Can being out 24/7 or out at night/in during the day make them tired?!

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Ahrena

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Okay this probably sounds stupid.

But recently started putting my horses out dirng the night and in during the day. Only the past 2 days, my usual livewire has turned very dopey and lazy. In herself she's okay, just seems really tired. Then when I've been riding her she's been VERY nappy, just planting herself and refusing to move lmao.


Wondering if it could be linked? And what I could do about it? They're staying in tonight so I can see if theres a difference. If there's not, could it be her new calmer that's doing this? She's been on it for a couple of weeks though. (it astarts to take effect within a week)
 
my horse is out from 4pm til 7.30am and spends the day prostrate in his stable groaning and moaning and is the laziest pig to ride.

Having said that when he's out during the day he spends all night laying prostrate in his stable moaning and groaning and is the laziest pig to ride.

Not helpful - I know
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I understand that horses need a time of REM which they get when they can manage to sleep flat out .... perhaps the change in routine has upset her and she is unable to do this during the day
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(but I am prepared to be proved wrong
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You could always try swapping back and see if this improves her being
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My friends had a dutch warmblood that was on livery. In the spring the YO changed day turnout to night turnout. He would lay prostrate in his stable all day, sleeping for most of it, and was lazy to ride. They paid for loads of blood tests but nothing showed up. Came to the conclusion that he was up all night eating, and catching up on his zzzzz'ds during the day, ready for the next night's binge eating!
 
Lol! That sounds about right.

She does sleep in the stabe, she's covered in shavings and her bed is all squashed haha.

I've put her back in tonight to see if it makes a difference, then at least I know what the cause is and then how to fix it!
 
Yes
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When my mare starts 24hr TO she's really sleepy and dozy for the first few days before she settles in to it. She has a regular routine which I keep to all year round so I think she works in sleep around it. I once got a panicked phone call from YO because B was flat out in field not moving - I got there and she was flat out asleep
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It was four days into 24hr TO and she was knackered (think she spent too much time eating to sleep
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So do you think if I keep leaving her out she'll start to pick up again?

I'm a bit worried for next week we're going on holiday, with the horses, and they'll be out 23/7. Bring on the competition mix!
 
Think it takes a few weeks for them to get used to it, so if you are going away and they will be out then, maybe just leave as it is and hope she will adapt fairly soon? Where are you going, anywhere nice?!
 
Mine is out 24/7 but needs to be otherwise he is unrideable!
Stabling does make a difference but I think its better for them. Its more natural and keeps them in a better frame of mind.
Mabye feed some energising pony foods?
 
We did a stint of out at night, in during the day the other year when it was roasting and my horse zonked all day. After a few days he was fine by the time afternoon came.
 
When I first turned my lad out 24/7 last year, he was really tired for about a week. Apparently (I may be wrong but this is what I was told), when horses live in herds in the wild, when they sleep, one horse will always stay awake and keep guard for predators. They take it in turns so they all get sleep. Because Mac was new to the herd, he wouldn't trust them enough to watch over him, so wasn't really getting any sleep, other than the few hours a day if he was brought into his stable. He is absolutely fine now!
 
OOH now im jealous!!lol
I love Hallington, last time i did that course (years ago) I managed to get whacked in the mouth going over a drop fence!! had huge swollen lip! Had to go find an ice cream to soothe it of course!
Its a lovely area the course was great and had some fantastic gallops etc.
Have fun
 
Its hard work being a horse you know
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eating, sleeping, frollocking around and doing an hours work a day. My baby sleeps flat out in the field while my oldey is the security guard - he likes to be in charge. Don't often see the old man flat out though - maybe he's paranoid
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they do tend to get tired though, which can be handy when riding baby 4 year olds
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It affects them in different ways, I think. some don't relax at all at night, so don't sleep properly (when they'd be stretched out snoring in the stable), and so they end up either tired and slow down a bit... or, tired and stressy about it, and even worse! some, i've had to bring in every few days for a nice kip!
 
Bah the thing is, she used to be out 24/7. She did nap then, but after we upped her feed (to about what she has now) she stopped.

See how she is when I ride her later..Thanks everyone, glad that might be the cause though.

Just have to decide what to doooo..
 
My horse goes out 3pm to 8 am. When he comes in for his few hours he snores like a trooper and lies flat out on the floor. Nothing wakes him up!!!!
 
They can take a while to adapt. Cairo will not live out 24 x 7 for too long - after a week he does a runner for the stable when the gate is opened.
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I normally bring them in at the weekend for some time in the stable to have a good snooze. If I do this, Cairo is happy to stay out the rest of the time.

That said, they both do sleep flat out in the field but at the moment are not as it is very wet, hence they have come in at night a few times this week to dry out and sleep, pampered darlings that they are - who said hairy horses are tough?
 
Think the difference is that when on hard feed they can't burn the energy off just standing in a stable all day, whereas out, they can run about. So stabled horses have more fizz available to them - plus more excited to be out??

Field kept ones can stuff all day on grass which is much more fattening than hay, so this can make them stuffy in the summer.
 
IMO he'd maybe be better staying out 24/7, because then he wouldnt gorge himself all night knowing he was going to be in all day.

All mine are kept out 24/7 all year round and personally Ive not found a problem with them being lazy.
 
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