Can someone please explain to me why horses are better kept in as much as possible, because I just don't get it!

[milliepops]

Yes agree, there's a middle ground that many of us are in.
My horses are out now, they have turnout. It's not a bog. But it's not big enough or interesting enough to be their sole form of exercise in the long term, being as they are stabled overnight.
It's why I moved the retired one elsewhere. It's Ok for a day off, for them to go and mosey around in their paddock, it's OK for a little holiday, but I personally don't consider it enough to fully replace their ridden work in terms of sufficient physical exercise.

 

[be positive]

No horse should be left in for endless days without being exercised, that's not proper care. But if a horse is being stabled and PROPERLY worked, that is IMO better than being left out in a bog. Am I right in forming the opinion that many people use turnout instead of exercise?

They do seem to, which is why for many horses going out into a bog each day is probably preferable than stood in for days on end.
I think a happy medium should be possible for all owners, decent turnout most days, a few days in will do no harm, exercise that is more than 10 mins on a lunge rein or going on a walker each day, if they had more forage and less hard feed there would be little need for calmers and less call for behaviourists.

 

[The Trooper]

I'm lucky, at the yard i'm at it is completely at the horse owners discretion whether to have them in or not, what time you bring them in or put them out.

I've only had a horse for around 18 months, i got Belle on loan last winter, she is a Comtois x Belgian Draft and a very good dooer, she was clipped and unrugged the majority of last winter and only rugged when we had the horrendous weather at the start of this year.

She spent part of one evening in during the Beast from the East until i got a text from the yard owner saying shes going ballistic and was at risk of hurting herself or damaging her stable and that she was going to need to put her out. I kept her in that night solely to make me feel better, evidently she didn't agree.

In June i bought my own horse (Registered Shire, Bonnie), she has came from a showing background as an unbroken 6 year old (I broke her over the summer). Having come from a showing background she has been accustomed to being stabled and rugged etc in bad weather. I hope i can get away with leaving her out all winter with a rug (She is also clipped) however if she doesn't keep condition, or seems to be struggling or indeed her feathered feet become problematic i am quite prepared to bring her in at night to give her a break and let her dry out. She won't be spending all day everyday in a stable though, she is a horse after all.

When it comes down to it, everyone cares for and keeps theirs horses differently and in their own ways, that's their prerogative.

 

[sywell]

I have always firmly believed that in the vast majority of circumstances, most horses are far better off out in a field, so they can stretch their legs, graze, and socialise. This seems to be a really unpopular view now, and I don't understand what has changed. I am starting to wonder if I am wrong, as literally everyone at our yard now seems to keep their horses in as much as possible. If it is sunny, they are in, if its windy, they are in, if its raining, they are in. Today, in a yard of 30ish horses, there are 3 out in the field, because it is raining. (They all have to stay in at night, and no one is riding because its raining.) Its not cold or windy, just steady heavy drizzle. We are lucky enough to have access to a large field, with plenty of natural shelter, but no one seems to want to use it. All summer they were all kept in for 10 hours a day because it was too sunny, even after the heatwave had passed.

I just want to put my horse out, for at least some of every day, but often I can't now because he would be on his own. I am tempted to move yards, but I am scared to in case it is the same everywhere else. Is it like this everywhere? Am I missing something?

In Sweden horses have to be out in a paddock,on a horse walker or exercised every day by law for a specified time.

 

[Goldenstar]

There’s no circumtances where a system with no turnout is acceptable for young and unridden horses , while I would agree you can if you have enough time give horses enough exercise to keep them healthy with no turnout I do think it’s less than ideal .
I have one retired horse atm he’s out all the time except for three hours a day when he comes to get everyday care and he likes a rest and a lie down When the weather gets awful he will be stabled at night he likes his stable .
I do worry about him he’s out in about six acres and I don’t think that enough space for a non working horse but it’s the best I can do for him so I am just monitoring the situation .
I am very happy with the field for my working horses because they get exercise .
I wish a had a twenty acre rough field with gullys and undulations but I don’t so it’s a question of making do .
If I could not guarantee turn out daily I would not keep him .

