.

BTW his stable open straight out on his field and he has access to it all day if he requires.
 
"worth far too much money"

says it all - ive got an inexpensive cob, yes hes my pet but i like him to have as much freedom as he can - he goes out daily whatever the weather

If i come back as a horse can i please be a much loved family cob, not some fancy thoroughbred"worth far too much money" to live a happy normal life - please?????
 
Mine does not go out at all in winter as he hates it. I would much prefer a happy horse in than a miserable horse out. I do what is best for my horse and am really not fussed what other people think or do with their own horses
 
Oldenburg said:
I do agree

But my horse is not a lover of goin out in the field at all will jump out (over a 5'6 gate!!) of the field to come back in!! At the moment my field is like blades of glass where the mud was churned up and frozen not safe at all to me its not worth the risk!!

He has been goin out for a walk in hand to try and keep him sane!! He seems more happy to be in his stable with his haynet!!

Shoot me if you want lol But each horse to there own he he!!
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Thank god its not just me that has a horse that doesnt want to be out. :o
 
narkymare said:
"worth far too much money"

says it all - ive got an inexpensive cob, yes hes my pet but i like him to have as much freedom as he can - he goes out daily whatever the weather

If i come back as a horse can i please be a much loved family cob, not some fancy thoroughbred"worth far too much money" to live a happy normal life - please?????
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Did you actually READ the post - if so you would be able to deduce that he is able to make the decision for himself if he wants to go out or not - in bad weather he prefers to stay in - hence i will shut the door behind him, tuck him up with plenty of hay and revisit him later on in the day! He has everything he could want and what i want to give him, lots of love and hugs so i guess you could say he is happy.

But i certainly dont want to risk him on the awful ground conditions we have had of late.
Dont start jumping to assumptions thank you.
 
Red Nosed Fany said:
The horses we keep now are not the natural horses but are human altered.
EG TB or WB.
The horse that are natural are usually happy to be out eg. The Prezwalski's horse. Arabs also generally like to be out, although I am sure there are some who don't.

FDC
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Very true, my arab would NOT be stabled in the day. And if you were an hour late letting him out he would go nuts!! he HAD to go out at sunrise....else he would jump out!!

My TB...wont flipppin go out....big woos!! careers round squeeling to come in on the odd days she goes out! she is a fair weather grazer.....weird 'oss! but she doesnt get fresh being in she just chills out in winter.
 
No, you're definately not :-)

Tho at the moment annoyingly I find my boy is much happier either with half days out, or in the 2 1/2 foot of snow we had out every other day, but I find this is cause his knees ache something rotten for the poor lad, so he'll just stand miserable in a snow drift all day til I bring him in at night.

I tried digging out a patch of his field so the snow only reached his hooves, and that improved things but then he just stood on that same patch all dag, again absolutely miserable!!!

In an ideal world, I would have a nice big barn or indoor school to turn him out in, but I don't :-(

So I've come to the conclusion that it depends on the horse, tho the majority of then I would have out every day.
 
I like to turn mine out everyday come rain or shine (unless fields are waterlogged). I don't have that much grazing but it does recover well in the spring. Three of mine will stay out most of the day, but the other one will be running up and down the fence after a couple of hours and will continue doing this until brought in!!!
 
I've never had a problem with horses being out in the snow....most are quite happy. The only problem I think that most people have is GETTING them to their turnout. Last year, mine were 'stuck' out as it was too lethal to get them in as I have a steep track that literally becomes sheet ice. I've never been prepared to risk it, no matter how much salt or grit has gone down....its just too steep to risk. :)
 
coen said:
I am beginning to think I am the only person who thinks horses should go out daily...even in the cold.

I spent ages this morning trying to get someone to allow me to put their horse out with mine. Some people are turning out every other day, others only a couple of hours per day ect which I just don't understand as we have great turn out.

Last week nothing was turned out as fields covered in snow so I would think people would make the most of the thaw before the cold spell returns but no.

Someone actually looked at me like I was crazy this morning and proceeded to tell me they don't think its fair for the horse to stand all day eating freezing cold grass.
I am of the opinion that it isn't fair to have him standing all day in a little cell with no exercise.

So am I crazy or are they.
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My Goodness, people's ignorance amazes me, are these actually horse owners or do they own pets or stuffed horses??
Seriously, course they should go out every day, no matter what the weather. They evolved outside, not in stables!!! You are not crazy, you sound very sensible and knowledgable to me. Ignore the sheep and do your own thing.
 
Mine goes out every day but only gets an hour a day :( Due to the grass, only having 2 fields to turn a number of horses out in. Needless to say he's rather full of himself right now. Hoping to move him where he can be turned out all day.

I agree that they should be out daily. Can't stand seeing horses stabled 24/7!
 
In the UK when it was impossible to exercise on the rodes all the stables horses got time loose in the indoor arena where they could let off steam in safety. Interetingly then stabled horses rarely got turned out. Definately the hardest part was getting them to the school safely.

Mine live out 24/7 - fortunately we don't get snow in the area I live in New Zealand. Think it is important to turn them out - they are far happier with time out to play.
 
Mine are out full time. They have the stables as field shelters the two big ones have one stable and the two shelties have the other with the top door closed. If the weather is blowing into the stables the doors are shut and they shelter in the sand school. The big ones have rugs but not the shelties. They are fed haylage, chaf and balancer, they all do well with no weight loss over the winter.
 
I am in a small private yard, I'm the only "livery" and every day the horses are turned out in the field - in fact at the moment they have been out for a couple of nights as the weather is fine. I couldn't stand been in a yard where they have too many horses for the amount of grazing available, surely that is poor management and greed on the livery owner?:)
 
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