Can't decide - keep horse out 24/7? How do you manage?

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Tayto

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Hey guys!

I am having a dilemma and would appreciate if you could share your experiences.

I am currently on a livery yard that has fab facilities. I am on assisted livery and the rules are that horses are stabled from November - May which us fine but my mare seems miserable being stabled and I am feeling increasingly guilty for stabling her. She isn't showing any stable vices or anything but she just seems so grumpy and always trying to get out of the stable when I go in to muck out etc and is generally being un-cooperative when being ridden and handled on the ground.

She was out 24/7 all summer and seemed happy and much more co-operative with me.

Grass livery is available but my conundrum is - how will I cope having her out 24/7 with no stable. I want to ride her all through winter as she is very green and needs consistent schooling to bring her on so we can enter some shows in summer.

There is one open box on the yard that can be used in horrible weather but obviously it will be really busy so can't guarantee I will be able to use it.

How does everyone else manage grooming, tacking up etc with no shelter in horrible weather?

I feel like the best thing for my horse is to let her live out 24/7 but I worry our riding will suffer if wind, rain, snow etc make getting ready to ride difficult.....

I am probably being a total princess but I don't want owning my horse to become a chore. The weather recently has been horrendous, high winds and torrential rain and I have been so thankful for the shelter of my stable for me and my horse but TBH she is a hardy cob and I am pretty sure she would cope!
 
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Do you mean they are stabled 24/7 with no option of daily turn out if stabled??

If so I would try grass livery if that does not work out look for a yard with possibly less facilities that is more geared towards what the horse requires, not many work hard enough to cope with being stabled full time.
 
We've always had our own stables but they were too dark to groom in properly and up two steps which was awkward lugging tack up and down so always did everything at tie up points outside, only recently had a new block built with indoor facilities for grooming etc. We coped fine, tacking up etc in awful weather isn't too bad if you're going to ride in it anyway, as long as the saddle area is dry and comfortable. If your horse is happier out and you can get her warm/dry/comfortable after a ride before turning her out, I'd say go for it :)
 
it's doable, good rug with a good fitting neck cover that will keep her fairly clean, just ears and arm pits to tackle before riding. my mare was lovely and clean after a few days box rest until I turned her out this afternoon. now she looks like a mud encrusted hippo. but a good roll makes her happy, so I just deal with it! lol!
 
no turn out AT ALL between November and May would not be an option for me. I believe unless under extreme circumstances all horses benefit from at least a couple of hours turn out a day and would be worried about my horse's mental health if she were confined to stable 6 months of the year.

on the other hand, im not sure 24/7 turnout would work either (for me) but plenty manage very well indeed. Would this field have shelter? Only you know your horse.

If it were me, i might be scouting around for a local yard that permits more winter turnout than you have where you are.
 
be positive said:
Do you mean they are stabled 24/7 with no option of daily turn out if stabled??

If so I would try grass livery if that does not work out look for a yard with possibly less facilities that is more geared towards what the horse requires, not many work hard enough to cope with being stabled full time.
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Sorry should of mentioned - the stabled horses do have around 8hrs a day turnout. I believe she was kept out 24/7 before I got her so it's probably unfair of me to ask her to adjust but I just thought it would be better for riding in winter.

Perhaps I just need to strap on a pair and get myself some nice cosy waterproofs and get on with it!

It is good having the security of a stable though - incase she ever needs box rest or if we have a show I can keep her in the night before.

Arghh! I have changed my mind a million times but just can't decide!!
 
I keep both of mine out 24/7 on grass livery and do just fine. I tie up outside a friends stable to tack up and its no problem at all. Infact, until I read this thread I never considered it being a problem, its what I've always done. I have one rugged and one not rugged. I just scrape the mud off and off we go. My ponies happiness comes before my wants :D
 
She should be able to cope with daily turnout and plenty of work, it did read as if there was no turnout at all.
The other option which may work would be to go on grass livery but pay to keep the stable on DIY only, you may be paying twice but will save on assistance, bedding, hay and possibly feed, you then have the option of keeping her in when you want, it may not stack up financially but worth looking into.
 
our big man lives out 24/7. keep him rugged up so always clean enough to ride really. we also have one area that is covered but can't always use it so not ideal.
having said all that I would not want to do it any other way. he is not happy being stabled at all!! and even-though getting him in the dark, mud, rain, wind etc is not great I would not change it at all.
 
Mine have always lived out as they prefer it - the big one in particular will lose weight and be very grumpy if he's stabled. It can be a bit miserable grooming/tacking up with no shelter, but it's do able! Do you have an indoor school? If it's really bad I do a quick groom and tack up in the school so horse doesn't get wet.
 
