Anyone turnout at night and have in during day, during winter?

Spyda

Spyda

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I'm thinking of trying this with mine this year.

I can't get up to the yard before 9.30am in the morning, and latest evening visit is around 4.30pm. Figured it would provide more time turned out if I turned out at 4.30pm and got back in at 9.30am for feeds, drying off and ad lib haylage until the afternoon.

I suppose my main concern is that she'd probably be in during the day on her own most of the time. Although at night she'd join her two field companions who live out 24/7 (except when it's totally vile and they're miserable). I should add, she's happy enough in, especially in winter when she's hungry and attacking a large haylage pile.

Anyone adopt this method... or would it totally wierd to even consider it?
 
My friend does that in the summer so the sun doesn't bleach her show horses coat.The only thing that would put me off would be the weather but as you say you bring the others in anyway.
Try it you have nothing to lose.
 
We had one live like this through the winter - but we did have a lack of stables so they had to share in shifts - lol! She now just winters and summers out 24/7
 
My tbx is currently out 24/7 in a pony paddock - he cant be trusted with other horses as he tries to mount mares and ends up getting his head kicked in by geldings becasue he torments them. I treat it like an open roofed stable, it is skipped daily, he has ad lib hay and is fed and rugged accordingly. I am finding it is working quite well! I bring him in for the day occasionally, he doesnt look fussed either way.

I have just started leaving one of my tb's out overnight too, works well as I always ride after work so he is in and dry.

I think so long as you rug accordingly it is fine?
 
I'd definitely winter her out 24/7 with the other two horses (who don't belong to me BTW - they are the YO's youngstock) but she's very thin skinned and sensitive, and gets mud fever dreadfully if left for even a few consecutive days wet and muddy. She really needs to come in daily to dry off and have it managed, to keep it away.

I'm in Devon and she's well rugged in her Rambo rugs and is fed plenty, so I am not too concerned about the weather here at night. It may rain down here, but it's rarely that cold or such bad weather she'd suffer out at night.

My main concern is that I'd feel really strange adopting a routine which is exactly the opposite to ALL of the 30 other liveries on this yard! Dare I break the mold??!!!
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In this respect I am very lucky as I have a ready made 'trash paddock'
I have my two horses out in it during the day with some haylage, then they come in at night and my shetland stays out (she comes in during the day)
 
I think it could work much better. She will be dry and ready to ride in the evenings. Much better then trapsing accross a muddy field in the dark to get her in. I turned mine out one year at night as it was the only way to get daily turnout. He was happy enough. As you say as long as she will be happy even if she is in alone go for it. You may be a trend setter
 
I am planning on this with my new mare. Others at the yard do it too.
Work means that she will spend longer out at night and she comes in from 8 till 3 ish. Its great for me as she is always in for farrier, dentist, vet, saddler etc and always dry and ready to ride when ever I am able to.
She isn't clipped but is a very fine coated warm blood who still has no fluff on her what-so-ever. She is well rugged up and seems to be coping well.
Others at my yard that do this have their horses fully clipped well rugged and out at night they only comen in at night in the very worst of the weather and all are TB / WB types.
 
I do this year round, as long as they are well rugged up its no problem. then they come in early, have a good feed and snooze and are in and dry and ready to work by mid morning if necessary. They honestly seem happier that way, always happy to go out in the evening and the mucking out is easier.
 
I bring my three ponies in between 7am and 9am depending on what else I'm doing. They have a feed, I do some jobs, then I ride ( or not!)
They love to have a bit of peace and quiet, they have a sleep and some hay, dry out if wet and they go back out after a few hours or even longer if I go out for the day!
No set time limits really, but I think they like to get away from each other if only for a while
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Ours come in for two or three hours in the morning to dry off a bit, have a lie down on a nice dry bed if they want to, munch on some hay or whatever. It works really well for them, and for us.
 
Our four year olds come in for a kip, a bite to eat and a ride each day for about four hours.

My older horses are out at night and in all day as this seems to keep my 'quirky' 8 year old sane.

This also works as the horses gets to dry off before riding and it definitely cuts down on the mucking out - although the fields are muck cleared.

My 19 year old is out at day and in at night.

Seems to work well for all of them.
 
Yes I do, have a elderly cob & a off work cob, who stay out nights then in by day all year, our fields drain really well & all are sloping, they have good rugs, so are quite happy!!
 
I do this as mine are in at night during the summer as they get fat and i don't have access to a piggy paddock.

It means they get the maximum amount of turnout when they are exercised less, our fields aren't muddy and it suits me better in winter due to work.

This year mine have been joined by two others as people are starting to see the obvious advantages, there are still some though that ride in the morning, turn out at noon, catch in at 4.30 and feed two sections of hay when their horses are in for 18 hours a day (can you tell this irritates me
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