Anyone have horses in when they could be out?

[greenbean10]

Strange question, I am wracked with guilt as my horses live out 24/7 year round - bear with me as I know this sounds odd.

The reason I feel bad is because they are out in all weathers, the field gets muddy, and a lot of the time they do just stand around looking bored - although they are fed as-lib forage.

Every other equestrian I know has horses in at night (often year-round), and are up at the crack of dawn to muck out.

Is there anyone here who could have their horses out full time but has them in at night?

Am I mad for considering having my horses in at night even though I don’t need to because that seems to be what everyone else is doing?

Someone talk some sense into me!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes, In theory I could leave out 24/7 if I wanted but mine are in either day or night all year round.
I don’t have the very best grazing and the more they are out the worse it will get. Mine to be fair don’t stand around looking too gloomy, I suspect that’s because they do come in either at the normal time or if the weather is horrific (they always go out though, that’s important to me) or If they happen to be stood at the gate, which is rare I will get them in.
I also like them to be in a routine. Having to come in and be fed and just get a chance to dry out etc.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine are out all the time at the moment after being in at night as my fields were so wet, they have really dried up now and my back has been bad so it's easier for me if they are out, it's been lovely and sunny during the day and cold at night which they are fine with.

Honestly if I bring mine in they eagerly wait to be put back out, I do believe most horses really do prefer being out and mine are on not very much land but they seem much happier in the field.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It depends on your circumstances and how much land you have. Most of mine are out 24/7. The ones that are in are in for various reasons that require it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Nb, if I had better fields and fencing and a shelter I think I’d leave out.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We kept ours in overnight in winter for about 40 yrs, both at livery and at home. Then we converted an old poultry hut into a field shelter and put mud control mats in front of it and keep them out 24/7/365.
We have never had happier or healthier horses. I certainly wouldn't bring mine in overnight just because other people do. But I must admit that we have had at least one horse who would not have appreciated being out overnight in all weathers, she definitely wasn't a fan of rain!

 

[southerncomfort]

Mine are out full time but I bring them in for 2 or 3 hours every morning just so they can have a proper sleep if they want one.

Then I put them in the school for an hour so they can have a good roll and a run about without slipping in mud. Then back out they go.

Probably sounds a bit convoluted but seems to work for them!

If the weather is really foul I might bring them in overnight but it's quite rare.

 

[pistolpete]

A few horses I’ve known seemed to love being in but I’d say the majority if given the choice would stay out. Even preferring to stand out in the rain with access to a shelter. I think we forget they’re outdoor animals with protective coats and good thermo regulation. They’re not nesting animals they don’t hanker after snuggly beds rugs and duvets. They are trickle feeders that need companions and movement.

 

[Abacus]

Mine are out all the time. Perhaps those horses that wait at the gate to come in are used to doing so and associate it with being fed. Mine wait at the gate when we arrive to give them food but then move away to eat, and otherwise just hang out, not by the gate. They look alert and are always grazing/eating together in pairs or threes. I think the analysis that ‘my horse is bored because he’s just standing there’ is anthropomorphic; I’d worry more if they were galloping up and down looking stressed. Two fields are muddy by the gate but don’t think it would be much better if they were in half the time as they don’t spend a lot of time in the muddy bits. They recover fine in spring and I’d rather not have to muck out.

Don’t worry about what other people do. They have other reasons, mostly that they yard they are on demands they bring in, or that the grazing is too limited or muddy.

 

[canteron]

I have lovely stables but leave out in fields with a choice of 2 shelters and high hedges on 2 sides.

They only choose the shelters in torrential rain / hot sun. If I bring them in they love it …. for at least a hour or two!

I also notice in fierce winds they stand in the middle of the field away from where any debris can get them.

So my guess is that your horses are much happier out if the have some form of windbreak/shelter, and would be even more bored in a stable - but you would just have less flexibility!

 

[Ouch05]

We have the choose but out of 12 only 2 have stayed out 24/7 so far mine came in just before Christmas as protecting my field. But went back out 24/7 about 2 weeks ago.

