Are we getting too hung up about turnout?

I want the option of 24/7 turnout as I want to decide when they stay out not someone else. i bring them in when the weather is foul, they have been out all week but have come in this evening to give them a break from the wet ground and more rain. I dont take any notice of what anyone else on my yard does with their horses re turnout though.
 
My mare is in overnight all year round.

We have the option of 24/7 turnout over summer, but she would be so fat she would need rolling everywhere even with a grazing muzzle. She had to be on box rest due to injury for a prolonged period of time and her stable became her "safe" zone so its almost stayed as her comfort blanket so in the winter if the weather turns she drags me back to her stable!!

However every horse on the yard goes out every day all year, they would never be expected to stand in 24/7. in the winter when the fields get too wet we have bark all weather pens which the horses rotate round on for a few hours each day and then in the summer they are out in the fields. :)
 
My horses are waiting to come in if the weather is bad - they are waiting to come in if the flies are bad.

Usually they get their own way!
They are all stabled at night in the winter and (if we ever get a summer) come in if the flies are bad during the day.
 
Ours are in at night, all year round&go out every day,all year round (unless the weather is absolutely,utterly foul). If it turns foul whilst they are out,pretty much every single one (except the food-monster pony!) will be waiting moodily by the gate to come in. They all seem perfectly happy&settled in their routine. We had some live out in summer one year&it didn't work too well-fence evening screaming,midnight whinnying,gate-jumping,bad weather miserableness:( They all seem happy,healthy&no stable
vices:) All owners happy with the routine. It may not suit all horses or people but I guess you go where the routine suits(if u can!) Ps ours had great fun in the deep snow,especially 2winters ago,when it was thigh deep in the fields:)
 
Cazza525 said:
i think in the last 20 years or so, people have got more hung up on turnout, yes! When I grew up, horses did a lot more work, 4/5 hours a day and lived in, had a holiday once a year for a couple of weeks out at grass before coming back in again. Ponies generally lived out, through hell or high water.

Life is faster now, people are rushing around and generally it is easier to sit horse in a field when you don't have the time to exercise properly, not half hour around the block a week.

Controversial, but true.:eek:
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I Agree things have changed, i think most people are more aware of the psychological and physical impact being stabled for long periods has on the horse, and realised longer periods of turnout helps to keep most horses more healthy
 
Our yard they are out in the day and in at night over winter and out 24/7 weather permitting over the summer. The only time they are in over winter during the day is if the weather is absolutely horrid and they are safer in than out. My boy will stand at the gate to be brought in if he's miserable though, hes bit of a wuss that way. I'm not fussed about him being out loads though - during winter I'm happy that he's out for 6/7 hours and if he wants in over summer or I need him to have a rest from the wet, he comes in. Hes happy, I'm happy.
 
Cazza525 said:
i think in the last 20 years or so, people have got more hung up on turnout, yes! When I grew up, horses did a lot more work, 4/5 hours a day and lived in, had a holiday once a year for a couple of weeks out at grass before coming back in again. Ponies generally lived out, through hell or high water.

Life is faster now, people are rushing around and generally it is easier to sit horse in a field when you don't have the time to exercise properly, not half hour around the block a week.

Controversial, but true.:eek:
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Maybe it depends where you live or lived.
Where I grew up in Devon (more than 20 years ago ;)) everything lived out 24/7 in the summer. All the riding stable horses came in did their 3 or 4 one hour hacks and then went out again.

In the winter the hunters, tb's and posh ponies, (like my second pony who was PBA with a bit of tb and something else) got clipped and lived in at night but got chucked out every day.

Fields were miles away and hilly though, 24/7 wasn't a time saving option.
 
amymay said:
I have a very realistic expectation of a livery yard. Based on experience, and knowing the yards around me.

All are full (and always are), and all offer all year un-restricted turnout (i.e day in winter, 24/7 in summer). They are able to do this because they have enough land.

If you don't have the land to support the horses, either reduce your numbers or don't offer livery.
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Totally agree, theres the odd greedy YO round here who will cram in as many liveries as possible and sod the state of the ground!
 
Convenient for me would be full livery at a yard within a five minute walk from home, with all the horses brought in when the sky threatens a light drizzle so I can ride any time my mood suits me :p

'Convenient' for my horses is 24/7 grass livery at a yard 16 miles from home (26 miles from work), out in all weathers and as relaxed as it's possible for two horses to be :D

They're happy so I'm happy.
 
Can I just say, how nice it is to have a decent conversation on here, about what could be quite a controversal subject without any bitching or back biting or people saying its my way or nothing!
 
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