 

[windand rain]

I think the real answer lies somewhere in between given ideal lifelong conditions all horses would prefer to live out with good shelter but as soon as humans are added it all goes to "pot in a handcart" it also clear to me that far too many horses are owned by people who shouldnt own them. It does work both ways leaving horses in a bog and leaving horses in a stable 24/7 under exercised are both cruel and those owners who think its ok shouldnt own horses. For convenience I can see why riding people like he in at night and out during the day scenario but horses that are not ridden should be turned out for at least 12 out of 24 hours if not more and as to injury there are far more injuries and limb failures in horses whose bodies are not acclimatised to using them than there are in small settledl herds of horses turned out together on sufficient grazing. Ideally the choice should be with caring knowledgeable owners doing their best for the horse in their care

 

[Cortez]

I think the real answer lies somewhere in between given ideal lifelong conditions all horses would prefer to live out with good shelter but as soon as humans are added it all goes to "pot in a handcart" it also clear to me that far too many horses are owned by people who shouldnt own them. It does work both ways leaving horses in a bog and leaving horses in a stable 24/7 under exercised are both cruel and those owners who think its ok shouldnt own horses. For convenience I can see why riding people like he in at night and out during the day scenario but horses that are not ridden should be turned out for at least 12 out of 24 hours if not more and as to injury there are far more injuries and limb failures in horses whose bodies are not acclimatised to using them than there are in small settledl herds of horses turned out together on sufficient grazing. Ideally the choice should be with caring knowledgeable owners doing their best for the horse in their care

I agree with 99% of this ^^^ but I think studies have shown that actually the majority of injuries occur when horses are out at pasture.

 

[TheMule]

I agree with 99% of this ^^^ but I think studies have shown that actually the majority of injuries occur when horses are out at pasture.

In my experience though, a horse spending most of its time out is far less likely to be injured in the field than a horse going out for a limited number of hours or who has not been out for several days. People should probably consider exercising their horse before turning it out in that situation.

 

[honetpot]

Unfortunately just like people we can not guarantee that they will not be injured carrying out their normal daily activities.
I would want to know the history before the injury. Studies done on thoroughbreds has shown that exercise, including turnout increases bone density which makes fractures less likely. Even the elderly infirm human is encouraged to exercise, to decrease their risk of injury.
The trouble is that people leave them in for long periods, like a garaged car, then take it out and think it will behave and be completely compliant. Then every misbehaviour needs a calmer, a new bit, new piece of tack or the expert to advise them.
I can remember when I was about 20 getting a vet out to check my horses teeth, and saying he was a bit thin, the vet suggested steroids. My common sense kicked in and I said no, and thought I will just feed him more and guess what he put weight on.
Basic animal husbandry is simple, and for most problems the best solution is a simple one. Its not the horses fault if it does not fit in with your lifestyle or budget.

 

[Cortez]

I don't think anyone would advocate never turning horses out as the best thing, but equally not ever stabling can lead to problems too. As ever a happy medium would seem to be best.

 

[JFTDWS]

It's probably quite a broad happy medium though - from a horse out for a short period and worked hard (and managed well), right through to horses out for the vast majority of the time.

I can't see any real issues for the horse in not stabling, providing the horse has been introduced to the idea of being stabled and would accept it if it were necessary for any reason (and the grazing, herd and management is suitable for the horse being out, obviously). Though perhaps I'm being unimaginative there!

 

[windand rain]

A bit like training your dog to accept and enjoy crate time as opposed to shutting it in 23 out of 24 hours a day. Most vets crate animals in hospital so adding the stress of crating to an already sick animal should be avoided. Same with horses every horse should be content in either place so if needed there is little or no added stress at an already stressful time.
I am not keen on either crates or stables but happy settled animals make me teach mine to at least be content if not actively happy in them
I also think it is the in/out practice is gooing to cause many more injuries as horses lark around and get exuberant on turnout. Maybe I have been extremely lucky but I have never seen or had a purely field related injury to either my big event horses or more recently my native ponies. They have had the odd stable related injury cuts and minor leg injuries, the very worst injury was a ridden accident which required extended box rest and the one where the injury would have occured in either place as the pony got its legs caught in its rug

 

[Goldenstar]

My friend put her unstabled horse down last week he lived out all the time and was found with a field injury .
Not all field injuries are in part stabled horses .
I really find this debate pretty boring and think everybody should really focus on how they care for their own horses before they pass judgements on others .

 

[Teajack]

Didn't work for me - had it done twice and now I wear glasses and my eyes are getting gradually worse.

Plenty of eye surgeons wear glasses. If they're not rushing to have it done ...

 

[HashRouge]

I can't see any real issues for the horse in not stabling, providing the horse has been introduced to the idea of being stabled and would accept it if it were necessary for any reason (and the grazing, herd and management is suitable for the horse being out, obviously). Though perhaps I'm being unimaginative there!

No, I agree! Assuming you can stable your horse if needed, I can't see any harm in not doing so. I can stable both of mine but they haven't been in the past 2 years. They are a good weight, healthy and happy...I don't think I need to make any changes!