Another bargain horse UPDATE

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For those that are interested.

My friend managed to get a vet to come out wed afternoon to do a 5 stage vetting on the bargain horse. He passed and all that was found was a couple old splints!

So bargain horse (called Archie) is now hers but the father demanded he be picked up by sunday. Luckily someone has offered to pick him up for her tomorrow.

She wants him living out 24/7 as soon as possible though. How long would you suggest allowing him to settle in and be stabled at night? He is fully clipped and hasnt lived out with previous owners for the year they had him. Owners before that had him since he was 5 and apparently lived out in Wales at some point but that could have been years ago.
 
I'd give him a few days being out through the day and in at night (probably more like he was used to) and see how he is at wanting to come in - leaving him out longer and longer each day. Also don't forget he might need extra rugs, and fetching in for a feed of a morning before being chucked back out - also stops them going a bit ferral!!!
If he's chilled and not a problem then he might make the switch quickly - however, be prepared just to take it slow for a complete change of routine.
Don't forget he'll probably be going from hay/haylage to a higher grass diet so dependent on how much grass you've got - he's poo might be very runny. However, if you're feeding lots of hay in the field then this is a good thing as he'll probably be more accustomed to it.

hope he's ok!
 
Great news, glad she managed to get him
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Thanks for the advice! If I were her I wouldnt be chucking him out 24/7 till next year but she has more comitments than I do and a horse living out suits her better. She is away for xmas for a few days too so she said the woman who will keep an eye on him probably wont want to have to muck him out. I'm not at her yard but if shes really stuck for help cuz he has to stay in at night then i'll offer to look after him too.
 
I'm with the "I would leave it till next year before turning him out 24 x 7" view you have..... its turned really cold.. presume this horse is only partially clipped if at all?!
 
Put this ref in Horsemart and you'll see his ad HM943CDDE

He is fully clipped but has his legs left on. He was probably clipped about a month ago cuz my mare's coat has grown back more than his and that was 6 weeks ago or so. She's going to be hard to persuade to not go 24/7 soon but maybe if he is a pain when she tries she'll realise she cant yet. I did emphasise to her that he needs to settle in first though.
 
I'm pleased she's got her bargain horse. I feel a bit sad that now she's got him she isn't really prepared to spend the time on him that he may need. Personally I wouldn't be planning to rough out an older horse that has been clipped and is used to coming in. It might happen, but it's not fair to assume it can be done. Much kinder to let him do it gradually next year, with less of a clip. He might not be a pain, he may just be quietly cold and miserable in the night when she's tucked up warm at home, particularly as there is more harsh weather forecast. Will he have shelter when he's out? Company? I know this sounds harsh but really, why buy him?
 
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I'm pleased she's got her bargain horse. I feel a bit sad that now she's got him she isn't really prepared to spend the time on him that he may need. Personally I wouldn't be planning to rough out an older horse that has been clipped and is used to coming in. It might happen, but it's not fair to assume it can be done. Much kinder to let him do it gradually next year, with less of a clip. He might not be a pain, he may just be quietly cold and miserable in the night when she's tucked up warm at home, particularly as there is more harsh weather forecast. Will he have shelter when he's out? Company? I know this sounds harsh but really, why buy him?

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I agree totally, I really feel sorry for him
 
I agree - there should be no way a fully clipped horse is living out 24/7 by Christmas. Cannot introduce such a shocking change to a horses routine in such a short while. I don't think there are many bigger competition type bred horses that would be happy to live out in all weathers and certainly not fully clipped.
I feel really sorry for him - hope you can make her see sense.
 
Chuck him straight out- youll only confuse him more if he settles into one routine then suddenly change it it will confuse him more.
 
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I agree - there should be no way a fully clipped horse is living out 24/7 by Christmas. Cannot introduce such a shocking change to a horses routine in such a short while. I don't think there are many bigger competition type bred horses that would be happy to live out in all weathers and certainly not fully clipped.
I feel really sorry for him - hope you can make her see sense.

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What the hell?
He's a horse, horses actually quite enjoy living out- yes, even in winter. Rug him up well, feed him plenty of hay in the field and he'll be happy as larry.
I have two proper event horses (2*) who live out in the winter when fully clipped and suffer no ill effects.
 
I have advised her to take it slowly with introducing 24/7 turnout. I know there are people on her yard who have said chuck him out as soon as possible so I hope she doesnt go taking their advice as it would be easier for her. She lives right next to the yard and the majority of horses on the yard live out. He'll be with 3 or 4 others but there is no field shelter. Probably some natural shelter. She's going to rug him up well. The people she bought from said he'd be happy to live out. I'm sure if he does struggle she will have a rethink and I will tell her to wait till next year. Also come next winter he wont be fully clipped as he is mainly going to be a happy hacker.
 
The point I was making was not that he wouldn't be fine living out, but that she doesn't know one way or the other. If he isn't then she isn't prepared to spend the time he needs to either keep coming in for just this winter, or do anything else to gradually help him.
I have transitioned several horses to living out 24/7, all of mine do at the moment. They are all different and you need to be prepared to do what is best for them as individuals.
 
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He is fully clipped and hasnt lived out with previous owners for the year they had him

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I simply wouldn't have a fully clipped horse living out - sorry.


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God straight away! Horses are not the fragile creatures people on here seem to think they are. The mare I used to own went from in at night and fully clipped to out, well rugged with shelter and hay, literally overnight. She never looked better.

It is perfectly possible to keep a fully clipped horse out 24/7 through the winter - there are several still out where I keep my horse now, and my TBx eventer would still be out now if the sheep did not keep getting into his field - they have eaten all the grass, and I refuse to subsidise the farmer further by putting hay out for them to eat too! My guy only started coming in at the start of December, and as I say would still be out now if it wasn't for the pesky sheep! If only I could figure out how they are getting in....I think they see him as a protector since he tried to chase off a doberman which killed one of the flock in his field
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Horses really arent that delicate.
Shockingly enough they have plenty of adaptions for living outside.
As long as he's in decent condition and has plenty of hay to give him a heat reserve,he should be just fine living out 24/7 fully clipped with a rug on.
Just get her to keep an eye on his weight and if he starts to drop either up his food or have another look at his rug weight...

Id have rugged him up and put him straight out.no point in changing his routine constantly once he's in a new home
 
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