If it were me I would speak to the yo and see if i could pay for my stable but have the horse out 24/7 - i would even offer to pay for my stable and pay for a grass livery - so she gets the best of both worlds and no one can moan at her - and then again what you save on bedding, hay etc you would only be spending on your horses grass livery - if you know what i mean.
 
IME having a stable has never made any difference in winter - the weather is still horrible, I still have to ride in it, just there's more mucking out. MUCH easier having mine out 24/7, if the weather is too foul to ride in I don't worry as she's still exercising herself. Some people rug there horses to keep them dry, I don't bother, if it's wet enough to require a rug then I'm probably not going to ride in it anyway. If she's really muddy I just get the important bits clean. And even if I do decide to go to a show, again keeping them stabled doesn;t mean they won't get dirty, and I find mud much easier to get out than stable stains
 
Think I'd at least want a field shelter to stand under in rubbish weather. Could see if you're allowed one in field. It would make winter more enjoyable for you!
 
Gingerwitch said:
If it were me I would speak to the yo and see if i could pay for my stable but have the horse out 24/7 - i would even offer to pay for my stable and pay for a grass livery - so she gets the best of both worlds and no one can moan at her - and then again what you save on bedding, hay etc you would only be spending on your horses grass livery - if you know what i mean.
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This is exactly what I would do. I was somewhere for a while without stables though the horses had a big barn. Then we moved and we had a stable. Hardly used it in winter - only when we had lots of wind and rain and the fields were getting muddy. We hadn't stabled before but my horse really wanted to come in overnight sometimes out of the really bad weather that we were getting day after day (like it is now) We used it a lot in the Summer to get away from the flies. And for me it was great having our own space to come in and feed, tack up etc
 
I haven`t got any stables ... my 2 live out 24/7 with a field shelter. My main ridden gelding is rugged for ease of riding, and my rising 4 gelding is just a cobby bog monster and left to it lol

I do have a lovely friend who lets me tie up at the front of her stable block when we are "faffing" lol .... But other than that i don`t miss a stable at all :)
 
Hi, my TB mare lives out 24/7 we have our own stables but she hates being in and ends up being a total nightmare to handle and ride, not to mention a danger to herself, even when she is in because the weather is bad! She is far happier out (even though I would feel better if she was all tucked up inside in this horrible weather!). I just make sure she is well fed and rugged up to her eye balls and obviously keep an eye on her condition. Overall I have a much happier horse. Good luck with what ever you decide😃 xx
 
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HaffyChristmas! said:
I keep both of mine out 24/7 on grass livery and do just fine. I tie up outside a friends stable to tack up and its no problem at all. Infact, until I read this thread I never considered it being a problem, its what I've always done. I have one rugged and one not rugged. I just scrape the mud off and off we go. My ponies happiness comes before my wants :D
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This ^
Having started leaving out 24/7 when I started uni after advice from a friend whose pony could not be stabled I haven't looked back and would never go to a yard without being able to winter out. Over the years I have fine tuned my routine and I have clipped each year and rugged appropriately allowing natural weight loss. And feed ad lib hay when it snows and a bucket of hifi and a soaked feed (for different needs) in varying amounts according to the weather.

I have never had a problem with horse being wet under rug (I only use combos as neck is clipped out) in the snow we have usually been able to prepare in advance but have also coped with no warning and I would rather ride on an evening than spend 20mins sorting stable and not having time to ride !!!
 
Perhaps you need to change your yard? Though you do say the facilities are very good.

I am a total convert to my horse being out 24/7 in my case though I'm spoilt as she is at home and I have three other liveries. We have a big barn at one end of the field, and a small stable yard with open box into which the horses can go/not go, as they choose. As the two little ones go elsewhere at night it leaves this stable for my Section D and a 17.2 ex-chaser to occupy. And their hay is in there.

My last three horses have all been kept out, and it does seem to suit them much better. Very laid back, no stiffness/arthritis problems.

But you say that if you had your horse out 24/7 there would only be one box to share. I don't think this is acceptable, unless it is huge, which by your description it isn't.

My advice would be to stay where you are for this winter, as your horse might find it a bit difficult to adapt mid-winter to being out anyway, and with the problems you have stated. Then I would be looking around for a grass livery option with decent field shelter/stable facilities. Treat yourself to a good range of rugs (IMO 1 x rain, 2 x medium turnout with detachable neck-cover options, and1 x heavyweight. On the money you stave on stables you'll be able to afford that!

There are people like me around - you just need to keep your eyes and ears open. Farmers are often a good bet. Good luck.

,
 
Mine lives out 24/7 - I pay for DIY plus a stable, but I use tostablw for storage and lives out24/7. I like having the stable there in case of box rest, and he doesn't tie up well so if he had to stand in for long I prefer a stable, but otherwise fine. Mine is a full tb and manages fine in ne Scotland so it can be done!!

