can horses that stay out 24/7...

S

skye123

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 December 2006
Messages
3,273
Location
Leicestershire/Devon
Visit site
go to shows and work properly?? (dont know if makes much sense
confused.gif
)

last summer my horse stayed out all the time and was fine etc. then one day a women on my yard starting going on about that horses that stayed out all the time cant work properly and shouldnt go to shows etc etc and that they should be stabled overnight.

i just completly ignored her as the night before a show i always keep my horse in just so they are off the grass and keep clean
blush.gif
grin.gif
but just wondered what you lot think

thanks
smile.gif
 
I event off grass with both my current horse and did with my pony. Never had any problems. Much happier, healthier horses!
 
ALL the horses at my RS are out 24/7 and this includes 5 or 6 good competition horses who are out competing regularly, they're also out hunting too
 
I would say they are better and fitter for being out than in...no dust problems clogging up their lungs, freedom to move and exercise, relaxed mind...can't be a bad thing in my mind. I turfed my boy out a few weesk ago 24/7 and he is chilled and happy and works fine.
 
There are no hard and fast rules. If your horse can compete off grass happily then don't worry! There are occasions when people who have very good-doers on lush grazing may find it preferably to keep their horses in overnight to keep their food intake down, and alternatively some poor doers on not so good grazing may be better kept in at nights to get some quality food into them. But if your horse is at optimum weight and competes successfully from the field then there is nothing to worry about!
 
Of course they can live out 24/7 and still compete! Ignore the women she obviously doesn't know much about horses, how does she think wild horses survive?

Seriously though, many top endurance horses live out all the time and they can run a hundred miles a day off it, and as others have said living out is far healthier for horses. Good on you for letting yours live out!
 
mine lives out 24/7 all year round, in the winter he just does light hacking but in the summer we do long hacks 6 days a week as well as compete at local shows that we hack an hour to get to!! he copes absolutely fine!
 
Please see below the 2 year old coloured warmblood that I showed in hand at county level - always placed or winning - all from grass so to speak. He lived out 24/7 and was bathed and plaited for a show. Far more chilled out and a better lifestyle bar far!
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/ponypower_2006/Mo.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
Mo.jpg
 
There was a grand National horse that was trained from the field. Our horses event upto Intermediate no problems being out all summer. I only bring mine in if they get too fat on grass
 
I've always kept mine out 24/7 & competed BD / BSJA from grass (supplemented as nec with hard food / hay). No probs at all... esp no respiratory probs or boredom related vices.
 
that's the biggest load of bollox i've ever heard!!!!!
grin.gif
crazy.gif
mad.gif
my mare can work properly and is out 24/7 shows dressage etc, and my filly was placed at county shows last year - shown from a field!! this woman is probably one of the short cut brigade who stands her horses in in side reins all day because she doesn't have a clue/too lazy to work them properly!! BTW Lynn Russell shows hers from the field!
 
echo what others have said, what a load of b*******S. when we had george competing he was doing novice eventing and sj to newcomer level all out of the field and was fine. Twiggy my 4yo ex racer is now as of this week living out full time (rugged of course) but probably looks in the best condition out of all the horses on our yard and is so chilled its untrue. Horses are meant to live outside, its natural, they get more excercise, more fresh air and are less likely to tie up surely an advantage for competiton horses?! With correct management and safe turnout most horses will thrive better than when staying in.
 
mine are all out 24/7. Much better for them in my oppinion. Ive got one with a dust allergy who is happily out all the time summer and winter (at the age of 24) and he coughs his lungs up if you stable him so he gets washed the day before the show and then wrapped up like a mummy and shoved back out.
The other one that i compete only comes in the night before a show as he is a messy pony that i cant trust with rugs in the field
 
Boris comes in at night for a couple of days before a competition to get rid of his grass belly, as he's out with our youngsters he's always on the best grass.


I much prefer him being out.......loads less work for starters
blush.gif
 
I like to bring in Chancer, bath, bag and rug him up and then put him out again during the summer before a show.

I have done this with all my horses apart from one who stayed in overnight as she would make a huge effort to get filthy.

More often than not for dressage etc, mine were in the field a few hours before - no problems whatsoever.

My friends top show jumping pony did have to stay in 48 hours before a competition to get rid of her grass belly but she was jumping top heights for a pony.

Personally I think they are better for being out - far more relaxed for having field time before a show, less time to warm up and far more healthy for the animal to be out.
 
my horse has been out 24/7 for years - he was 4th at the BD Winter Champs Novice dressage last year and has evented unaffiliated, show-jumped etc as well.
 
What an absolute load of b***s***!!! Sorry! But for goodness sake... I pity any horses she owns.

Had horses all my life and every single horse has lived out 24/7.
*rolls eyes*

Bloomen heck!
 
OMG, I cant believe she actually thinks such a load of cr*p!! That is absolutely shocking!

Mine all live out all year round! Only EVER stabled if they have to stay clean for a show the next day (but only then for big shows that I feel they need to be clean for, if its just smallish show jumping then I simply drag them in from the field in the morning!).

I event and BSJA mine, never had any problems whatsoever. She has no idea what she is talking about! Do not listen to ANYTHING this woman has to say, she clearly shouldn't even own horses......
 
My horse does everything off of grass. If I stabled him the night before a comp he is a total t**t the next day.

He's done just about every sport (I must add not to any high level, but I am assuming you are talking Riding Club, low level affiliated)?
smile.gif


It depends on the horse I suspect. Mine just can not cope mentally with stabling and restriction. I know it sounds crazy but I think it gives him headaches??
crazy.gif
Oh gawd, did I say that out loud?
tongue.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top