Anyone stable horse in daytime and then out at night in Winter?

[Ali27]

Mine are still out 24/7 - my ridden 20 year old, companion pony and rising 3 year old. Up until two weeks ago, their field was fairly mud free and had grass. I’m loathe to move them into new field this week as it’s been so wet, the field is naturally wetter than one they are currently in. Have got one acre also resting ready for Spring/ Summer.
I’m currently feeding hay and also strip grazing at night. I’m resisting bringing them in at night as then a pain at the weekends when I ride my ridden mare as have to then turn out other two while she goes nuts in the stable as they’ve left her?
So I’m wondering if bringing them in during the day from 7-5 might be a better option especially from a riding point of view. Also gets them out of mud for a few hours although the field is on a slope so fairly dry at top!
Or do I just open up both fields so they stay out 24/7 but have a total of around 3 1/2 acres with around an acre of grass? Wish this wet weather would go!

 

[Barton Bounty]

My friend does that in the summer, out at night and in all day.
It might actually benefit you as long as they are happy ?

 

[ihatework]

I generally don’t, in winter they are either out 24/7 or in overnight.

That said I have a friend that does it very successfully. She runs a small yard of breakers and also has 2 children, so she is only at the yard in school hours.
the horses go out 3pm - 9am all year
And then they are in 9-3 to be trained and have any hard feed.

 

[HuskyFluff]

Mine is out at night and in during the day all year round, with a big herd. (in 8am and out at 6). It's what he's always done and he's fine. When he was ridden, it did make life a lot easier!

 

[Anna Clara]

This is my favourite way to keep horses all year (if for some reason they don't suit 24/7 turnout and need the routine when being handled). My youngster currently comes in for a few hours in the day. It keeps him handled and in a human routine. It was great for my old pony as well, he thrived off the routine and the in time (due to his horrific history he could go a bit wild and uncatchable in the field) but he got to spend much more time out than if it was the other way round.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I bring in 8am and usually turn back out between 12-2
I like her to come in out of the wet and mud for a hard feed and rug change
Also makes riding easier as she doesnt lose turnout time

 

[chaps89]

This is absolutely my preference- I’m not a very good morning person, I don’t fret if I don’t get down till 10am at the weekends if they’re out overnight. If they’re in overnight I’m down by 8, those 2 extra hours make such a difference to me.
And the ponies don’t seem to mind, because they have grass it keeps them occupied. If they’re out 24/7 then they’re out at night anyway.
I don’t think bringing them in in the day to dry out (them and the field!) will hurt. You use less bedding and hay if they’re in during the day too as it’s inevitably less time

 

[Ali27]

This is my favourite way to keep horses all year (if for some reason they don't suit 24/7 turnout and need the routine when being handled). My youngster currently comes in for a few hours in the day. It keeps him handled and in a human routine. It was great for my old pony as well, he thrived off the routine and the in time (due to his horrific history he could go a bit wild and uncatchable in the field) but he got to spend much more time out than if it was the other way round.

Mine all love 24/7 turnout (especially when there is lots of grass) but I just feel that I might need to bring them in for a few weeks until fields dry out a bit! And think daytime stabling will suit them better as I’m paranoid about my ridden mare having lots of turnout and will get youngster more used to stabling and I can do some more desensitising etc with her!

 

[Ali27]

Perfect! Thank you everyone for your helpful replies? They can start coming in during the day from Sat onwards? Got jumping clinics booked, farrier, physio, vet over the next few weeks so stops me stressing about having them dry/ clean but also getting as much turnout as possible ?

 

[Carrottom]

I used to do this, now they are out 24/7 as not ridden. I found it easier to feed, hay then ride.

 

[Upthecreek]

I like mine to have turnout overnight as they get longer out. They come in around 9 and apart from being ridden get the whole day to dry off and sleep in their stables before being turned out around 4. This routine works well for us all year round.

 

[Lou_wizzard]

Mine are like this all year round. It fits much better with my work/life. If I am late down due to children then I don’t worry so much as they aren’t waiting to be fed. It also means that if I can turn out earlier if I’m on a short day and I haven’t got to worry about coming down again.

 

[Ali27]

This is absolutely my preference- I’m not a very good morning person, I don’t fret if I don’t get down till 10am at the weekends if they’re out overnight. If they’re in overnight I’m down by 8, those 2 extra hours make such a difference to me.
And the ponies don’t seem to mind, because they have grass it keeps them occupied. If they’re out 24/7 then they’re out at night anyway.
I don’t think bringing them in in the day to dry out (them and the field!) will hurt. You use less bedding and hay if they’re in during the day too as it’s inevitably less time

Oh just realised who you are? My new hyrox buddy?
Hadn’t thought of less bedding/ hay and will be much easier to muck out too! ?

 

[chaps89]

Oh just realised who you are? My new hyrox buddy?
Hadn’t thought of less bedding/ hay and will be much easier to muck out too! ?

Haha, I hadn’t put two and two together yet and gone to find out who you are! Apologies, not intentionally following you around the internet tonight ? Less mucking out, more time for the gym ??

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes they come for three to four hours get worked and forage and then they go out again In summer they spend all day indoors .

