do people really think it is so bad .....

Dogbetty141

Dogbetty141

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that my ned is in his stable at night insummer? He stays out for about 12 hours a day and is in at night as we have to YO rules. I like the thought of him being tucked up in bed at night with a big net of hay. If he was out all night I would be worried about him being attacked etc as our farm is in a village surrounded by fields but near a rough area. Do you think it is bad for me to do this? Unnatural. Is winter he have little turnout 1 hour a day.

Liz
x
 
Ben is in at night, our yard wont allow us to have them in the field overnight. Mind I wouldnt want him to be anyway not enough grass.

He went out overnight when I was at college, I didnt think he would like it but he loved it, where we are now though he would hate it, he is always ready to come in when I go to the field.
 
Not at all. Mine were in last night. They are usually out from 6.30am until 8pm ish -Sometimes i leave them out all night when grass/weather is good....one of mine drops weight easily and at least I know he's munching on a haynet if hes in, esp when grass has been eaten down.

They are turned out in winter in turnout paddock with hay/hayledge for the same amount of time, unless the weather is really bad and the paddock is a mud bath.
 
One of ours has to come in at night and have soaked hay etc to help keep his weight down. The others can stay out 24/7 and usually do. Winter starts when we declare it, our YO is brilliant and has no set rules as to exactly when they can't be out 24/7.

Another one of ours loves coming in, whenever he can. He's really funny. And if it rains he'll almost bowl you over in the rush to be taken in!
 
I wouldn't worry too much HB. It's routine that horses find reassuring so if your ned regularly comes in overnight, he'd probably get worried if he was left out. Normally I'd say most neds are fine out overnight most of the time but if you've had attacks etc in your area, then you're probably doing the right thing for your ned.
 
I leave mine out at night but there's nothing wrong with bringing them in if it suits you, the horse and the yard.
 
The majority of the horses on my yard are kept in overnight all year round. Mine has managed a couple of months out 24/7, but now there's no grass, the weather is pretty poor for August, and she's making it very clear to me that she's staying in for the night
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Not bad at all!

My brood mare and foal come in every night and my other pony comes in most of the time.

When it was chucking it down last night it felt good to know they were tucked up warm, safe and sound.
 
I bring mine in at night too. With the youngsters it gives me time to handle them and give them a bit of daily TLC.
 
My mare is in at night. I'm happier knowing that she's safer tucked in her stable rather than at risk from injury by malice or accident. Also stops her getting the size of a house with all that juicy grass! She's happy with her routine, but I think thats the point, horses are happy as long as they know their routine.
 
I've got one that does'nt like being in, and the other that I literally had to drag back into the field last night, she loves her stable! But I would rather have her out while there is plenty of grass and it is so warm.
 
My lot are in a night all year round. Two of them have to be in and the other two absolutely hate being out at night - they love coming into their big boxes with big beds, huge haynets and all other creature comforts - can't say I blame them
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I think its quite bad TBH purely for the reason you gave - "I like the thought of him being tucked up in bed". I think the only reason a horse should be kept in regularily would be for its health, not because it makes the owner feel better. For example, Id love to turn my shetland out in a massive field of grass because I hate seeing her on nothing however this would kill her as shes laminitic! Id love to keep my cats inside all the time because we have lost some over the years to cars, but that'd be selfish.

1 hour a day turnout in the winter is something I would never even contemplate TBH. I would not own a horse if I could not find a yard offering more turnout. IMO its like keeping a dog in a cage for 23 hours a day... I never understand why people dont see it like that.

Although, I do totally see where you're coming from with regard to horses being attacked. Unfortuately where I live, there have been a few of these attacks - recently a horse was attacked in a field right on a main road and another in its own stable. Guess which was worst off? The one in the stable. The one in the field has its mane and tail hair cut off, the one in the stable was hit so hard round the head that the owner found it dead. Shocking I know, but fact sadly. So I dont think they are any safer, Id RATHER my horses could get away.

The only time I worry and DO take mine all inside is during a thunderstorm since we all know how dangerous lightning can be. Otherwise mine live out 24/7 and all of them love it this way (including a very woosy Luso x TB who was stabled a lot before I got him). Dont get me wrong, if its an absolute blizzard and a rug has soaked through then of course Id bring in if need be. And I also sometimes stable one if hes got a show early the next day but generally I would never choose to.
 
MM I like the thought of him being tucked up in bed because it makes me feel at ease. He wants to come in when I go to get him. Unfortunatley in the area he is kept and I live the fields are always wet so they cannot be turned out all day in winter. My ned would rather be in when its cold or its getting dark as he frets a bit. its not because I am selfish like you are suggested in an around about manner its because I have to so unless I travelled over an hour to see my horse then he would have to be in at night!
 
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