I know people say different things but having read an excellent article that someone posted on here about freedom to move around and the effect on the horses body (not to mention mind) I turned back out asap and have always preferred them out. I know you say they stand and look miserable but when I entered our barn with the ones that are in they don't look any different just stood still eating hay, No different to my two stood eating hay but they move from pile to pile. Yes they stand at the gate at 5 but not to come in just because that it roughly the time I arrive at night. Once they have seen I am there they walk back to their hay and I have to call them to ride!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mine are out all the time. Perhaps those horses that wait at the gate to come in are used to doing so and associate it with being fed. Mine wait at the gate when we arrive to give them food but then move away to eat, and otherwise just hang out, not by the gate. They look alert and are always grazing/eating together in pairs or threes. I think the analysis that ‘my horse is bored because he’s just standing there’ is anthropomorphic; I’d worry more if they were galloping up and down looking stressed. Two fields are muddy by the gate but don’t think it would be much better if they were in half the time as they don’t spend a lot of time in the muddy bits. They recover fine in spring and I’d rather not have to muck out.

Don’t worry about what other people do. They have other reasons, mostly that they yard they are on demands they bring in, or that the grazing is too limited or muddy.

Totally agree. I have one that lives out at a friends. He used to come and stand by the gate at coming in time, now he lives out he never “asks” to come in. He just eats and sleeps!

 

[abbijay]

My old boy could have stayed on our yard where he came in daily but he is arthritic and has poor teeth so to be turned out 24/7 is better for him on every level. And he is happy with it! He is on 8 acres with excellent natural shelter, a couple of chums, rugged as required and has ad lib hay through the winter months. I am convinced we would have had to PTS due to arthritic lameness if he was in every day and he'd costs a fortune in hard feed.
It's different with my ridden horse though; I would not be able to ride through the winter if he was out at all times so he is on a yard where that is the routine for everyone.

 

[Miss_Millie]

If I had the choice to keep mine out 24/7 then I would. The main difference is that the horses have freedom of choice to move about if they want to. If they're stuck in a stable, they don't get that choice.

 

[JBM]

2 mares out 24/7 if they need extra shelter they get a rug have no stables for them on 30 acres so happy out
1 gelding in and out during day at a livery cuz he’s incredibly prone to mud rash and rain scald which hopefully he won’t be next winter if I convince him to grow a winter coat
Whatever suits the horse! The 2 outdoor ladies are both rug-less and toastie
The gelding has finally put a good amount of weight on (came off the track this summer) and I’m confident he can live out next year (fingers crossed)

 

[Abacus]

My old boy could have stayed on our yard where he came in daily but he is arthritic and has poor teeth so to be turned out 24/7 is better for him on every level. And he is happy with it! He is on 8 acres with excellent natural shelter, a couple of chums, rugged as required and has ad lib hay through the winter months. I am convinced we would have had to PTS due to arthritic lameness if he was in every day and he'd costs a fortune in hard feed.
It's different with my ridden horse though; I would not be able to ride through the winter if he was out at all times so he is on a yard where that is the routine for everyone.

I agree with this and the same applies to my 25 year old who is arthritic and I believe would properly seize up with just a night in. And to add: I hear so many stories of colic and other issues that seem to happen often with stabled horses. In 7 years of being out all the time, not one of mine has had colic (may be tempting fate there) and generally we have what I think is a low rate of illness and lameness.

 

[ponynutz]

Yes, we have a sand paddock they could easily be out in at night (and cheaper for us too). They're in it anyway 12 hours a day in the Winter because the field isn't very big and is on moss land so wouldn't survive a winter with horses on it.

We tried to start introducing it to them by having them out at night in the field in the summer but they hated it, I'm fairly sure they felt forgotten about and kept us up half the night neighing and careering about.

 

[Love]

I think it depends on your horses. Mine absolutely loves coming in over night in winter to a big bed and hay. If the weather is exceptionally vile (we are right on the side of an exposed hill) he will also prefer to have a duvet day and is perfectly happy. I know spring is truly on the way when he starts not wanting to come in on a night so then switch to out 24/7. There are horses on the yard though that even in the most horrendous weather will stress and stress unless they are out.

Try it for a few days and see? They might be happy of the change for a few days and then want to go back to their old routine? I certainly wouldn't feel guilty

 

[Lacuna]

I've literally just had stables built after 1.5 years of having them out 24/7. I only have 3 acres on clay and whilst we made it work I've had to sacrifice at least half an acre every year to just be completely trashed (think completely churned). Being able to bring them in at night or even for a couple of days in the worst weather will really take the pressure off the land and hopefully allow it to recover quicker this spring.