I find the thought of rain is worse than actuality - if you have a good log water proof with a high neck and waterproof trousers, you barely notice it unless it's horribly windy too, and I prefer riding in the rain as no one else uses the outdoor school!! Rugs are breathable so no worries about rugging up damp horses as
Long as they are warm.
 
HaffyChristmas! said:
I keep both of mine out 24/7 on grass livery and do just fine. I tie up outside a friends stable to tack up and its no problem at all. Infact, until I read this thread I never considered it being a problem, its what I've always done. I have one rugged and one not rugged. I just scrape the mud off and off we go. My ponies happiness comes before my wants :D
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Agree with quote above. Not sure what the issue is, you won't melt in the rain ... Your horse's welfare should be paramount and if 24/7 turnout is what suits your horse (further, it is easy for you to provide) then that is what you should provide.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I think I am just worried about giving up my stable as it's a good safety net if needed for any reason. Also just wondering how much motivation I will have when it's howling a gale, pouring with rain and I have to tack up for a lesson. Suppose it seems worse when I currently have a nice cosy stable to hide in!

I don't think keeping the stable but being on grass livery is an option but I suppose there is no harm in asking the YO about it.... Just don't want to be a pain and ask the YO to make an exception for me as no one else does it at the moment...
 
My yard is great and we are very lucky, I am trying to stick with 24/7 turnout at the mo as I really believe my boy prefers it but its his first year at it and I'm a total wuss about him getting cold so was worried about not having a stable, but we are able to turn out and have a stable if we need it and pay buy the night or use it to stand in to tack up etc. It is great, I might find that sometimes the yard owners have used it to stand one of theres in on busy days but I dont mind, give and take and all that. I'm sure if you ask your yard they won't mind and the worse they can say is no. Good luck with it :)
 
I am a convert to my two young unridden cobs living out with access to shelter, but previously all our horses and ponies came in at night and out during the day, all year!

8hours outside each day is much better than most people who post on here have access to, I think you have to consider it is now the middle of winter, it is one thing to leave out 24/7 following on from summer and autumn, but suddenly in the worst weather in Scotland, I think I would stick with your current routine for this winter and review your options before next winter.

Living on a wind swept, rainlashed hill on the edge of the Pennines, I would not like to be with out any stables for handling, feeding etc. I think your weather in Scotland is probably worse.
 
am going against the tide here-I am in SW Scotland, although east of Ayrshire and currently have 2 out 24/7 while I wait for stables to go in on my own place. I would not give up a good yard atm-ie one with a school and daily turnout. And I say that having had horses out 24/7 for the last few years and having hardy natives.

Its hard work up here, am on a hill on heavy soil and its no fun atm and I am not even trying to ride-I have one to back in the spring. There's no end in sight to the current weather-its set to stay until least middle of Jan and many places here are restricting their grazing, so if you have a school for exercising and turnout then hang onto it.
 
Ned can't be in a stable unsupervised. He is usually ok to tack up etc, but if you leave him for more than a second, he'll be out, whether that's breaking down the door or jumping over it!

We don't have a stable, or even a shelter at the moment, but they do just fine :) It's getting a little muddy, but we still have lots of grass, so it's not tooooo bad.
 
Hi, we have decided to leave ours out 24/7 again, my boy hates being stabled. We pay for the stables so if need be we can bring also it's nice to pop them in for an hour to munch on some hay! Ours are definitely happier out 24/7 even in this awful weather:)
 
My two live out 24/7. The key is finding good grass livery - we have a 20 acre field with loads of natural shelter all the way round, woods and half flat / half on a hill so most of the field is staying dry despite the awful weather.

We all have a shed for storage and there is a communal undercover tie up area for farriers etc which is nice. Now it's wet I bring my boy up there to groom / tack up, but when it was dry I used to take my tack down to a sectioned off area in the field and ride from there.

I'm loving mine living out. They love it and are so happy even in all this rain. My retired horse is much healthier and more mobile and my pony is so much calmer.

I just don't worry too much about mud - a quick brush off is fine!
 
MotherOfChickens said:
am going against the tide here-I am in SW Scotland, although east of Ayrshire and currently have 2 out 24/7 while I wait for stables to go in on my own place. I would not give up a good yard atm-ie one with a school and daily turnout. And I say that having had horses out 24/7 for the last few years and having hardy natives.

Its hard work up here, am on a hill on heavy soil and its no fun atm and I am not even trying to ride-I have one to back in the spring. There's no end in sight to the current weather-its set to stay until least middle of Jan and many places here are restricting their grazing, so if you have a school for exercising and turnout then hang onto it.
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It is difficult when the conditions and weather vary so much between different areas of the country to understand what it would be like for OP, but I think that this advice is very relevant and should reassure you OP, that your current situation is fine.
 
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