 

[Melandmary]

I also tend to keep my horses like this ( apart from about 3 months when the fields are too wet). I think night time is the safest turn out time for horses with ems so they are out muzzled at night, they also prefer to come in when it is hot in the day for a sleep in the barn and they get less bothered by flies. Also much easier for riding purposes. Even the oldie that can be out 24/7 likes to come in during the day for a snooze...and I dont feel so guilty about an occasional lie in because they have food where as when they are in i know they will have run out. Surprised more people don’t keep them this way all year.

 

[Ali27]

Haha, I hadn’t put two and two together yet and gone to find out who you are! Apologies, not intentionally following you around the internet tonight ? Less mucking out, more time for the gym ??

Haha?? Loving our little hyrox conversation on Facebook tonight!
So another plus! More gym time? I’m training 5-6 times a week - luckily gym is 3 mins from my field! Then riding my ridden mare 3-4 times a week and trying to do groundwork with youngster and groom/ fuss companion pony now and again, oh and work! Life is a bit busy?? That’s why I prefer 24/7 turnout as takes 20 mins in morning to feed and poo pick ?

 

[Cherryblossom]

This is something I’ve just started considering this week. Mine are out all day and in, or on hardstanding at night because the fields are so wet. I’ve a freelancer does the yard and rides 1-2 times per week, and I’ve been leaving horses in so she’s not tramping across muddy fields, but I think this way round could be much better. Poppy has taken against her stable so I often leave the door open to hardstanding for her and she stands outside all night anyway! Really interested to see how many people do it!

 

[Lucky Snowball]

My riding horses come in first thing for feed, dry out, work, etc when I’m finished they go back out. All year round as it also shields them from sun and flies. Works for me.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Yes mine are staying out at night & in during the day - as people have said the time out is much longer & also I think they can keep warmer if needbe, then when you want to work them they are in & ready during the day - much prefer it & big bonus of less bedding too!!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

We have ours on a Track system and our stables/shelter and hard-standing area is part of the Track. They can self-select where they go. There is always hay available in the sheltered area. We do not stable them.

We are on Red Devon Clay and it is horrible right now; so we've shoved them in a Trash Paddock where they still have access to the stables & hard-standing area. They seem to have been out most of the night.

 

[Skib]

The two horses I have shared long term (RS type yards) have been in at day (to work) and out at night all year round. Rugged when out in winter.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I have for this winter purely for practical reasons. Little A is in during the day and out at night, B rummages around foggage in the top paddocks at night as well as having the run of the close to yard paddocks. B in daytime has the 2 diet paddocks by the yard and a big net in the largest shelter with bedding in,so she can choose what she wants.
More practical as I have had to rely on lovely friends doing them on and off for 8 weeks, no panics about getting delayed in the mornings with fuzzies stuck in stables for a long time ?

 

[marmalade76]

I did this for most of last winter but it was cold & dry, no mud. They're in at night now because it's pretty wet here this year and the weather unpleasant. They're in in the day/out at night in the summer and stay that way until the ground gets too wet/the weather turns regardless of the date.

 

[millitiger]

Yes I do this and love it!

They are in and dry for riding, farrier, physio etc.
Don't lose turnout time if we're out for the day competing.
Can skip out through the day so stables cleaner and more economical.
Longer outside so healthier for them
More settled in the field- mine are nosey and fence walk if out in the day and they can see me!

Usually in at 7.30 and out by 3-4pm.

With this terrible wet weather they are spending the occasional night in but 99% of the time we stick to out at night.

 

[ponynutz]

I used to in the summer holidays bc mine was difficult to bring in and I'd spend all day on the yard so had the time to keep them entertained.

 

[Carrottom]

The other advantage I found was that if we had a bad freeze overnight the horses were stuck out rather than in.

 

[Mildlander]

Ours are in day 8.00-3.30ish in winter, gives them some dry feet time and less damage to the field as they tend to hooley less at night. This is usually Dec- Mar depending on how wet the autumn/spring is.
It works really well for feeding and own hay during the day, drier for riding later in the day. They get turned out with communal hay.
Only have to skip out the stables so less labour than in overnight and they get more turn out time.
Summer they are out 24/7 with access to field shelters that means they can get away from the flies.
Works for us and horses seem happy enough with the arrangement.

 

[sbloom]

I have a few customers that do this.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I do like this routine.
Horses in at 6am, out at 3pm.

Benefits are:

In for less time, 9 hours rather than ~ 15 hours if overnight stabled.
Better for arthritis horses who appreciate some time in to dry off and eat, but not in fir so long they get stiff or legs filled.
Convenient for introduction of young horses to being stabled, you can gradually increase their time in by the hour.
Brilliant if concerned about turning out on frozen grass in morning, it will have thawed (mostly) by late afternoon turnout. And as grass refreezes overnight, their bellies will have the chance to acclimatise to it.
Very handy for farrier and vet visits, horses are already in, clean, dry and calm as it's their usual routine being in anyway.
If you fancy nipping out for a cuddle or groom, or a carrot, they are in.
Use less bedding, and hay as in for less time.
If you put them out before 4, you've plenty of daylight to muck out.
They are in if local shoot or hunt happen to surprise you with a visit.
Horses go out when everything is calm and sleeping, less going on. So less likely to charge around.
I've been doing this routine for years and wouldn't change it for the world!