 

[WispyBegs]

Yes! In the winter my horse comes in at night - we have plentiful grazing so being out 24/7 would not be an issue in that respect but he gets SO miserable being out in the winter. When he is fed up he just stands at the gate and wont eat
I do genuinely believe he enjoys having a proper rest in his stable and getting out of the elements over night.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I would love to have mine out!! Unfortunately not enough land, not much shelter and 2 horses that love being in!! If I had the land and good shelter I would definitely try and turn out full time.

 

[sbloom]

I would 100% leave out unless the horses were stood around for long periods, movement is key. Great post about movement https://www.facebook.com/milestonee...2rwFQVjbiD5VAeGe4j7joZsBNakYai54fdAMysvUZsiHl

 

[HelenBack]

I've just moved from a yard where the horses have to be in overnight in the winter to one where I can manage them however I like. I'm still bringing in overnight at the moment but keep wondering why. The horses are clearly happy to be out, don't come in until after 6pm and are never waiting when I get there. Usually when I go to fetch them in I have to go hunting for them and one of them quite frequently ignores me and just carries on eating. He also starts getting fractious if I don't get him ready to go out quickly enough in the morning.

I'm going to carry on with my routine for now because the weather forecast looks like it's turning wet again next week and I haven't got a feel for how the field will hold up yet. Also there is no field shelter and I need to just see what shelter the hedges provide when the wind is coming from various directions. If by early March the weather and the field seem okay though I think I'll chuck them out and see how they get on.

I do think it's much better for them to be out as much as possible so long as they're happy and your land permits. My older guy is arthritic and I definitely don't want him stabled more than he has to be. I think if yours are happy out then just carry on. Stables are more for people and convenience than for the horses in my opinion.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

We have the option to leave out 24/7 all year round. 3 liveries leave out, the rest of us (4 liveries) bring in at night.

Those horses like the routine and are quite happy in over night. If I’m honest, the 3 that live out always stand at the muddy gate and look grumpy.

 

[Fieldlife]

Depends on the field set up I think. If have enough grass / hay, friends, decent shelter from wind and rain, and somewhere can be out of the mud, IME most horses will prefer to be out.

But if field is muddy / windy / no shelter from rain / lacks somewhere to sleep and somewhere to get out of the mud / there isnt enough grass or hay, then many horses want to come in.

 

[Surbie]

I could in theory but I'd have to put my horse in a different herd and I like the one he has. I've been on 4 yards with him, so a fair amount of change, but he has been with the same horses on 3 of them. While I'm too new to horses to know really if that matters, I like that he's with horses he's known for 4 years.

We're also on clay, and when it's wet I like to have a place where his feet can dry out. I am hoping I can turn him out 24/7 this summer.

 

[meleeka]

I change my mind at frequent intervals. Sometimes they come in at night, sometimes only two of them and sometimes they all stay out. I’m ‘fortunate’ to have a chestnut mare who lets me know exactly what I should be doing at any given time, so I tend to go by her mood . The others would be happy out with shelter whatever the time of year.

 

[Merrymoles]

Ours would be happy living out but we don't have enough grazing to sustain it and nor is there any shelter in any of the fields.

Several of my friends have theirs out all year round but they have their own land so can manage as they like.

 

[TheMule]

Mine have free choice at this time of year- they can be out (still strip grazing, plenty of grass, big acreage), they can eat haylage on the hard standing and they can go in the huge field shelter which is bedded down with straw.
Their preference is always to be out in the field grazing and that's where they spend about 95% of the time. They then eat the haylage some of the time- mainly when I'm around as that’s where they get their hard feed, but also when the grass is frosty and sometimes I shut them on it for a couple of hours if it’s very wet. They use the shelter to wee in, and one of them will occasionally stick his head in there is it's heavy rain. I know this because I watch them on a camera.
So yes, mine certainly prefer to be out but I'm incredibly lucky that I can facilitate them. My land is sloped and well draining, there is zero mud currently, but it has been unusually dry!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I have the perfect set up for keeping horses out 24/7 on my own well drained land with a choice of two field shelters, one facing north, one south. They use both shelters a lot all year round, but their idea of pampering is to come in every night to their own stable with a nice deep bed and plenty of hay .

The 17 yo IDx particularly makes her feelings clear about this, she's much happier if she's been in all night. Maybe she sleeps better in her stable? She emanates contentment in there.